Parent Service Responsibility Policies

The YMCA is an organization dedicated to building strong kids, strong families and strong communities. Youth participating in YMCA programs are more resistant and resilient to the negative social pressures, which they are exposed to every day at school, in your neighborhood, or through the media. By having positive role models, engaging in physical activity, volunteering, learning about YMCA core values, kids on the swim team are more likely to have a higher number of internal and external developmental assets, which ultimately can help them live healthier lives. Because of reasons like these, combined with an integral need for cooperative support at events and functions, the YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities Swim Teams have implemented a new Parent Service Responsibility Policy.

Team Membership

As members of the YMCA Swim Team, parents are needed to serve on the Swim Team Advisory Committee, coordinate special events, support the YPARTNERS fundraiser if your team has one and, most importantly, to help with swim meets. However, whichever areas you participate in, you can take great satisfaction in knowing that you are key in making the YMCA Swim Team experience something that all swimmers will remember for the rest of their lives, and that they will be healthier in spirit, mind and body because of your support and cooperative help.

Home Swim Meet Service

• Parents of all YMCA swimmers who have been entered to swim in any given home meet are required to work at that meet, a sign up will be available the week before the meet for assignment preferences on the team website. Those that do not sign up will be assigned jobs and shifts during the meet. The required minimum number of shifts (which are usually 2-hours in length) per-family per-meet is one-shift per-day of competition. The maximum number of shifts assigned per-family per-meet will vary - it will depend on the size of the meet and the number of team swimmers entered in that meet.
• Either the Meet Director or the Parent Service Coordinator will assign jobs and shifts. However, parents are able to request specific jobs and shifts up-until the meet entry deadline.
• All meet workers must ensure they check-in with the Meet Director or Volunteer Coordinator upon arrival for their shift. If a parent is unable to work an assigned shift, any other family member, relative, friend, or even a high school student who needs community service hours, may be substituted (they must be over 12-years of age). It is the parent's responsibility to find a substitute should one be needed. Parents must inform the Parent Service Coordinator prior to the first day of the meet, and have their substitute sign-in upon their arrival for the shift.
• Once a meet job and shift schedule is finalized (usually by the Wednesday before each meet), it will be posted on the Team's website, and emailed. At the meet, the schedule will be posted around the pool on brightly colored paper and at the Meet Director's table.

Away Swim Meet Service

If a YMCA Swim Team parent accompanies a swimmer to an away meet, they may be asked to work at least one timing shift per-day of competition. Officials working at away meets are exempt from this requirement.

Twin City Invitational, Sectional and State Meets

• Parents of all YMCA swimmers who have been entered to the above swim meets are required to work at that meet, a sign up form will be available the weeks before the meet for assignment preferences. Those that do not sign up will be assigned jobs and shifts during the meet. The required minimum number of shifts (which are usually 4-hours in length) per-family per-meet is one-shift per-day of competition. The maximum number of shifts assigned per-family per-meet will vary - it will depend on the size of the meet and the number of team swimmers entered in that meet.
• Either the Meet Director or the Parent Service Coordinator for the host team/event will assign jobs and shifts based on the swimmer entry report. However, parents are able to request specific jobs and shifts up-until the meet entry deadline.
• All meet workers must ensure they check-in with the Meet Director's table upon arrival for their shift. If a parent is unable to work an assigned shift, any other family member, relative, friend, or even a high school student who needs community service hours, may be substituted (they must be over 12-years of age). It is the parent's responsibility to find a substitute should one be needed. Parents must inform the Parent Service Coordinator prior to the first day of the meet, and have their substitute sign-in at the Meet Director's table upon their arrival for the shift.
• Once a meet job and shift schedule is finalized (usually by the Wednesday before each meet), it will be posted on the Team's website, and either mailed or phoned through to each assigned family. At the meet, the schedule will be posted around the pool on brightly colored boards and at the Meet Director's table.

It is extremely important to note that no child will be discriminated against, kept out of the water, or turned away from the team, due to lack of parental service participation. In addition, good communication goes a long way to preventing misunderstandings and ill will. We ultimately rely on the honesty, responsibility, respect and the caring attitude of all parents.

Background Check

All volunteers and staff with the YMCA must go through a background check before they may work with members. The process is confidential and paid for by the YMCA. The steps to completing the background check are listed below. If you have questions about this process please contact your Aquatic Director.

Please follow the steps below to complete your screening:

1. Gather your address information (street, city, state, & zip code) for the last 7 years.

2. Click on the following link and follow the prompts for information: https://secure.sterlingdirect.com/portals/bgconsent.aspx?icode

Invitation Code: 655118CD1A1A4F-B8BFF6BA

3. Click Submit once you have completed the form.

Please complete the background check screening process within 5 DAYS through Sterling Info Systems. This form is provided online and only takes 5 minutes to complete.

If you have questions about this process please contact the Aquatic Director

You may sign up to volunteer for home meets from the team website.