Parent Volunteer Job Descriptions
Parent volunteers are essential to making our swim meets run smoothly! Every family is expected to volunteer during meets. Many volunteer roles are simple, require no prior experience or training, and most are split between the first and second half of the meet. Best of all, many positions are located right on the pool deck, allowing you to cheer on and watch your swimmer while you volunteer. Brief descriptions of each role are provided below.
- Timers
- Runner
- Bullpen
- Scorers
- Morning after donuts
- Morning after ribbons
- DJ/MC
- Heat Winner Prizes
- Stroke Judge – requires clinic training
- Starter – requires clinic training
- Referee – requires clinic training
The skilled jobs – for which we also need volunteers – require a clinic. To be a Stroke & Turn Judge, Starter, or Referee you must be certified by the Greater Forsyth Swim League. Attending a training does not obligate you to that role. Clinic dates to follow soon.
TIMER
One timer from each team is assigned to each lane and paired with a timer from the opposing team. Timers use digital stopwatches to record swimmers' times and then provide the results to the runners. There is also a designated timer also serves as a back-up in case another timer experiences a watch or timing issue. No experience is necessary, and you'll have a front-row seat to watch the races!
RUNNER
Runners keep the meet running smoothly by collecting timer sheets from each lane and delivering them to the scorers' table. They also pick up any disqualification (DQ) slips from the stroke judges, take them to the referee for approval, and then deliver them to the scorers. This role involves walking around the pool deck throughout the meet and requires no prior experience.
BULLPEN
Responsible for finding swimmers prior to their races, lining them up by event, heat and lane and getting them to their lanes before their race.
SCORER
Need: One each half.
Each team will provide a scorer per half of the meet. Enter in scores from the time sheets from the runners into the computer. You are able to get up and watch your child swim during their events!
MORNING AFTER DONUTS
Brings donuts for an after-practice treat.
MORNING AFTER RIBBONS
Puts labels on meet ribbons and file in the team box.
DJ/MC
Got the beats? We've got the splashes! Fill the deck with music for our home meets.
Heat Winner Prizes
Hand out rubber gators to heat winners
STROKE JUDGE - must attend clinic each season prior to serving in this role.
Need: Two each half
Stroke Judges ensure swimmers comply with GSFL stroke rules for strokes, turns, finishes, and relay starts. They fill out a DQ slip for swimmers who do not conform to the rules and provide to the runners.
STARTER - must attend clinic each season prior to serving in this role
The Starter ensures the meet runs smoothly controlling the pace and structure of the event. He/She will be the judge of false starts. The Starter makes other announcements as needed. Must have two years of stroke and turn judge experience.
REFEREE - must attend clinic each season prior to serving in this role
In charge of conducting the meet according to the rules. Meets with coaches, officials, and league reps prior to the meet. Reviews and signs all DQ slips, confers with stroke judges, suspends meets when weather threatens, etc. Must have two years of stroke and turn judge experience.
