VOLUNTEER JOBS – DESCRIPTIONS AND EXPECTATIONS

There are a variety of options for volunteering!  We’ve worked hard to ensure there is something for everyone that will fit your ability and schedule.

We have Home Meets, Away Meets, and Championship Prelim and Final Meets that all require different kinds of help. Regular season Dual Meets are split into two 1/2 meet shifts, First Half and Second Half – volunteers are needed for both.  We also host social events at the pool where volunteers are needed, including our end of the season banquet.

 

ANNOUNCER

Home Meets Only

Announcers announce each race and provide information about the swimmers and their times.  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 lengths to be swum, and the age of the swimmers. Training is required for this position.

 

AWARDS / RIBBONS COORDINATOR

Home Meets Only

Help recognize the swimmers’ accomplishments by taking on this flexible job that does not require you attend meets.  Print and label all event winner ribbons and deliver to Triangle Pool and the Away Team Pool. 

 

END OF SEASON BANQUET

We wrap up the season with a banquet to celebrate the swimmers and coaches and thank our wonderful Tigersharks community.  Volunteers are needed to help organize the event, provide desserts, and set up, clean up, and tear down decorations.

 

MEET DIRECTOR

Seasonal Job [filled for 2024 season]

The meet director(s) oversees the entire meet and is responsible for making sure everything runs smoothly.  Our Tigershark Parent Coordinators fill this role.

 

MEET SET UP AND CLEAN UP

Home Meets Only

Magically transform the pool to be meet-ready by helping stack pool deck chairs; set up the lane lines, Officials table, electronic meet equipment, and clear the deck.  When it’s all over, a new crew of volunteers transforms the pool back to its daytime state by tearing this all down and putting things away.

 

OFFICIALS

Ever dreamed of being an NFL referee?  Maybe an MLB umpire?  Now’s your chance!  Train to be a Midlakes Swim Official where you learn the ins and outs of Midlakes rules and fill a critical volunteer role to judge the legality of swim strokes during the meet. Attend the required two-hour training and then “scribe” for a seasoned official. Home Meets require a minimum of 4 officials and 2 relay judges.

MEET REFEREE / HEAD OFFICIAL

Seasonal Job [filled for 2024 season]

The “Big Boss” on the pool deck, the Referee is responsible for the deck to include strokes-and-turns and starts. The Referee ensures all Midlakes rules are enforced and applied appropriately and decides all questions arising during the meet, where a coach challenges or seeks to enforce a Midlakes rule.  Supervises all other Officials and the Starter.

  • Holds Officials meetings at the start of each Home Meet to discuss ground rules and answer questions. 
  • Meets with Coaches to approve any changes to the meet line up or resolve questions. 
  • May disqualify swimmers for any rules violation that the Referee observes. 
  • Signals the Starter before each race that all Officials and Timers are in position, the course is clear, and that the heat may start.
  • Arbitrates and has final decision authority where the opinions of judges differ or overrides any judge who is not correctly interpreting the applicable rules.

RELAY EXCHANGE JUDGES

Two judges needed per meet: 1 judge from the home team and 1 from the away team.  One exchange judge from each team will be positioned at the corners of the pool and be responsible for observing relay take-offs and exchanges.  Previous experience preferred.

STARTER

Home Meets Only
Must be a trained Midlakes Official

Starts each event with the announcement of the age and stroke and the words "SWIMMERS TAKE YOUR MARK," pauses to make sure that all swimmers are motionless, and then gives an electronic sound or a blast of a whistle. The Starter is the judge of false starts; the Starter restarts following a false start.

STROKE & TURN JUDGES

Must be a trained Midlakes Official

Lane judges ensure that swimmers follow the rules of their stroke and stay within their lanes during the race.  Two judges are present on deck during the entire meet: 1 judge from the home team and 1 from the away team.  Judges rule on infractions on their side of the pool. They observe strokes, turns, and finishes to see that swimmers comply with Midlakes rules and requirements for that stroke. 

