Volunteering is a critical part of the success of the swim team.

All families are required to volunteer if their children are swimming on the team. This includes our Lil' Waves families (Tuesday Pancake Breakfasts). If your child is swimming in a meet, YOU MUST commit to a volunteer position at the meets. This year we have opened volunteer positions at time of registration. However, if you are unsure what to sign up for, please join us at the Virtual Parent Meeting scheduled on Wednesday, May 20th at 7:30pm to learn more about the volunteer positions.

If you do not sign up to volunteer, you should expect the Waves Board to ask you to volunteer.

It takes ~50 volunteers per meet to fill all the positions. The good news is that you get a great "seat" for the meet and it is a fun way to be involved in the meet.

Below are descriptions of the various positions. We have many experienced volunteers who will help you get comfortable in whatever volunteer role you take on. If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].

NOT MEET SPECIFIC

• Tuesday Pancake Breakfast - 9 volunteers - Cook and serve pancakes on Tuesdays (June 16th, June 23rd, June 30th, July 7th, July 14th, July 21st) No Training Required. Great for Lil' Waves Parents or if you are unable to make a meet.

AT MEET

• Set up and Clean Up - 6 volunteers - Set up includes setting up the tables, chairs, etc prior to the start of the meet (4:30pm) and clean up is cleaning up after the meet including throwing trash away and putting tables/chairs away (9:30 or end of meet). No training required. Home meets only.
• Concessions - 6 volunteers - Sell food and drinks. No training required and you're inside in AC. You can step out to watch your swimmer swim. Jennifer Shackley leads our concessions! Home meets only. 
• Griller and Grill Runner - 2 volunteers - Griller mans/cooks on the grill (hot dogs/hamburgers). Runner brings grilled food into concessions. Early Shift only - Events #1-30 No training required 
• Ice Coordinator - 1 volunteer - Get ice and fill coolers for Monday night meets. Coolers should be filled by 3pm. You will be reimbursed for ice purchases. No training required. 
• Head Timer - 2 volunteers - This person supports timers and meet officials by holding the "official time" of each event during the meet. Early Shift - Events #1-30 Late Shift - Events #31-54. No training required. There is a timer's meeting at the start of each meet. Home meets only.
• Timer(s) - 18 volunteers - There are 3 timers per lane. Each timer starts their watch on the light/sound of the starting unit. The timer stops the watch at the completion of the race. The 3 times are written on the swimmer's card and submitted to give the swimmer their time. Early Shift - Events #1-30 Late Shift - Events #31-54. No training required. There is a timer's meeting at the start of each meet. 
• Runner - 2 volunteers - Collects timer cards from the lead timer in each lane and delivers them to the scorer's table after each event. Early Shift - Events #1-30 Late Shift - Events #31-54. No training required. 
• Clerk of Course - 4 volunteers - Organizes swimmers into lanes for each event for part of the meet (you work with our swimmers and the other teams' swimmers too!) This requires working with a team and standing/walking for up to 2 hours. Early Shift - Events #1-30 Late Shift - Events #31-54.  Maintains order with the swimmers behind the blocks/starting area. No training required. 
• Ribbons - 1 volunteer - Places stickers on the back of ribbons then files ribbons by swimmer last name. A great opportunity for first season swim families to learn about places and event swim times. Early shift = Events #1-30 Late shift = Events #31-54 No training required and you're inside in AC at our home meets.
  
• Heat Winners - 2 volunteers - Pass out prize to heat winner. Early shift = Events #1-30 Late shift = Events #31-54 No training required

VPSU Required Training

• Stroke and Turn Judge - 6 volunteers - This person must attend the stroke and turn officials training. US Swimming certified do not need to attend training but do need to read the VPSU rules for differences. The S&T official judges each swimmer to ensure that they are swimming the event/stroke within the VPSU rules. Judges fill out a form when they observe an infraction. The final decision on each infraction is approved or denied by the referee. TRAINING IS REQUIRED BUT WILL BE OFFERED THROUGHOUT MAY AND JUNE. WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!!
• Chief Judge - 1 volunteer - Oversees the Stroke and Turn Officials. TRAINING IS REQUIRED BUT WHICH WILL BE PROVIDED AT WELLINGTON ON TBD. WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!!

AT MEET/ALREADY FILLED

• Scorekeeper - Records the places and times of each event. Keeps a running total of the score. Aimee Buzack head up our scoring/ribbon team. TRAINING IS REQUIRED. 
• Starter - Calls swimmers up for their event. Gets the swimmers "to their mark" and then starts the race. The starter also fills out a sweep judge form for the first 3 places in scoring heats. Ben Buzack is our Starter. TRAINING IS REQUIRED. Home meets only.
• Referee - The referee must attend the Referee training. This person must be familiar the VPSU competitive rules. This person runs the meet and works closely with the Starter, Announcer, Chief Judge and Head Timer to run an efficient swim meet. Robyn Moore is our referee. TRAINING IS REQUIRED. Home meets only. 
• Announcer - announces the meet. Nicole Hoadley is our Announcer. TRAINING IS REQUIRED. Home meets only.