Volunteering
Volunteers are needed for RACE to participate in Swim Meets; and to run our own.
Incentive
A volunteer book is located at the front desk of the Cascade Swim Center. Each family can create a page to record volunteer hours for RAPRD. For every 10 hours recorded per four months (Oct 1, Feb 1 & June 1), $25 is deducted from your swim dues. Examples of volunteering include RACEPAC Meetings, RAPRD Trail Maintenance Day, Timing/Officiating at Swim Meets, 13+ Year Old Swimmer Volunteering to teach Swim Lessons. Etc. A new RACE Volunteer Hours record page can be downloaded HERE.
Swim Lesson Volunteers: Anyone ages 12+, with a clean/completed background check, can volunteer to teach swim lessons. Volunteers are paired with Staff for training, and are considered first when eligiable for hire at age 14. This volunteering DOES count toward your RACE hours, so make sure to record them in the book.
Requirements
RACE hosts at least one Annual Swim Meet in Redmond. All RACE families are expected to attend the RACE meet(s) and volunteer in various capacities, or a $50 opt-out fee will be applied per swimmer. (Special exemptions apply to swimmers with conflicting meets, while traveling with RACE.) This volunteering is required and does NOT count toward volunteer hours.
Timers: In order to compete in swim meets, RACE is often required to provide Timers for the races. This is an excellent entry level team contribution and very simple. Training/preparation takes only a few minutes. Any Parent may be asked to Time at any meet. Training is available at the pool during practice, and select RACEPAC Meetings. This volunteering DOES count toward RACE Volunteer Hours, at any meet that is not hosted by RACE.
RACE Swim Meet Volunteer Roles
Announcer: Announces first, second and final calls for each event. Works closely with the starter to keep the meet running smoothly. The announcer will need to anticipate flow based on the number of swimmers, the stroke, the number of legnths to be swum, and the age of the swimmers. Training is required for this position.
Head Timer: Organizes and briefs the Lane Timers on their duties prior to the meet and is in charge of lane timers throughout the meet. The head timer has the authority to remove and replace and lane timer, with approcal of the home meet director. Previous experience required for this position.
"Bull Pen"/Pit Parent: Supervises the waiting area for a particular age group during meets, marks arms of swimmers with Event/Heat/Lane, ditributes event cards for relays, keeps track of swimmers - as best they reasonably can - between events and gets swimmers to be the ready bench on time with caps and goggles. For most age groups, several parents will share this job. This position is obviously more important for the younger swimmers, and the pit parents for the youngest aged swimmers are especially critical to the timely start of the meet. This job keep syou with your swimmer during the whole meet.
Runner: Reponsible for obtaining the completed event cards and DQ forms for each race from the timers and judges. The cards and DQ forms are delivered to the scoring table. The job title is very descriptive. Runners should have good tennis shoes that work well on slippery wet surfaces. Assigned to work for 1/2 the meet. This job keeps you moving around at the poolside and the time passes quickly.
Heat Winners: Determined the winner of each individual event heat and awards that swimmer a heat winner ribbon. Assigned to work for 1/2 the meet.
Ribbons: Places labels on ribbons; sorts and files ribbons into swimmer file folder. Assigned to work for 1/2 the meet. This job keeps you sitting down and out of the sun but may require you to keep working for a short while after the meet is over.
Concessions: Sells concessions. Helps set up and tear down concession stand. Assigned to work for 1/2 the meet.
Set Up: Sets up the pool area for the swim meet. Moves deck chairs, starting blocks, bleachers, sets up canopies, announcer stand and ready bench. This position requires time the day before, or early on the day of the event. May also require picking up equipment such as pads and electronic timing equipment.
Take Down: During the last few minutes of a meet, the crew begins taking down and storing items in preparation for vacating the pool immediately after the meet.
