Everything You Need To Know About Volunteering (We Hope)!
Volunteering is our opportunity to show the kids what true teamwork is, and the best part is WE are very good at it! There will be bumps along the way, to be sure, but somehow we manage to pull it off season after season and our system has become a model for other sports organizations around Marin. Keep your sense of humor and know that veteran families are happy to show new families the ropes. Most importantly, the coaches, leadership team, and the kids are VERY grateful for what we do!
Volunteer Jobs
Below are your step-by-step instructions for signing up for your volunteer jobs--which will open at 10:00am, February 13th. Please note that families with ONLY tadpoles or ONLY high school swimmers on the team have NO volunteer obligation.
You will need to Log Into Your SportsEngine Account to sign up for the jobs you want.
For the 2026 season, all families are required to volunteer for a minimum of 18 points – this means your family will work approximately 5 times. Not a bad deal, especially when you consider what the kids get out of our efforts!
Families can choose from among 3 types of jobs to fulfill their commitment. Points per job vary, but we trust you will be able to add to 18 on your own. For the most part, points per job break down as follows:
All Season Job. Most are 18 points. You'll sign up once, but then be contacted by a 'lead' who will ask you to sign up separately for approximately 5 shifts or times, for a total of 18 points. Most all Season jobs directly support the running of our swim meets (eg Officials, meet desk, set-up, breakdown, team gear, line up leads).
Or
Meet Jobs. Most are 4 points this season (we are hosting 5 home meets this year) and are completed in either the first half or second half of the meet. A seasoned lead will help teach you these 'day of' meet shift jobs (eg snack bar, ribbons, timing, runner, etc.).
Or
Event Jobs (Lead and Crew). Most event lead jobs are 14 points, but our team's bigger events are worth 18 points, and some of the smaller events are worth 10. Events are generally 'socials' that we run for swimmers and their families, usually during the week. If you work as part of an 'event crew', those jobs are mostly worth 3 points this year. Crew jobs include serving pizza or hot chocolate, setting up or cleaning up after an event, or counting laps at our annual lap-a-thon. Most events are held during the week.
Click here for a complete list of job descriptions by job type, with point values and requirements, or look under the Volunteering menu option on the home page.
Job sign-ups are on a first-come, first-serve basis, and sign-ups will open on February 13th and close on April 1st. Lead roles are often pre-filled to assist the board with operational leadership.
Is Buying Out of the Volunteer Commitment an Option?
The answer is yes and no. The quality of the Tidalwaves' program (and all Marin Swim League team programs) is based on the extraordinary commitment of volunteers over the league's 50+ years of community building history. By committing to keeping the swim program strong, we are also committing to keeping our community strong. We get that it can feel overwhelming, especially to our new families. Our seasoned volunteers are happy to share their experiences and answer questions. We’ve all been there! NEW in 2025, we altered our buyout pricing to more closely align with the team's needs for volunteer engagement as follows:
- A full 18 point buyout is now $1300
- A 14 point buyout is now $700
By working just 1 timing, snack bar serving, hot chocolate serving, lap counting, ribbon label pressing, etc. shift, you help the team and we reduce your buyout fee by $600. (Yes, the first 4 points of work are worth $150/point and the remaining 14 are worth $50/point).
Signing up for all your points by April 1st allows us all to plan for a fun and rewarding season for swimmers and parents.
The Tidalwaves' Board reserves the right to close out non-meet critical jobs in the event that we do not have enough families available to work all jobs. Covering meet jobs is our first priority.
All questions about volunteer requirements and jobs should be directed to Lisa Butcher, our volunteer coordinator at [email protected].
What are the exact steps to sign up to volunteer (Before April 1st)?
- Sign into your Sports Engine Motion Account at www.gowaves.com
- Select the “Events/Jobs” tab in the horizontal blue menu bar (after February 14th at 10:00 am).
- In the Event Category drop-down menu, select "Volunteer Jobs".
- Under each of the three Job categories: All Season/Lead Jobs, Meet Jobs, Event Jobs, you will see a "Job Signup" button.
