Swim Team Volunteering Requirements
Our volunteers are the lifeline of our team. Our team can not function without your help!
Every swimmer MUST have a parent or other adult family representative, volunteer for at least one shift at EVERY meet in which they participate. Volunteering is a required part of swim meet participation and every parent/guardian agrees to this requirement when they register their child for the swim team. Swim meets, especially home meets, rely on a large number of volunteers. Swimmer’s who’s families have not complied with our volunteer requirements may not be eligible to compete in swim meets.
Returning Parents/Guardians
We would particularly like to encourage returning parents and guardians to complete the necessary trainings and sign-up for certified positions. You bring with you invaluable experience and knowledge from previous swim seasons that will help make swim meets run smoothly.
Suggested (but not required) progression of certified positions:
1.Safety Marshal- Very accessible to everyone, beginner and beyond
2.Clerk of the Course and Head Timer are great starting certified positions for ambitious first year and especially second year families and beyond!
3. Stroke & Turn Judge- Great for anyone who already has a strong foundation in stroke technique, perhaps from personal experience. No “years on team” required to be a stroke and turn judge but unless you come from a personal swimming background you may want to try this after a year or two on the team.
4. Scorekeeper- If you are a tech savvy individual who works great with computers and spreadsheets then this may be the job for you. You do not need any experience with any other aspects of swim to do this job.
4.Starter- A great starter really sets the tone for a great meet. You may feel most comfortable having been on the swim team a few seasons before trying this role but if you have an enthusiastic attitude and attention to detail, you could become a great starter after a year or two on the swim team.
5. Referee- A strong understanding and experience of all swim meet foundation and functions are needed for this position. A referee would likely be best served having knowledge and experience of a variety of the previously listed volunteer positions.
Don’t be intimidated by the word “certified”—these roles are not necessarily difficult but they do require additional training and some may be better understood after a year of swim team experience. Certified position trainings are offered online through the Rappahannock Swim League and consist of short video and question modules; Referee training does require attending a live online training.
Some trainings are brief and can be completed in as little as 30 minutes, while others may require more time and commitment. Trainings do not need to be completed all at once and may be done at your own pace. Once completed, proof of completion is submitted to the RSL via a Google form.
Let us help you…..to help "us" the team!
Please know that we will never abandon our volunteers and are happy to help you feel more comfortable volunteering for any certified role. If you are unsure about a role, we can connect you with an experienced volunteer to talk through the position or you may be able to shadow someone for part of a meet so you feel comfortable.
Ultimately, the more volunteers that we have who are certified and comfortable in a job, the easier it will be for everyone. So let us help you for the good of the team!
Feel free to contact your Volunteer Coordinator at:
More information regarding Certified Official Training can be found at the link below.
