Volunteer Information
Orange Hunt Swim Team relies heavily on our families to help run each swim meet and team social event. Without the support of parent volunteers, these events cannot happen! Please consider it a fun way to get involved and make new friends!
VOLUNTEER BASICS
- Each family is expected to earn at least 16 volunteer credits.
- We have many volunteer opportunities during the swim season, at practices and at meets. No experience is required unless specifically identified, see below.
- The volunteer requirement is per family, not per swimmer.
- Mini Shark only families do not have to earn volunteer credits.
Volunteer Fee
Families not completing the required 16 volunteer credits will be assessed a $200 volunteer fee on August 1 through Member Splash if requirements are not met by the end of the swim season.
How to Volunteer
We try to make volunteering as easy as possible. Unless otherwise indicated, volunteer positions require no training.
When you are logged in, on the "Meets & Events" page you will see Upcoming Events that have a button to Sign Your Swimmer up for the event and a button to sign up to volunteer. If you have questions about a particiular job, please ask!
If you have a teen who would like to volunteer to help your family earn volunteer points, talk to the Swim Team Reps to find out what positions would be best suited for them.
Volunteer Positions (Swim)
ACTIVITY/EVENT COORDINATORS – This individual will coordinate various fun team events: Dinner at the Pool, Fun Fridays, Age-Group Activity, Swim-a-thon, End of Season Awards, Senior Recognition, etc. Each event will need additional volunteers to assist run the event. No experience needed.
ANNOUNCER – This individual will work with the referee to make sure the meet runs smoothly. The announcer will make sure warm ups start and end on time. During A meets, they will announce the name of every swimmer. Periodically they will report results of races if time is available. Prior experience encouraged.
CHIEF TIMER/ASST TIMER – This individual is responsible for all the timers at the swim meet. They fill in if a timer has a problem with their watch. They make sure that all the time cards are collected and properly filled out at the end of each race and sent to the scorer’s table. This individual is responsible for handing out stopwatches to the timers and collecting them at the end of the meet. Head at home meets; Assistant at away meets. Prior experience encouraged.
CLERK OF COURSE – This individual directs the swimmers from respective teams to the correct lane for their event. No experience needed.
CONCESSIONS CO-CHAIR – This individual will coordinate ordering and purchasing of food for home meets on Monday nights and Saturday mornings, and Rally in the Alley meet. No experience needed.
CONCESSIONS volunteers are responsible for assisting in Shark Shack at home meets with set-up and sales. No experience needed.
DATA COORDINATOR – This individual is responsible for equipment and manages all the team’s records. The coordinator records times and places earned by swimmers at meets and produces the labels for the meet ribbons. The coordinator works in advance of each meet to compile meet entries and print time cards. At the conclusion of the meet, the coordinator produces reports of meet results and swimmer times to keep the league, coaches, families and swimmers informed. Prior experience encouraged.
END OF SEASON AWARDS COORDINATOR - This person will work with the team reps to make sure awards are ready for the End of Season Party - team medals/trophies, plaques, and record breaker awards. They also update the team record board.
MARSHAL - This individual wears the “orange vest of authority” and ensures that meets are conducted safely and order is maintained. Specifically, marshal volunteers closely observe warm-up procedures and maintain order in the pool. Marshals are also responsible to ensure swimmers are in the appropriate location and noise is kept to a minimum. A Team Area Parent is a type of marshal, who monitor the swimmers under the tent, generally act as a parent to make sure everyone behaves. No experience needed.
MEET SET UP/TAKE DOWN – Set up individuals will assist preparing the pool to host a home meet. Meet set up will require lifting and carrying (tables, chairs, benches and equipment) into place. Take down individuals will assist in cleaning up the pool and storing meet equipment. This job will also require lifting and carrying equipment. No experience needed.
RIBBONS/AWARDS – This individual will place computer printed labels on ribbons/medals and organize them into swimmer’s folders. No experience needed.
REFEREE – This individual is the chief official for each swim meet. The referee is responsible for the conduct of the meets and is the final authority on the interpretation and enforcement of all swimming rules. Prior to the start of each race, the referee sounds two or three short blasts to advise the participants to get ready. After the event is announced by the announcer or starter, the referee sounds one long blast as a signal for swimmers to get into position for the start or to jump feet first into the water for a backstroke event. For backstroke events, a second long blast is given to bring the swimmers to the wall for the start. When the referee sees that all the swimmers are ready, he extends his arm pointing towards the starter. At this point, the starter takes control. NVSL Training required.
STARTER - This individual is responsible for starting each race during a swim meet. They wait for clearance from the referee, indicate to swimmers to go into a racing stance, and then start the race. We are only responsible for providing a starter at home meets. NVSL Training required.
STROKE & TURN OFFICIAL – Stroke and Turn judges stand at either end of the pool and ensure that all starts, strokes and turns are done legally. If they see that a swimmer is not swimming legally, they will write up a DQ slip and discuss it with the meet referee. NVSL Training required.
TABLE ADMIN CHIEF – This individual trains and manages table workers for data entry, verifier, place recorder. Prior experience encouraged.
TABLE WORKERS - includes Place Recorder (PR) and Verifier. Together, they determine the place order for each event and submit the results to the data coordinator for scoring. They help verify the score. No experience needed.
TEAM REP – in a small nutshell, the rep coordinates registration, supports the coaches, organizes the meet and acts as a liaison between parents, coaches, NVSL officials and the guest/host team. Prior experience encouraged.
TENT WRANGLER - This person make the magic happen behind the scenes. They store our two team tents (garage please), set them up before each of our home and away meets, and take them down after each meet as well. Other volunteers will be available to help with the setup and tear down.
TIMER – This individual is responsible for starting the watch when the starter goes off and stopping the watch when any part of the swimmer touches the wall. The timer makes no decisions regarding legal swimming or not. They also fill out the time card and hand it to the chief or assistant chief timer. No experience needed.
WINTER SWIM COORDINATOR – This person is present at each winter swim practice. When they cannot attend, they find a replacement. They are the responsible party in case of an emergency and they pay the coaches each week. No experience needed.
Questions?
Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions about Volunteer Requirements or what the different roles entail.