The mission of the YMCA of Greater Richmond is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. As volunteers through the YMCA organization, it is our intention that we continue to support the greater mission as well as use our members and parents for the greater cause and benefit of our swim team. 

**VOLUNTEERS are needed for each of the following positions during swim meets:

*Please let a coach know if you are interested in Head Referee, Starter, Head Timer, or Strokes and Turn Judge as these jobs require training. 

 

HEAD REFEREE

  • A thorough knowledge of strokes and turns is necessary.  Must be trained in strokes and turns.
  • Three to five years’ experience as strokes and turns judge is highly recommended.
  • Calls a “meeting” with coaches and strokes and turns judges prior to start of meet.
  • Must sign off on all DQ’s. 
  • Communicates closely with aquatics and meet directors.
  • The final arbitrator of any dispute, including the full authority and responsibility for the conduct of the competition in conjunction with the home team’s aquatics director.

STROKES AND TURNS JUDGE

  • It is highly encouraged to attend a volunteer training which shows the video from USS Swimming.
  • Needs to “shadow” an experienced stroke and turns judge for at least an entire meet.
  • Must be knowledgeable and familiar with DQ cards and the proper way to fill them out.
  • Interaction is with the head referee only.  Please direct all questions or concerns to the head referee.

STARTER

  • Inexperienced starters must “shadow” an experienced starter for at least half a meet.
  • Experienced starters may be “shadowed” in order to train inexperienced starters.
  • Responsible for knowing how to set up equipment.
  • Needs to practice speaking into starter for tone and speed.
  • The starter controls the “pace” of the meet.  Please keep the meet moving.

HEAD TIMER

  • Meets with timers prior to start of meet.
  • Ensures all stopwatches are working properly, verifies all timers have their timer sheets and reviews the process with them.
  • Must be visible to all lanes throughout the entire meet.
  • Needs to carry three (3) stopwatches as back up.
  • Every time an event starts, head timer starts two (2) stop watches in case of a malfunctioning stopwatch with a timer.
  • Must have all the requirements of a timer.

TIMERS

  • Needs to be able to operate a stopwatch correctly.
  • Verifies swimmer in their lane is in the proper lane (checks timer sheet).

CLERK OF COURSE

  • Recommended to have three (3) clerks of course per meet.
  • One person calls names.
  • Second person organizes and seats the swimmers in heats.
  • Third person releases swimmers to the blocks and assists person seating heats.

COMPUTER/TABLE WORKERS

  • Must be knowledgeable/familiar with Meet Manager/Team Manager software.
  • Table workers need to know how to verify results and place labels on ribbons.
  • Table workers verify that computer data entry is correct.

ANNOUNCER

  • Volunteer uses PA system or bullhorn to announce what event is being called to Clerk of Course and any other pertinent information.

RUNNERS

  • Recommended to have three (3) runners per meet.
  • First runner takes timer cards from timers to scoring table after each event, not heat. 
  • Second runner takes DQ cards from strokes and turns judge to head referee, then to scoring table.
  • Third runner assists other runners, posts results and gets DQ cards to coaches.

MITE PARENT

  • Assists mite swimmers to clerk of course and behind starting blocks for their events.
  •  Follows the direction from clerk of course to keep swimmers in appropriate seating order.