TEAM SERVICE REQUIREMENTS
Northwest Arkansas Aquatics (NWAA) is a non-profit 501c3 organization. Hosting local and regional swimming competitions is a big part of our program and team service is crucial to ensure our meets and Club run smoothly. NWAA relies heavily upon parent volunteers for swim meet execution and performance of many of the organizational and administrative tasks that are necessary to run the Club and provide your child with a great swimming experience.
Many of the top swim clubs have instituted a team service program to meet several objectives:
• Benefit Swimmers – Competition allows swimmers to have opportunities to race and test the skills they have worked so hard to achieve. Hosting home meets provides this opportunity without the needed time and expense of travel.
• Fundraising – Swim meet revenue is a key source of funding for our Club and allows us to keep our monthly dues affordable, while providing the staff, facilities, training and equipment needed.
• Family Involvement – It takes around 300 volunteers to host a successful weekend meet.
• Promote Swimming – Swimming is unique in that it relies almost entirely on volunteers and, by being a volunteer, you are supporting the team, the sport and your child’s experience.
TEAM SERVICE REQUIREMENTS
Team service credit can be earned by any family member, relative, or other reliable representative (e.g. neighbor, grandparent, friend, etc.), who is approved by the Volunteer Coordinator. Timers must be at least 12 years of age. Meet Marshals must be at least 18 years of age.
FRIDAY NIGHT SWIM MEETS:
Hammerhead Group Parents
• NWAA hosts multiple one-session swim meets during the short course season geared towards helping our younger swimmers gain racing experience.
• Parents of swimmers in the Hammerhead group participating in these meets are required to serve at a minimum of 3 meets. You may select your service slot when you register for the meet.
OCTOBER: SHARKS PENTATHLON:
Hammerhead, Great White, Tiger Shark Group Parents – Saturday morning session
Makos, Senior Group Parents – Friday evening session
• If your swimmer is participating in the Sharks Pentathlon, your family is required to serve a minimum of one slot.
JANUARY: WINTER INVITATIONAL: (2.5 days, Prelim/Final)
Great White, Tiger Shark, Makos, Senior Group Parents-
• If your swimmer is participating in the Winter Invitational your family is required to work a minimum of two slots.
JUNE: MEMORIAL CLASSIC: (3 days, Prelim/Final)
Great White, Tiger Shark, Makos, Senior Group Parents-
• All families are required to work a minimum of two slots, regardless if your swimmer is participating or not.
JULY JAMS AND/OR ARSI LONG COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Great White, Tiger Shark, Makos, Senior Group Parents-
• TBD pending meets hosted
FAILURE TO FULFILL THE TEAM SERVICE REQUIREMENT
Failure to fulfill the team service commitment will result in a $100 fine for each session missed charged to that family’s account after the event has been completed. This penalty is not intended as a fundraiser. Rather, it is designed to motivate parents to assist in the crucially needed volunteer positions. Best case scenario: all families work and no fines are issued. Families receiving a scholarship will forfeit it if they fail to fulfill the team service commitment.
SELECTING SERVICE SLOTS
15-30 days prior to each event, the Volunteer Coordinator will post a volunteer sign-up on the meet page on the NWAA website and provide sign-up information through the Weekly Update. Prior to each event, NWAA families should utilize the sign-up on the team website to select the service positions and times that are needed. Each NWAA family should make a point to sign in with the Volunteer Coordinator, Megan Peters, at each event. This ensures you receive credit for the sessions worked.
SCHEDULE CONFLICTS OR SPECIAL NEEDS
Prior arrangements must be made with the Volunteer Coordinator in advance of the event. This advance notification allows for pre-event tasks (as available) to be assigned and/or discussed with the NWAA board. If a pre-event task is not available, then you will be charged 50% of the above-mentioned fine. If you have travel plans for one of the above- mentioned weekends or special needs, contact the Volunteer Coordinator at least 45 days in advance of the event so that volunteer positions can be reserved to accommodate those plans or needs.