 

RUNNER

Home Meets Only

Be the “eyes and ears” for our Stroke and Turn judges and coaches.  Runners transport and communicate important items, such as disqualification results, heat sheets, and events changes from coaches and judges to the Officials tent.

 

SAFETY MARSHALL

Home Meets Only

Safety First!  Help ensure everyone stays safe at the meet, including providing first aid or signaling for a pause in the meet, as needed.  Our Tigershark Parent Coordinators typically fill this role.

 

SCOREKEEPER / SWIMMINGLY

Home Meets Only – Seasonal Job
Must be Swimmingly trained

Sit poolside with an iPad and verify real time scores as they come in. The scorekeeper keeps track of the team scores and individual points for each swimmer.
Before the meet, the Scorekeeper will confirm the meet line up and make any changes in the Swimmingly system, after Head Official and Coaches approvals.  When the meet starts, proof the results as they come in, log any disqualifications in Swimmingly, verify results against the seed sheet and affirm that they are ready for publication. 
We are seeking a couple of dedicated volunteers to work both the First and Second Half of each home meet – two Scorekeepers will sit together at the Head Official Table for the duration of the meet.  You'll trade off leading a half of each meet. Our home meets cannot run without this very important position trained and filled!

SHARK SHACK

The sizzle of the BBQ, the warmth of a Cup O’ Noodles, the fizz of sparkling water … and snacks and treats galore!  The Shark Shack feeds our hungry swimmers and their families at every meet.   

CONCESSIONS LEAD

Home Meets Only – Seasonal Job [filled for 2024 season]

Plan our home meet concessions menu, and pre-order food. At the meet, prepare grilled food, oversee volunteers in food prep, cashier/sales, and clean up for all home meets. Count cash box pre and post meet. Keep inventory of all food and related items (silverware, condiments, etc). Coordinate coverage amongst your concession’s volunteers.

CONCESSIONS WORKER

Home Meets Only 

Working to support the Manager, concessions workers sell food and drinks to spectators and volunteers.  Requires making change, restocking items, and helping set up and clean up.

STAGING 

With so much fun happening, swim meets are raucous and can be super loud!  Help our younger swimmers know when and where to be for their events.  Stagers are positioned near the blocks, at the far end of the pool, and near the areas where Triangle parents and swimmers are set up.  Using a heat sheet, Stagers help call events and heats again, look for missing swimmers, ensure swimmers are lined up in the correct heat and lane, and get reminders about which stroke they are swimming.      

 

TECHNICAL STARTER

Home Meets Only

Hang out in the “Officials Tent” with a pool-side seat next to the Starter.  Use the Swimmingly App to start each race. When the buzzer sounds, tap your screen to start all the Lane Timer clocks, then you cue up the next event, and repeat! 

TIMERS

Get close to the action and meet all the swimmers!  Timers stand behind the blocks and are responsible for timing swimmers during their races.  Each meet requires timers at every lane to time each swimmer in each event.  It’s a critical part of the function of our meets – without it Swimmingly won’t work!  This job gives you the best view of the pool and the swimmers during their races.

HEAD TIMER

Home Meets Only

Organizes and briefs the Lane Timers on their duties prior to the meet and oversees the lane timers throughout the meet.  This position typically also is a Lane Timer or Swim Team Coordinator. Previous experience preferred.

LANE TIMERS

Records the swimmer’s time using the Swimmingly App. Each timer must bring a fully charged cell phone to the meet with the Swimmingly App downloaded and updated.  Each timer will be assigned a specific lane for the 1st or 2nd half of each meet.  There are two timers for each lane: 1 from the home team and 1 from the away team.  Both times are recorded in Swimmingly and become the official time.

BACKUP TIMERS

Two timers operating a manual stopwatch, one on each end of the blocks; two timers are needed for both the 1st and 2nd half of each meet.  Responsible for starting the stopwatch when the Starter begins each race and observing all Lane Timers for anyone who was unable to properly start the Swimmingly App.  Each Lane Timer needing a backup timer will raise his/her hand signaling for the stopwatch.