Volunteering

The success of our club is largely due to the support of our family volunteers. Family volunteers fill vital roles from board members and committee members to assisting at our swim meets. Without the support of volunteers, we simply could not host meets or function as a club. Therefore, we have a volunteer requirement each family must satisfy.

Volunteer hours are based on the two swim seasons. Each family that has at least one swimmer practicing with CIA for more than one month during the season must provide volunteer hours at meets hosted by CIA or volunteer in other capacities approved by CIA. 

  • Volunteer requirement for short course season: 14 hours (eight hours for high school swimmer only, not applicable to intro swimmer families).
  • Volunteer requirement for long course season: 10 hours (not applicable to intro swimmer families).

Team Unify is the system used for tracking hours. Volunteers must sign up online under “job sign up” by midnight prior to the start of the event. Volunteers are required to check in to receive credit for participation because this is how your participation is verified.

Volunteers must be 14 years of age or older. When volunteering at meets the volunteer must remain during the entire length of the volunteer shift. For non-meet events, the volunteer must remain during the entire length of the slot they are working unless excused by the head of the committee.

Incomplete season volunteer hours

If at the end of the season a family has not fulfilled their requirement, they will be charged $75 per hour not fulfilled. If a family chooses to leave the team without the intention of returning and requests their account be closed, they will be charged for unfulfilled service hours. The family must notify the team registrar by the 15th of the month prior to the close of their account. Any unworked hours will be charged $75 per hour during the next billing cycle.

Volunteering at meets:

Meet check-in times in order of reporting times (please check the signup frequently as times may change):

  • Coaches check in/hospitality: 45 minutes prior to WARMUPS.  If there are split warmup sessions, this means prior to the FIRST warmup. 
  • Marshal/heat sheet sales/clerk of course: 30 minutes prior to WARMUPS.  If there are split warmup sessions, this means prior to the FIRST warmup. 
  • All timer positions (timers/head timer/backup timer): 45 minutes prior to the start of the SESSION.
  • Announcer/awards/parade sign bearer/runner: 30 minutes prior to the start of the SESSION.

CIA swim meet positions

ANNOUNCER

** Training is required for this position **

  • Volunteers needed: one per session.
  • Arrival time: 30 minutes prior to the start of the session.
  • Age requirement: minimum 18 years old.
  • Make all necessary announcements over the PA system as requested by the referee/official, clerk of course, or the meet director.
  • Announce event information (event, heat, stroke, and distance).

AWARDS

  • Personnel needed: one to two per session.
  • Arrival time: 30 minutes prior to the start of the session.
  • Age requirement: minimum 14 years old. At least one adult is required.
  • Place pre-printed labels on ribbons/medals for swimmers.
  • Distribute remaining ribbons/certificates to teams at the end of the meet.
  • ** May involve some time after the meet to complete ribbons/medals , depending on the timing system.

CLERK OF COURSE

** Training is required for this position **

  • Personnel needed: one to two per session.
  • Arrival time: 30 minutes before the first warmup.
  • Age requirement: minimum 18 years old.
  • Assist the meet director and admin referee with any required tasks.
  • Confirm positive check-in of swimmers prior to the event being seeded by admin officials.
  • Works scratch table for finals.

DECK MARSHAL

  • Personnel needed: two per session, depending on the size of the meet.
  • Arrival time: 30 minutes prior to first warmup.
  • Age requirement: minimum 18 years old.
  • Maintain the deck for meet personnel and participants only.
  • Escort non-meet participants to the program pool, away from the meet.
  • Must not leave the position until a substitute is provided or until excused (must finish the session).
  • Monitor the entire pool area.
  • Ensure that swimmers behave in a safe manner (no running, abusive behavior, etc.).
  • Notify the coach of any swimmer who is behaving/acting in an unsafe manner.

HEAD TIMER

** Experienced timer is required for this position**

  • Personnel needed: one per session/per pool.
  • Arrival time: 45 before the start of the session.
  • Age requirement: minimum 18 years old.
  • Assist in training to all NEW lane timers.
  • Designate one timer on each lane to be the recording timer for that lane.
  • Operate multiple back-up stopwatches.

VOLUNTEER/SERVICE CREDIT CHECK-IN

** Training is required for this position **

  • Personnel needed: one total per session.
  • Arrival time: 45 minutes prior to first warmup.
  • Age requirement: minimum 18 years old.
  • Check in all meet personnel, both service credit and volunteer.
  • Coordinate with clerk of course for any position openings.
  • Provide completed check-in sheet to clerk of course.

LANE TIMERS/BACKUP TIMERS

  • Personnel needed: two timers per lane (16 for eight-lane pool/20 for 10-lane pool) and one backup timer per pool.
  • Arrival time: 45 minutes before the session starts.
  • Age requirement: minimum 13-year-old experienced swimmer with parent timing in the same lane.
  • No experience required. Training will be provided by the officials/head timer.
  • Check the name of the swimmer before the start of each race. Notify the head timer of any conflicts.
  • Operate the stopwatch and touchpad button used for the entire session. If the stopwatch fails, notify the head timer for a replacement stopwatch for that race.
  • Record times from both stopwatches on the lane/timer sheet for each swimmer.

RUNNER

  • Personnel needed: one to two per session/per pool.
  • Arrival time: 45 minutes prior to the start of the meet.
  • Age requirement: minimum 12 years old.
  • This position works actively with the clerk of course and the admin officials.
  • Collect lane/timer sheets from each lane at the end of each event.
  • Post event results.