PARENT SUPPORT

Parent Support is crucial to the success of the Swordfish.  Volunteers are required to help with swim meets, coordinate special events, fundraise, and serve as board members and coaches.  Getting involved with the Swordfish is a great way to meet people, have fun, and teach your child about teamwork, community involvement, and commitment.  Many swim parents develop long-term friendships and enjoy the family-like atmosphere that develops when people work together. 

Parental Volunteer Minimum Requirements:

In order for the Swordfish to be successful, each family must volunteer 40 hours for the season (50 hours for mulitple swimmers). The Volunteer Coordinator will track family's hours and post them intermittenly.  Families unable to fulfill the 40 or 50 hour requirement by the end of the swim season will be charged $10.00 per unfilled hour via TeamUnify.      

Parental Responsibilities: 

  • Transport swimmer to workouts and meets on time.  
  • If not present on the pool deck during practice, be available by phone in case an emergency or cancellation arises.
  • Make sure all financial obligations are met on time.
  • Keep informed on current Swordfish events by checking the information posted on the Swordfish Facebook page, reading the emails sent out by the coaches and Board, and checking the team website.
  • Volunteer. Your time and support will be crucial to our success.
  • Families are urged to participate in fund raising activities, which have included Swim-A-Thons.
  • Children who are not swimming should be supervised at all times during practice and at meets.

Advice for Parents:

  • Your child needs your emotional, physical, and team support.
  • Be realistic in terms of expectations; factor in age and skill level; be aware of your child’s perception of your expectations; support but do not push your child.
  • Swimmers will experience plateaus in their performance and growth.  Swimmers will not shave time off their events at every meet…they will also gain time.  This is an expectable part of their growth and development.
  • Emphasize performance and effort, not just outcome. Your swimmer only has control over his/her performance. Define and measure success as doing your best and striving to reach your personal goals.
  • Give plenty of encouraging and rewarding statements.
  • Support the coaches by allowing them to be the expert; by remaining in the stands during practice; and by attending the coaches meetings.
  • At meets and at practice, assist in keeping the facilities clean and orderly; help pick-up and put away all equipment and help with pool covers; turn in left behind items to the coach.
  • Keep winning in perspective.
  • Remember: Parents Parent, Coaches Coach, and Swimmers Swim while having FUN!
  • Remember:  The only bad swim is the one in which they don’t participate!

Volunteer Opportunities:

Example of volunteer positions required for running a smooth meet:

  • Equipment Setup /Breakdown: Everyone is needed! Help set up easy-ups, timing chairs, lane lines, warning flags, timing system, snack bar, tables, etc; pack up all equipment and restore deck to the original condition.
  • Clerk of the Course: Assists meet administrator and officials to keep the meet events running on schedule; keeps track of registered swimmers and the events they are entered in.
  • Check-in/arm-marking: Checks swimmers in at the start of the meet and assists in arm-marking.
  • Assistant Statistician: Uses team computers to provide various forms for officials, timers and swimmers; helps seed events and print out reports.
  • Runners: Receives forms from computer area and delivers them to the proper destinations.
  • Head Timer: Sits near lane timers and starts 2 extra, back-up stop watched for each event.
  • Lane Timers: Sits in chairs at the end of each lane and uses stop watch to time each event.
  • Marshalling: Assists swimmers in getting their race cards and to their correct heat and lane.
  • Announcer: Provides swimmers and spectators with meet information and entertainment; and promotes businesses who sponsor and support RST.
  • Merchandise Sales: Organizes and sells apparel.
  • Snack Bar: Assists with preparation and sale of snack bar items.
  • Awards: Places labels on swimmers’ awards and sorts the awards by team.

Other volunteer positions:

  • Fundraising Coordinator
  • Team Photographer
  • Head of Social Functions