Meet Volunteer Job Descriptions
Timer –Timers stand on deck with a stopwatch and clipboard. You will be assigned a lane. Using your stopwatch, you will record the time of the swimmer in your lane and write it down on your timing sheet, also indicating the name of the swimmer and the specifics of the race. You will then hand each timing sheet to the runner at the end of the race.
Backup Timer – Backup timer stands on deck with the timers and times each race. If a lane timer has a malfunction and needs a backup time, you would move to that lane and record the time for them.
Finish Judge – You stand on deck like a timer and watch as each swimmer touches the wall, determining first, second and third place. A finish judge from the other team stands on the other side doing the same thing. So usually you would use hand signals to each other to get a consensus on each place, then one of you writes it down on a sheet similar to a timing sheet, so that it can be turned in to be scored.
Stroke and Turn Judges – one provided by each team. Determine if a swimmer is swimming the stroke correctly and will disqualify if incorrect. Disqualifications will be determined by judges only and marked with red pen on time sheets. No time will be recorded for disqualifications. Judges will be the ones to inform swimmers of disqualification.
Marshal –You are responsible for herding younger swimmers! Your job would be to follow the meet sheet and gather the kids in order of races so that they are ready for their swim. The older swimmers marshal themselves but the younger ones (like 10 and under) sometimes need to be found, put in line, kept in line (lol), and have lots of questions answered!
Clerk – You sit at the scoring table and record swimmer times and places in the computer to help score the meet. As the runner brings in the timing and finish sheets, you work with the other team’s clerk to record times and finishes for each race. Then you get to help tally at the end and determine the winning team.
Reader – At home meets, we provide a reader to the two clerks. The reader reads the timing and finish sheets to the clerks who record times and places. Then the reader hands the results to the announcer to announce the kids’ places and times.
Runner – provided by the home team, collects the time sheets from the timers and delivers them to the reader
50/50 Sales – Sells 50/50 tickets at home meets.
Concessions – works the concession stand at home meets.
Parking/Clean Up – at home meet, directs cars where to park prior to meet. Clean up after the meet to keep our pool area clean prior to leaving for the day
Water – This person works throughout the meet to distribute water bottles to the timers, starters, clerk, marshal, etc. and offer them waters. Water should be purchased and chilled before the meet and you would want to bring it in a cooler.
Announcer – provided by the home team, announces swimmers in the water for each event, announces results of races, sponsor acknowledgement and Pledge of Allegiance or Star-Spangled Banner.
