Volunteer Job Requirement

Each family is required to fulfill 6 jobs by the end of the season. For All Stars, which swimmers must qualify for, and Champs, which is the last meet of the season against all 10 MSL teams, 1 job is required if your child participates.

 

 

Meet Structure

Swim meets are held on Saturdays and last around 5 hours but can fluctuate depending on the size of the team/pool. Warms up begin at 7:15AM with competitive events starting at 8:30AM and finishing around 1:30PM.

 

There are 60 events during a swim meet. Girls and boys swim each event separately except for the freestyle relay and medley relay. Girls events are odd and boys events are even.

 

 

Meet Job Overview

Most volunteer positions are divided into an AM or PM shift. The first half of the meet runs from 8:30AM to 11:00AM. The Second half of the meet runs from 11:00AM to 1:30PM. There’s a 15 minute break between the halves, allowing for PM volunteers to report to their jobs.

• AM: runs the first half of the meet–start of the meet until after the last backstroke event

• PM: runs the second half of the meet–start of the breast stroke event through the end of the meet

 

Jobs Around the pool deck…

 

Meet Set Up - Home meets only                                         

4 ppl needed

Arrive at the pool at 6:30AM to set-up Dolphin timing system, Colorado starter system, desks, folding chairs, PA system, speakers, canopy tents for desk and starting blocks, trash cans, etc. No experience required. Reports to Meet Ops Lead.

 

Meet Shut Down - Home meets only                                     

4 ppl needed

Begins around Event 56 and stays approx. an hour after the meet to put equipment away in the shed and tidy up pool area. No experience required. This is a good job for a volunteer with an older swimmer or a swimmer participating in later events. Reports to Meet Ops Lead.

 

Jobs At poolside…

8 & Under (8U) - Home and Away meets                     

AM Shift - 3 ppl, PM Shift - 3 ppl

Line up the 8 & under girls and boys in proper order and escort them to their assigned lanes. This position requires participation intermittently throughout both halves of the meet during all 8 & under events. AM shift reports to the Timing Desk at 8:15AM for instructions and lane assignment. PM shift reports during the break, around 11:00AM. This job is best for families with an 8U swimmer.

 

Head Timer - Home and Away meets                     

AM Shift - 1 pers, PM Shift - 1 pers    

Supervise and assist Timers/Recorders and keep backup time. At home meets, make lane assignments for each volunteer. At away meets, gets lane assignments from home team and assigns volunteers. Distribute and collect stopwatches and lane clipboards; give pre-meet instructions to both teams; provide specific instruction to new timers on how to do the timing job; cover for any bio/bathroom breaks during the meet; coordinate timer readiness with referee and starter; keep in touch with the timing desk to ensure that results are properly noted on heat sheets and correct any procedural errors by timers. AM shift reports to Timing Desk at 8:00AM. PM shift reports during the break, around 11:00AM. Training is required and provided by LVST. 

 

Referee - Home meets only                    

AM Shift - 1 pers, PM Shift - 1 pers

Before the First and Second half, the referee calls meeting with other Officials: Head Stroke & Turn, all other Stroke & Turn Judges and Runners and Starter. U.S. Swimming rules apply to conduct of the meet and swimming the strokes, turns, finishes and lane disqualification. Ensures that the stroke and turn process was followed correctly by all judges. Signs off on all DQ slips. Oversees all calls and relay starts. Is called upon in a disputed call. Training is required and provided by LVST. This job fulfills a family’s 6 LVST volunteer obligation for the season.

 

Starter - Home meets only                             

AM Shift - 1 pers, PM Shift - 1 pers

At home meets, the starter gets the races started (“Swimmers step up – judges and timers ready, swimmers take your mark,” and fires starter), and judges that the start was fair. The Starter sets the pace of the meet and keeps it on track. AM shift reports to the Timing Desk at 8:15AM. PM shift reports during the break, around 11:00AM. Training is required and is provided by the LVST.

 

Stroke & Turn Judges - Home and Away meets             

AM Shift - 1 pers, PM Shift - 1 pers

Each team supplies judges to check that all swimmers are competing fairly. Swimmers must start, swim, turn and finish according to the rules. The judges must disqualify anyone who swims improperly, with some exceptions. AM shift reports to the Timing Desk at 8:15AM. PM shift reports during the break, around 11:00AM. Training is required and is provided by the LVST. 

 

Timers - Home and Away meets                             

AM Shift - 9 ppl, PM Shift - 9 ppl

Times races using a plunger or a stopwatch. You may also be asked to record times on clip board for desk - 2 timers and 1 Recorder per lane in a combination with the other team. Volunteers needed for both home and away meets. Two shifts per meet, first-half (through the end of backstroke) and second-half (breaststroke through the end of the meet). AM shift report to the Timing Desk at 8:15AM. PM shift reports during the break, around 11:00AM. Head Timer will provide instructions before the start of each half and provide backup timing. At Time Trials we need 18 ppl for AM shift and 18 ppl for PM shift. 

 

Jobs At the Timing Desk...

Announcer - Home meets only                         

AM Shift - 1 pers, PM Shift - 1 pers

Uses the microphone to announce meet information such as event, heat, swimmer’s name and lane number, etc. The Announcer aids in keeping the swim meet on pace. AM shift report to the Timing Desk at 8:15AM. PM shift reports during the break, around 11:00AM. 

