Volunteering FAQs
 
What is MICC Silver Dolphins Volunteer Policy? 
Volunteering is a requirement for our team.  Parents of swimmers are required to volunteer for EVERY SWIM MEET in which their child(ren) participate(s). Families who fail to fulfill their job assignment are subject to a $50 fine for each occurrence.
 
Why do I have to volunteer?
Each Away meet requires 26 volunteers and each Home meet requires 40 volunteers.  These meets can not happen without your help.   If your child participates in a swim meet you are REQUIRED to be available to volunteer for a portion of that swim meet.  Our swim team requires parents to be actively involved in all aspects of our swim meets and social events. Timers, judges, concessions attendants, announcers, starters, and runner are a few of the positions which are filled by parent volunteers. 
 
I am an Over 15 swimmer, what type of volunteer jobs will I have?
Older Silver Dolphins will help with the Little Dolphin Program, set-up and clean up at swim team social events, help at swim meets and support the team in other ways. For more information contact Krissy Mullen @  [email protected].
 
Can I request a specific volunteer position?
Yes, if you would like to request a volunteer position or time slot, please enter it using the “Job Sign Up” button on that event’s Team Unify page.  While we will try to honor your request for a volunteer position, it may be necessary to change your assignment to meet the needs of the team.

Do I have to request a volunteer position?
No, If you do not request a volunteer position on Team Unify by 5 pm on the Sunday prior to the meet, you will be automatically assigned a volunteer job.   
 
What if I have a last minute conflict and an unable to fulfill my volunteer assignment?
If you are unable to volunteer it is your responsibility to find a replacement and email [email protected] notifying us who will take your place.  
 
Who can fulfill my family’s volunteer requirement?
A family’s volunteer commitment may be fulfilled by any member of the family or designated person over age 15. Some positions may have minimum age requirements and/or training requirements.  Please note when you sign up who will be fulfilling the duty.
 
Are there only volunteer opportunites at swim meets?
No, volunteering help is also needed at social events.  Please sign-up to help at our social events including the Tie Dye Night, Lip Sync Contest and the Awards Banquet.
 
When do I have to volunteer?
Most volunteer jobs are in shifts and only last half of the meet.  
 
First Half Volunteering is from Event #1 to Event #38 (approximately 5:15 - 7:00 pm)
 
Second Half Volunteering is from Event #39 to Event #78 (approximately 7:00-8:30 pm)
 
What are the responsibilities of my volunteer assignment?
Assistant to Computer Operator: Help organize meet results to enable computer operator to enter times and DQs into the Team Unify system.
 
Check-in: Arrive 15 minutes before MICC warm-ups with 2 copies of the Volunteer Assignments, coaches will have heat sheets. Write parent assignments on swimmers' heat sheet. Check-in both swimmers and volunteers.  Contact the volunteers listed as backups if a volunteer does not show for their assignment.  Document any volunteer changes for volunteer coordinators. Right before meet give remaining swimmer heat sheets to Coach Katie.  This job is recommended to experience volunteers with knowledge of the team.
 
Head Timer: Make sure MICC timers are in their lanes at the beginning their session. Check-in will provide the list of MICC timers. Have the announcer call timer's name if missing. Act as a backup timer.
 
Officials, Starter, Stroke & Turn Judge, Relay Takeoff Judge, Referee and Announcer: These jobs require special training and are assigned by the team managers. If you are interested in training or are experienced in any of these positions, please contact our Swim Meet Officials Coordinator, Krista Nowakowski  klnowakowski@gmail. com.
 
Ribbons: Transfer preprinted labels onto the appropriate award ribbons. This job starts in the 2nd Half once the 1st 1/2 results are complied. Kids love ribbons :)
 
Backup Volunteer:  Please sign up for an open volunteer slot first.  If we are fortunate enough to have all of the volunteer positions filled, please sign up to be a backup volunteer.  Sometimes unforeseen circumstances happen (i.e. a swimmer gets sick), and backup volunteers are really important for keeping the meet going!
 
Coach's Assistant/Floater:  Support coaching staff as needed including timing, running, and finding swimmers
 
Root Beer Float:  A Silver Dolphin tradition, prepare root beer floats for everybody at the end of home meets.
 
Runners: Collect the completed timing sheets from the timers and the DQ slips from the officials and brings these items to the computer table for data entry.
 
Timers:  NO experience required.  You will need to attend the timer meeting right before the beginning of the meet to get your stop watch and instructions.  Each lane has 3 timers. Some pools, including MICC, have an electronic timing system.  The electronic system acts as one of the timers, then there is timer from both the Home and Away teams.  If the pool does not have an electronic timing system, there will be an additional timer from the Home team.
 
For more information on volunteering, please contact our Volunteer Coordinators at SwimTeam @mercerislandcc.com .