Stardust Swim Team

Volunteering is a vital part of the success of our team. Without parent volunteers, meets cannot run. This is why we require that all families share the responsibility of volunteering, as detailed below.

If we reach our sign up goals, then each family will only be required to volunteer for a minimum of 4 meets. You will be assigned a job for these meets. Volunteer assignments will be made via SwimTopia. 

Remember, it requires about 30 people to run a swim meet. Without your help we cannot run this team and without adequate volunteers at each meet, we cannot run the meet.

Listed below are all of the volunteer positions and their descriptions. We will happily train you for any position!

SET UP-Three individuals will be assigned and required to arrive at least 40-45 minutes early for home meets to:

1. Set up benches/lounge chairs behind starting blocks on the grass for the swimmers sit on when lining up for events.

2. Set up a table and umbrella for the scorekeepers.

3. Set up starter on stand and test equipment

CONCESSIONS- Concessions chair will need several assistants at each home event to work the concession stand, collecting funds, and bringing a bag of ice. You will need to arrive at least 20 minutes before the scheduled warm up time.

TIMERS-There will be a need for 6 timers, one for each lane, plus a back up timer to handle any lane that needs coverage for operator or watch malfunction. The timer should also confirm that the swimmer next to swim is the swimmer whose name is on the time sheet or if blank, the name should be written in. Timers can’t leave their post or be distracted by conversations with others during the meet unless back-up coverage is obtained. Timers must attend the pre-meet briefing in order to be aware of any particular issues for that meet. Our team prepares the time sheets in advance with the swimmer’s name, event number and heat number pre-printed to avoid delay in the meet and to make it easier on the timers. The home timer is typically responsible for writing the 2 results on the time sheet and handing it off to the runner. For home meets our first and official heat swimmers will be in lanes 1, 3 and 5 and lanes 2, 4 and 6 at away meets. For the remaining heats, our swimmers may be in any of the lanes that the opposing team does not have a swimmer to occupy and our home meets allow us to swim more of our swimmers than when away.

RUNNERS-Two volunteers will be needed to collect the time sheets, finish judge sheets, and any disqualification sheets after each heat and deliver them in lane order to the Scorekeeping table. This requires a certain amount of speed and agility to negotiate the deck and get to and from the score keeper table by the conclusion of each event which is why there are two volunteers that alternate heats. This is especially true for the younger swimmer events which are only 1 lap ending at the opposite side of the pool from the scorekeeper’s table. A non-stop on your feet function, but, on the up side, it’s great exercise and the meet just flies by.

MARSHALS- General Marshalling: Three volunteers are needed to marshal the swimmers, especially the younger swimmers. This means to confirm attendance and grouping the children scheduled to swim the event in heat order and lane order within the heat order. Once you ensure all swimmers report and are in order, they are delivered to the on deck waiting area behind the lane they are scheduled to swim and behind the swimmer set to swim the prior event/heat. The event flip chart has reduced the amount of yelling on the part of the marshal. The swimmers are used to keeping an eye on the chart and make their way over once their event number is displayed. We try to have the relay participants, lanes and side they will start from posted on white board early enough in the meet so that they familiarize themselves where and with whom they need to be so they get positioned at their lane in time.

Lane Marshaling: Three volunteers are needed. Each of our swimmer’s lanes will have an assigned lane marshal who are responsible for making sure that the swimmer designated for that event and heat number is the child that steps up on to the starting block. Generally the lane Marshal will pre assess that the swimmers are present and in line in order for the upcoming heats in the event at least 5 swimmers back.

SCOREKEEPING- This function is best served by someone who is quick with numbers and working under a little bit of stress. There are a number of experienced parent volunteers that do a great job volunteering in this position and would train anyone interested in advance of the meets. One of the scorekeepers will be responsible for recording the results on the computer. If you are good on the computer and with typing numbers this may be the job for you.

OFFICIALS- For the summer league there are two positions: (1) a starter that starts each heat after making sure that all participants are ready. This position requires training and is normally staffed by an experienced official with swim official credentials from USA swimming or YMCA swimming. This person is also responsible for briefing the other officials and all of the timers prior to the meet. (2) a stroke and turn official that watches the swimmers throughout the race to make sure that the swimming is done according to the rules (generally USA swimming rules apply). This position also requires training, but this training can be done at a seminar offered by the league each year combined with shadowing a trained official for a few meets. This is the entry-level official. It is a great way to get close to the swimming.

FINISH JUDGE- One of these volunteers from each team is required for each meet. The finish judge watches all of the swimmers as they finish the race. The judge then records the order of finish for all lanes. The two judges, one on each side of the pool determine the official placing of each swimmer. This position does not require formal training, just a keen eye, good memory, and shadowing an experienced judge. This is another great way to get very close to the action.

TEAR DOWN CREW- At least 2 volunteers are needed to take down the starting blocks and carry them to storage. Moving the scorekeeping table back the upper concrete area, taking down the police tape from the kiddie pool and playground equipment, making sure the areas are clean of debris and the garbage cans back to the upper pool area.

Again, we will train you for any position that you wish to be trained on and have questions about.