Harper's Choice Challenge
Volunteer Job Descriptions
Starter (only for away meets and Time Trials): must have attended training to be a starter
The starter starts each race with the buzzer. The starter announces the event, heat, stroke, and distance. Then he/she will say, "Swimmers, take your mark" and sound the buzzer. Swimmers cannot move after they have taken their marks until the buzzer sounds. The starter must attend a CNSL training clinic each season.
Referee (only for home meets and Time Trials): must have attended training to be a referee
The home team is responsible for supplying the meet referee. The referee has full authority over all the officials and assigns and instructs them before the meet. The referee also resolves all matters relating to the conduct of the meet. The referee may double as the starter or a stroke and turn judge but should have at least one season’s experience as an official.
Stroke and Turn Judges: must have attended training to be a stroke and turn judge
Stroke and turn judges are specially trained to determine whether a swimmer swam a particular stroke correctly, initiated a proper turn, and finished correctly. When a swimmer makes a mistake, these people try to tell the swimmer what needs to be worked on to correct the problem. Coaches should be consulted for clarifications. Stroke and turn judges must attend a CNSL training clinic each season.
Clerk of Course (new information TBA)
This is a key position at every meet. Each team has its own Clerk of Course. All swimmers must check in with the Clerk as soon as they arrive at a meet. Six and under swimmers have a "Pied Piper" to assist them. We try to have a parent in charge of each relay for the younger swimmers.
Timers
Timers (2 for each lane) are always at the finish end of the pool. Events of 50, 100, or 200 yards always begin and end with the timers at the deeper end of the pool. The 25-yard events begin at the deeper end and finish at the shallow end. This means that the timers must switch ends for the 25-yard distances. In each lane, the timers' watch times are averaged by the scorers so that swimmers receive their official time and can then be ordered for placement.
The head timer is responsible for recruiting timers for all meets and supervising timers at home meets. The head timer normally times each event as a backup timer so that if a timer misses a start, the head timer can fill in for that race. If no one needs a backup time, then the head timer generally times the fastest swimmer.
Sweep Judge (new information TBA)
Each team supplies one sweep judge for each meet. Sweep judges sit on one side of the finish end and call out the lane numbers by order of finish for each heat. This job takes some time to become experienced and proficient.
Sweep Recorder (new information TBA)
Sweep recorders sit next to the sweep judge and record the lane numbers in the order that the sweep judge calls them out. A runner then picks up the sweep sheet and take it to the scorers’ table at the end of each heat.
Scorers (new information TBA)
Each team provides at least 2 scorers for each meet. Scorers use the timers’ times and the sweep sheets to determine the official order of placement for all events according to the CNSL Scoring Instructions. This job involves averaging times and recording the official results.
Ribbon Writers (new information TBA)
Each team is assigned a table for their ribbon writers. Most teams have at least 4 ribbon writers per meet. The home team is responsible for pre-writing (or applying labels) some of the information (meet name and date, event name, age group, and sex) and organizing the ribbons prior to the meet. The ribbon writers then take the event cards from the scorers, which have the official placement noted on them, and fill out the items on the ribbon label (name, time, and place).
Heat Winner Ribbon Distributor (only for home meets)
Distributors stand at the finish end of the pool and give the winner of each heat a heat winner ribbon.
Six and Under Pied Piper
The Pied Piper assists in getting the six and under swimmers gathered so that he/she can organize the swimmers and line them up on deck. Parents are asked to pay attention so that their swimmers do not scatter too far. The Pied Piper gets the swimmers for the freestyle events during the medley relays, for the backstroke events during the freestyle events, and for the free relays during the breaststroke events.
Deck Coordinators
Deck coordinators stand on the starting end of the pool (look for the blue tent) and assist the swimmers in lining up in their proper heats and lanes. They may consolidate heats when there are empty lanes.
Runners (only for home meets and Time Trials; new information TBA)
At the beginning of each heat, runners take the event cards from the swimmers or deck managers and “run” them to the proper timers on the opposite end of the pool when events are only one length of the pool. They will then pick up the finished event cards from the timers and the sweep sheets and take them to the scorers’ table at the end of each heat. It is recommended that at least 3-4 people be available for this job, as it gets very hectic.
Concessions Workers
Workers will set up and sell refreshments at the team snack bar during home meets and Time Trials. Most people work 1-2 hour shifts, so many workers are needed. The concessions coordinator is responsible for overseeing the set up of the snack bar and the purchase of food items. The proceeds from the snack bar are used to purchase items needed to run the team and awards.
