Kings Charter Swim Team

Volunteer Requirements

Running an efficient swim meet requires more than 70 volunteers. It is critical that each family sign up for and report to their required volunteer assignments. Volunteer signups will be completed after registration through our team website. An email notification will be sent when the volunteer signups are available.

1. Each family must work 6 half-meets.
2. All volunteer commitments must be made by May 31st, your swimmer will not be eligible to swim until volunteer commitments have been made.
3. Returning families are encouraged to maintain a certified position (clerk of course, strokes and turns, starter, referee). Please contact our volunteer coordinators for more information.
4. Families of senior swimmer (ages 15-18) are required to work 3 half-meets; if there are younger siblings, then the full 5 half meets requirement must be fulfilled.
5. The parent volunteer is responsible for finding a substitute if they are unable to fulfill their chosen assignment; notification must also be sent to the volunteer coordinators if a substitute will be used.
6. If a parent fails to report for their assigned position, the swimmer(s) will not be permitted to swim in the next meet, unless the parent commits to an additional half meet.
7. In the event of a meet postponement or rescheduling due to weather, volunteers are still required to work their assigned position at the new time and date. If you are unable to do so, you are responsible for finding a substitute and notifying the volunteer coordinators.

Volunteer Positions

All volunteers must check-in with the Volunteer Coordinator at 5:30pm to ensure all positions are accounted for prior to the beginning of the meet.

First half positions start at 5:30pm and go until the conclusion of Event 27 (approx. 8:30pm). Second half positions will start at Event 28 and go until the end of the meet (approx. 11pm).

The following is a list of the available jobs and a brief job description to help you select the right job for you.

Great jobs for 1st time volunteers - no prior experience necessary.

• Timer: Times each event (with 2 others) in an assigned lane. One timer is responsible for recording each of the three recorded times on the timer sheet. A timers meeting will be held immediately prior to the meet to distribute watches and review rules.
• Runner (Home only): Distributes heat sheets to officials and time cards to the timers at the beginning of the meet. During the meet, takes completed time cards from the timers to the head table. Also picks up DQ cards from the Strokes and Turns judges, getting them signed by the referee and then taking them to the head table. Distributes bottled water to volunteers during the meet.
• Concession Stand (Home only): Takes orders, distributes items, and collects money. First shift arrives at 4:00pm to help set-up. Second shift arrives at 6:30pm and helps take-down at 9:00pm. (Note: this is a position for an adult; children are not allowed behind the counter at any time).
• Table Worker: Puts event cards in proper category and records the correct swimmer ID# on each card; puts labels on 1st through 6th place ribbons; calls out times to the computer operator; checks scores; keeps printer loaded with paper.
• Heat Ribbon Winner (Home only): Observes who wins each heat and distributes ribbon to first place swimmer.

Great jobs for volunteers with some meet experience:

• Meet Set-Up/ Take Down (Home only): Assists Meet Director in setting up or taking down pool deck. Set-up must arrive by 3:30 and may require heavy lifting. Tear Down should arrive by 9:30/10 pm to help tear down.
• Block Organizer (Home only): Takes swimmers from the benches to their assigned starting block.
• Computer Assistant: Helps Computer Rep with swimmer time entry.
• Clerk Helper: Assists Clerk of Course in organizing swimmers into heats and lanes.
• Head Timer: Previous Head Timer experience required. Assigns timers to lanes and instructs all timers before start of meet.
• Floater: Works with the Volunteer Coordinator to fill-in positions as needed during the meet.

Volunteer Positions that require Greater Richmond Aquatic League (GRAL) training and certification:

• Computer Rep (CERTIFIED/TRAINED): Runs all GRAL computer programs and records all times for home meets. Creates meet entry file for next meet.
• Meet Director (CERTIFIED/TRAINED): Responsible for setting up the meet and making sure all personnel and equipment are in place.
• Head Table (CERTIFIED/ TRAINED): Responsible for managing the flow of timer sheets and ribbon/label processing.
• Referee (GRAL CERTIFIED): On deck throughout the meet, signals the Starter that each event can begin. Has the final say on disputes.
• Starter (GRAL CERTIFIED): Starts each event and monitors the pace of the meet.
• Clerk of the Course (GRAL CERTIFIED): Manages heats and lane assignments with swimmers (per the Heat Sheet) and makes sure swimmers are on the blocks on time to keep the meet running.
• Strokes and Turns Judge (GRAL CERTIFIED): Makes sure swimmers are performing strokes correctly according to USS swimming rules. Responsible for disqualifying any swimmer who does not conform to the rules. Needs to wear white shirt and blue shorts and attend a 5:30 meeting with the Referee.