Volunteering

Volunteering is expected of all parents and is existential to our organization's existence. Parent are expected to volunteer weekly during the season.

There are multiple ways to fulfill your volunteer obligation!

  • MEET VOLUNTEERS – You must volunteer every time your child swims in a meet. Family volunteers are the only wayTuesday meets run. Minimal training is required and many task can be done with small children.

  • VSL STROKE and TURN JUDGE - Meets cannot happen without Stroke and Turn Judges. If you have any swim experience, including just years year of cheering on the deck please certify to be a stroke and turn judge!

  • LEADERSHIP TEAM – Helps make Westover Waves happen! Typically 10 - 20 hours spread out over the year.

Meet Volunteers 

Volunteer Meet Sign Up

All parents are expected to volunteer every time their child participates in a meet. Each meets requires 25-30 parent volunteers to run. Additionally there are also opportunities to volunteer outside of swim meets and at your schedule. If you have young children, sign up for the first half of the meet, as they are typically done earlier than the older children.

Specific tasks are outlined below. Take note of difficulty level (most are beginner) and which are suitable if you have young children.

Sign-up online to volunteer for each meet. 

All Meets:

  • Timer (6 for each half) Beginner position. Record times for one lane of swimmers using your own phone. (Download the Swimmingly app (light blue)). Attend briefing at 5:40 (prior to meet), and work ½ of meet. See every start & finish up close.

  • Clerk of Course (2 each half) Beginner position, can be done with small children. Organize swimmers into lanes in the clerk of course area. On the job training and work ½ of the meet.

  • Stroke and Turn Judges (2 for each half) Requires prior training. Watch each event to ensure legal strokes and turns by swimmers. Attend briefing at 5:40 (prior to meet), and work ½ of meet. The best seat at every meet.​

Home Meets Only:

  • Set Up (5:00 - 6:00 PM) Beginner position. Especially good for parents in 8 and under group and can be done with small children. Set up pool deck, chairs, lane numbers, clerk of course area, starter/scoring tent & equipment. Please arrive no later than 5:00 PM.

  • Clean Up (9:30 - 10:00 PM) Beginner position. Best for parents of kids swimming late events. Can be done with small children. Clean up and put equipment away after the meet. Ensure pool deck is left tidy. Recruit friends and strangers to help as pool closes at 10.

  • Relay and Sweeps (2 for each half) Beginner position. One person during relays (events 1-7 during first half, and events 52,53, 60-62) to confirm legal take-offs of all relays. One person to identify finishing order of all races.​

  • National Anthem (1 for season) Beginner position. Can be done with small children. Recruit and prepare swimmer(s) to perform National Anthem at 2 home meets and Champs. Arrive at home meet by 5:30 PM to respectfully display flag, prepare performance, and respectfully put flag away. Works with starter to ensure everyone is ready to perform at 5:55.

Not During Meets:

  • Ribbons (Wed 6:30-7:30 PM) Beginner position. Can be done with small children and during your swimmer's practice. Place labels on ribbons and sort into folders during next day's PM practice.

  • Fundraising (Seasonal) Beginner position. Can be done with small children and at your schedule. Recruit local businesses as sponsors for next year, coordinate restaurant nights and the Belk fundraiser, and lead other fundraising ideas you wish to pursue.

  • Yard Signs (Pre Season) Beginner position. Can be done with small children and at your schedule. Starting mid June, collect the 11 yard signs from schools and parks, wash and inventory them and return them to team manager for storage. Also need volunteers to place yard signs next April.

VSL Stroke & Turn Certification

We rely on parent volunteers to serve as Stroke & Turn judges. Certification fees will be reimbursed upon reciept of certificate.

Stroke and Turn Officials 

 

Would you like the best spot at the pool to watch meets? Would you enjoy occasional splashes from swimmers to keep you cool in the heat? Become a stroke and turn official! 

 

Westover is required to have FOUR stroke and turn official at all meets (home and away). You DO NOT need prior experience with swimming or officiating! We also have a great group of certified officials who can help you along the way. Stroke and turn is how we help swimmers learn the rules of the sport while maintaining a fair competition opportunity for the teams. 

 

Volunteers officiate for one half of a swim meet and are only responsible for watching one quarter of the pool during each race. It’s easy! 

 

Next Steps: 

All stroke and turn officials must be certified through the Valley Swim League (VSL). Unfortunately, VHSL certification does not qualify for VSL certification. 

  • If you are USA Swimming certified, you are all set and do not need additional certification. We would love to have you join our officiating team! 
  • If you need certification, there are a few easy options: 
    • In person training with Aaron Hewitt on Thursday, May 29th at 6:30pm (likely at JMU) 
    • Virtual training with Aaron Hewitt on Monday, June 9th at 6:30pm (link forthcoming) 
    • Complete training via strokeandturn.com and be reimbursed for the cost. (This is best for those who cannot attend the local or virtual training) 

 

If you’d like to officiate this summer and are already certified or plan to attend an upcoming training, please let Sarah Whitley ([email protected]) know as soon as possible! She will provide details on the officiating process, certification, etc. 

 

We look forward to having you join our officiating team this summer! 
 

 

Leadership Team

 

The Westover Waves are not-for-profit, community organization. Your Leadership Team includes coaches & parent volunteers who serve in either Administrative, or Meet Management roles. All of us are in theses positions to make a positive impact on our children's development.

Following is the leadership team working for 2024 summer season. As you can see we have many openings that need to be filled for the season to happen. Please contact us [email protected] to help.

 

COACHES

  • Head Coach:  Vivienne Alleyne

  • Assistant Coaches:    Erin Newman, Lada Dmytriyev, Cindi Boyer, Bekah Bewley

ADMINISTRATIVE

  • Team Manager/Communications:  Emmy Paradise and Chance Ebersold

  • Treasurer: Stacie Mayfield

  • Westover Pool: A.J. Morris, Aquatics Director

  • 2025 VSL Representatives: Emmy Paradise & Sarah Riner

  • Publicity & Promotions: Open

  • Recognition/Celebration Coordinator: Open

  • Sponsorships: Sarah Riner and Chance Ebersold

MEET MANAGEMENT

Meet Director: John Webb

  • Volunteer Coordinator: 

  • Scorekeeper: 

  • Starters: 

  • Head Timers:  

  • Stroke & Turn: Sarah Whitley

  • Clerk of Course: 

Please contact us if you are interested in be part of the leadership team at [email protected].