- Click on the "Job Signup" button for the job category that you are interested in. You will be taken to the Job Sign Up page.
- Listed in alphabetical order, and by date, are all the jobs of that type. (Example: "Timer 1st Half"). Click on the checkbox in front of the empty slot that you want to sign up for.
- Select the "Sign Up" button. A pop-up button will appear for you to enter your optional contact information. Once entered, confirm your selection(s) by selecting the "Sign-Up” button in the pop-up window.
What if I want to Sign Up for Jobs After April 1st?
- If you are slow to sign up, after April 1st, please find the jobs you want to sign up for and then contact Lisa at [email protected], and ask her to sign you up! After April 1st, we need to be aware of any changes to the volunteer system.
- Remember, each job you work will be applied against the $1300 assumed 18 point volunteer buyout charge you will owe the team. That means working just 1 timing shift will not only help everyone have a better season, it reduces your potential volunteer buyout bill by $600 ($150 x 4 points). That is a good deal! After that first shift, each shift will reduce your potential buyout bill by $50/point.
How do I view the jobs that I have signed up for, and check to see if I received credit for my jobs worked?
- Sign into your account.
- Select the "Events/Jobs" tab in the main Sports Engine menu bar.
- Select the "Reports" tab in the grey header bar.
- Select the first report option, "Job Sign Up Report for My Account".
- Enter the dates, 2/1/2025 to 7/5/2025.
- Select the "search" button next to the dates.
- Your report will be generated and available for your review online.
What if I can’t work my volunteer job?
Until APRIL 1 st you can use the “remove Signup ” button to remove the sign-up if you no longer want to work that job. You’ll then want to find another job to ensure you meet your point requirements. It can be tricky to find a available jobs mid season.
Important: after that date, if you cannot make the selected volunteer assignment, YOU are responsible for finding another volunteer replacement to trade spots. In order for everyone to get the correct credit, you will need to contact the Volunteer Administrator, Lisa Butcher, with that information. ([email protected])
To find a replacement :
- Sign into your Sports Engine Account at www.gowaves.com
- Select the “Events/Jobs” tab in the horizontal menu bar.
- In the Event Category drop down menu, select "Volunteer Jobs".
- Under each of the three Job categories: All Season/Lead Jobs, Meet Jobs, Event Jobs, you will see a "Job Signup" button.
- Click on the "Job Signup" button for the job category that you are interested in. You will be taken to the Job Sign Up page.
- Choose a volunteer you would like to trade with.
- Select the “Contact Members” option under "About Us>Contact" on the horizontal menu of the home page. You will be taken to the “Members Search” page. Enter the last name or select display all and here you can locate the replacement volunteer's contact information.
- Or, use the Facebook group to do a shout-out or SOS to see if someone is willing to switch with you.
What if I don’t complete my volunteer commitment for the season?
Sign-ups open February 13th and close April 1st and are on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you do not complete, do not fulfill, or do not show up for your jobs, you will be assessed a $50/point fee for each point not fulfilled up to 14. The last 4 points will be billed at $150/point, for a total of $1300 for the 18 point volunteer requirement. More importantly, however, the team and the kids are counting on each of us to do our share.
Please remember that a similar volunteer structure exists for every team in the Marin Swim League and that all of the teams depend on the work of volunteers to make the swim experience great for the kids. It's true for most youth sports, nowadays, we’re just more organized than many of them.
Can I get credit if I fill in for another volunteer on the day of a meet?
This is a long shot strategy and one we do not encourage. We have floater jobs to fill ‘no show’ volunteer spots and then if we really get stuck, we ask for volunteers who are willing to do extra. To ensure the smooth running of meets as well as fairness to everyone, we need commitment and coordination ahead of time. We carefully check-in volunteers at every meet and follow-up with no shows after the meet to ensure there are no surprises with end of season volunteer penalty billings.
We do not honor end of season statements such as, “I took over for someone at X meet and didn’t tell anyone, can I have credit for that?”
Questions about volunteering should be directed to [email protected].
