Swim Team Job Descriptions

NSC swim meets cannot run smoothly without our volunteers, and we are grateful for everyone who steps in to help out. Below is a list of the various jobs we need filled to run all of our home meets. Away meets require us to bring some volunteers as well (i.e. lane timers, bullpen workers, officials, runners).

Time Trials is a great low-pressure time to try out a new job. If you are interested in becoming an Official, the NSC offers three training sessions (free of charge) every May, prior to the beginning of the season. All Officials are required to attend at least one of these training sessions.

Please note: there are only two jobs below that are suitable for parents who need to also supervise young children - Concessions and Bullpen. When you sign up for a job, we ask you to leave these jobs open to those who need to utilize this option.

Announcer - Home meets only, 1 person per meet

Arrival Time: 30 minutes prior to meet start time

Finish Time: End of the meet

Special Notes: Cannot closely supervise young children; familiarity with Official’s whistle signals preferred.

  • Coaches will set up all sound equipment, including the microphone on the wood pool deck; test the microphone for sound;
  • Announce time and location of timers and officials meetings;
  • Announce and play the National Anthem;
  • At the signal of the Head Official, announce swim events and swimmers throughout the meet;
  • Read sponsor information, concessions offerings, and other announcements as needed.

 

Bag Tags/Heat Winners - Home meets only, 1 person per meet

Arrival Time: 30 minutes prior to meet start time

Finish Time: End of the meet

Special Notes: Cannot closely supervise young children.

  • Distribute bag tags to heat winners for each race. Heat winner bag tags are stored with the Computer equipment.

 

Bullpen/Clerk of Course - All meets, 2 people per meet

Arrival Time: 30 minutes prior to meet start time

Finish Time: When the final heat is on-deck

Special Notes: Suitable job for those who need to also supervise young children.

  • Coaches will set up the Bullpen tote and stand in the parking lot on the fence that backs the baby pool; verify that clipboards, sharpies, highlighters are in the box for marking off swimmer names/events.
  • Obtain three copies of the heat sheets; one copy for each worker, and one copy to be taped to the whiteboard.
  • Assist coaches in locating/identifying swimmers for their events and lining them up correctly.
  • Once swimmers are lined up correctly for their heat, one person will escort them to the appropriate lane, then return to the bullpen to escort the next group of swimmers.

 

Computers/Scoring - Home meets only, 2 people per meet

Arrival Time: 30-60 minutes prior to meet start time

Finish Time: End of the meet

Special Notes: Cannot closely supervise young children.

  • Coaches will assist with getting all Computer Operator supplies from inside the NTC and brought to the picnic tables on the wood deck.
  • Computer chairperson(s) will set up all Computer Operator equipment.
  • Assists in entering and/or checking times as they are entered into the computer system. Must check-in prior to going to the scorer’s table. This job involves circling the middle time for each swimmer on the lane timer sheets. If disqualified, Scorer will need to indicate that. Lane sheets need to be placed in event and lane order and handed to the computer input worker. 

 

Concessions - Home meets only, 2 people per meet

Arrival Time: 60 minutes prior to meet start time

Finish Time: End of the meet

Special Notes: Suitable job for those who need to also supervise young children.

  • Sells food and drink to our home team and the visiting team(s). 

 

Hospitality - Home meets only, 1 person per meet

Arrival Time: 60 minutes prior to meet start time

Finish Time: End of the meet

Special Notes: Cannot closely supervise young children.

  • Provide bottled water and snacks Timers, Scoring, and Officials throughout the meet. 

 

Head/Backup Timer - All meets, 1 person per meet 

Arrival Time: 30 minutes prior to meet start time

Finish Time: End of the meet

Special Notes: Timing experience required. Cannot closely supervise young children.

  • Responsible for leading the timers meeting approximately 15 minutes before the start of the meet.
  • Responsible for assigning lanes to Lane Timers and distributing Timesheets, clipboards, Dolphin timers, stopwatches, and pencils.
  • Start your stopwatch at the beginning of each race, and watch timers to see if any Lane Timer needs assistance. 
  • Rotate in as a lane timer as needed for restroom breaks, etc.
  • At the end of the meet, collect all clipboards, timing devices, and pencils.

 

Lane Timer - All meets, 9 people per meet (with exceptions for Invites, Time Trials, City/Classic)

Arrival Time: 30 minutes prior to meet start time

Finish Time: End of the meet

Special Notes: Cannot closely supervise young children. Must be on your feet for the entire meet and focused on each event.

  • Attend Timers Meeting approximately 15 minutes prior to the start of the meet to get instructions, lane assignments, timing devices, and clipboards with Timesheets and pencil to record times.
  • Check the swimmer’s name before each race to ensure swimmer is in correct event and lane for each heat.
  • Use Dolphin timer or stopwatch to record times in that lane and give timesheets to the Runners.

 

Meet Director - All meets, 1 member of the Executive Board per meet

Arrival Time: 60-90 minutes prior to meet start time

Finish Time: End of the meet

  • Supervises all volunteers and hands out name tags.  
  • Check volunteers in at front gate. 
  • Meet Director must find replacement worker if one does not show for assignment. 
  • Ensures compliance with NSC Rules and Bylaws throughout the duration of each meet.

 

Runner - All meets, 1 person per meet 

Arrival Time: 30 minutes prior to meet start time

Finish Time: End of the meet

Special Notes: Cannot closely supervise young children.

  • Attend Timers Meeting approximately 15 minutes prior to the start of the meet.
  • Act as the liaison between Timers and Scorers.
  • Collect Timesheets from Lane Timers and deliver them to the scoring table.
  • Collect DQ cards from the Officials and deliver them to the scoring table.
Officials - All Jobs Below Require NSC Officials Training

Head Official/Referee - Home meets only, 1 person per meet

Arrival Time: 30 minutes prior to meet start time

Finish Time: End of the meet

Special Notes: Cannot closely supervise young children. Must be on your feet for the entire meet and focused on each event.

  • Conducts the Officials Meeting approximately 15 minutes before the start of each home meet.
  • Determine that all Officials have attended NSC Officials Clinic and are wearing their badges.
  • Provides relief for Stroke and Turn Officials.
  • Secures Blocks and Lane Timers before each event.

 

Starter - Home meets only, 1 person per meet

Arrival Time: 30 minutes prior to meet start time

Finish Time: End of the meet

Special Notes: Cannot closely supervise young children. Must be on your feet for the entire meet and focused on each event. Requires significant meet experience.

  • Attends Officials Meeting approximately 15 minutes prior to the start of the meet.
  • Works the light/buzzer to start events. 

 

Stroke and Turn Judge - All meets, 3 people per meet

Arrival Time: 30 minutes prior to meet start time

Finish Time: End of the meet

Special Notes: Cannot closely supervise young children. Must be on your feet for the entire meet and focused on each event. 

  • Attends Officials Meeting approximately 15 minutes prior to the start of the meet.
  • Watches swimmers for stroke and/or turn violations.