 

Auditor - Home meets only                         

AM Shift - 1 pers, PM Shift - 1 pers

Double checks entries on printouts from timing against hand written lane timesheets delivered by the Runner. Report discrepancies to the Touch Pad Operator. AM shift report to the Timing Desk at 8:15AM. PM shift reports during the break, around 11:00AM. Training required and provided by LVST. Best for those who are detail oriented.

 

Dolphin Timing System - Home meets only                    

AM Shift - 1 pers, PM Shift - 1 pers

Works closely with the starter and the Touch Pad software timing operator. In charge of resetting the timing capturing system, ensuring that the times align with the right event and heat. Notes file numbers generated by Dolphin Timing on paper copies of event heat sheets and hands off to Touch Pad Operator who verifies that all timers are online (visible to Dolphin System). AM shift report to the Timing Desk at 8:15AM. PM shift reports during the break, around 11:00AM. Training required and provided by LVST. Best for those who are detail oriented.

 

Runner - Home meets only                         

AM Shift - 1 pers, PM Shift - 1 pers

Picks up time sheets from the Timers/Recorders and brings them to the desk after each event. Convey disqualification (D.Q.) slips and other communications/messages between meet desk, officials, and timers during home meets.

 

Touch Pad Operator - Home meets only                 

AM Shift - 1 pers, PM Shift - 1 pers

Verifies that all timers are online (visible to Dolphin System). Processes meet results, imports Dolphin results files into Touchpad software, verifies consistency of times within prescribed MSL deviation of 0.3 seconds, discards outliers, enter DQs, print meet results, print ribbon labels and add or remove swimmers as needed.

 

Jobs At Snack Bar…

There is a Snack Bar at every home meet and a mini snack bar at Time Trials. The Snack Bar Lead will provide the details to all volunteers. 

 

BBQ - Home meets only                                                 

1 pers needed

Job starts around 10:30AM to heat up the grill. Grill burgers, hotdogs and other food options. Shortly before the meet ends, clean BBQ grill, check propane levels, wash utensils and properly store grill and equipment for the next home meet.

 

BBQ Assistant - Home meets only                                   

1 pers needed

Job starts around 10:30AM to prep condiments, buns, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cheese for orders. Assist the grill master in taking orders. Shortly before the meets ends, put away condiments, left over food, supplies and clean up area. 

 

Snack Bar Lead - Home meets only                                   

1 pers - Filled

Coordinate all snack bar procedures, purchasing and activities for meets and all events. Oversees the snack bar volunteers at set up and clean up. Checks inventory of supplies prior to meets and maintains inventory records. This job fulfills a family’s 6 LVST volunteer obligation for the season.

 

Snack Bar Purchaser - Home meets only                                

1 pers - Filled

Purchase and receive food, supplies before meets and events. Keep inventory of food, supplies and equipment. Keep food, supplies and equipment organized in Clubhouse cabinet, fridge and shed. This job fulfills a family’s 6 LVST volunteer obligation for the season.

 

AM Snack Bar Assistants - Home meets only                           

1 pers needed

Arrive to pool at 6:30AM to set up snack bar supplies stored in the shed, Clubhouse storage and kitchen. Prep any foods to be sold at the meet. During the first half of the meet, assist with food sales or cashier. Shift ends after Backstroke ends, Event 15.

 

PM Snack Bar Assistant - Home meets only                            

1 pers needed

Report to Snack Bar after Backstroke ends, Event 15. During the second half of the meet, assist with food sales or cashier. Starting at the Freestyle relay, event 56, place all perishable foods in the fridge and dry goods in kitchen cabinets. Pack up snack bar supplies and put back in shed/Clubhouse storage, clean Clubhouse and kitchen.

 

Jobs Throughout the Season…

 

Photographer                                                

1 pers needed

Take photos at 2 social events and 4 meets. Create a 10 minute slideshow for Awards Night to commemorate the season’s events. This job fulfills a family’s 6 LVST volunteer obligation for the season.

 

Ribbons - Home and Away meets

1 pers needed

In early April, take home ribbon bins and organize folders for each swimmer. At home meets, this volunteer works with the Timing Desk to place computer-generated labels on appropriate ribbons, then files the ribbons in each swimmer’s family folder. At away meets, bring ribbon bins to the meets. After event 16 report to the Timing Desk, ask for printed labels and begin sticking labels onto ribbons and file them. No experience required. Ribbons from home meets can be done at home. Bring completed swimmer folders on Monday after the meet before 4PM for kids to pick up their ribbons. This job fulfills a family’s 6 LVST volunteer obligation for the season.

 

Walkers                                              

1 pers needed for Each Weekday

On your designated day, meet Swim School and 8 & Under swimmers at Lucas Valley Elementary (LVE) aftercare and walk them to/from the pool. Kids will change in and out of swim gear at aftercare.

• 3:10PM - Pick up swilm school kids listed on the clipboard from San Rafael Aftercare and Recreation Reimagined. Take attendance before walking swimmers to pool. Once at pool, have kids set their gear along the upper deck benches. Wait for instructors and coaches to call swimmers for lessons.

• 3:45PM - Pick up 8 & Under kids at San Rafael Aftercare. Take attendance and walk kids to pool. Once at pool, have kids set their gear on the upper deck benches. Wait for coaches to call swimmers for practice.

• 4:00PM Swim School ends - help kids collect their swim gear and take attendance before walking them back to aftercare programs. 

• 4:45PM 8 & Under practice ends - help kids collect their swim gear and take attendance before walking back to aftercare programs. Return clipboard to San Rafael Aftercare and Recreation Reimagined.

This job fulfills a family’s 6 LVST volunteer obligation for the season.