SVSL Job Descriptions for Meet Volunteers
SVSL is a volunteer run organization. Some of our volunteer positions require special training and practice and other volunteer positions do not. At each meet, teams should be prepared to provide their fair share of the workers. A worker list is provided for each meet. It gives a suggested start time and if there are any pre-meet meetings for your job. It is more helpful to sign up (and being switched into another job if needed) than to tell your team you will do whatever is needed. Many thanks in advance for helping our swim meet run smoothly.
Trained positions (Anyone who is USA-Swimming Certified does not need to complete additional training):
Referee**: Meet referee overseas all aspects of the meet are run fairly. Need to complete online training and be able to lead other stroke and turn officials. Protests for DQs should be brought to the referee. Referee has final decision. Wear white shirt and blue shorts, skirt, or pants.
Starter**: Responsible for starting each race. Need to complete online training and it is recommended to work with a trained starter. Starter will meet with head timer and together they will organize timers and lead timer’s meeting. Wear white shirt and blue shorts, skirt, or pants.
**If needed Referee can also be the starter.
Stroke & Turn Judges: Responsible for monitoring each race to make sure all swimmers are competing with legal strokes and turns. If a disqualification occurs, judge will record information on the back of the card. Wear white shirt and blue shorts, skirt or pants.
Online training for Referee, starter and stroke&turn judges(who are not certified by USA-Swimming): Contact Amy Brehl, [email protected], and she will sign you up for the online course through strokeandturn.com. SVSL pays the $24.99 fee for anyone wanting to complete the training. Each team is encouraged to have 3-5 officials (the more trained the better!!!). Shadowing and additional training available as needed.
Recorder- uses meet manager to run the meet. Training is available (contact Amy Brehl : [email protected]). Detailed directions are prepared for recorders to follow. Meets at CAC will need someone who has been trained with the electronic timing system. Teams should have 1-2 people trained. Sometimes assistants to the recorder (info below) are also trained recorders and then can rotate jobs during the meet.
Head of Clerk of Course: Organizes the other clerk of course volunteers and makes sure swimmers are organized and ready in heats for each event. Directions for Clerk of Course. There is not a formal training for this job. Each pool has a different location and flow for clerk of course. Person can be trained by someone at their own pool, at a meet as an assistant or contact Amy Brehl, [email protected]. Each team should have at least 1 person trained for this job. Directions for clerk of course.
Volunteer Jobs that don’t require special training:
Assistants to the recorder: There are at least 2 assistants to the recorder. One will average times, record and circle on the card. One will check to make sure results are correct (check cards to results) so that we can make sure results are accurate before posting and doing ribbons.
Assistant to Clerk of Course: responsible for putting labels on cards, follow the directions of head of clerk of course, organize swimmers in heat and help get to blocks.
Head Timer: responsible for getting clipboards and watches organized before the meet starts. Help to lead or lead the timers meeting (directions are on the clipboards). Starts 2 watches at the start of each race and if needed switches watches with any timers who missed a start or has had a watch issue.
Timer: responsible for timing in a specific lane. It is important to attend timers’ meeting, watch the starter light to start watch, and lean over edge of pool to see finish. Times should be written neatly on the card. Officials may need to see card to record a disqualification. Directions for timing (also on clipboards).
Runner: responsible for getting cards to other side of pool when 25s are taking place & collecting cards at end of heat and taking to recorder (computer table). Each pool has a slightly different flow of how to do this best.
Posting Results/Ribbons: responsible for posting results and completing ribbons. Check in with recorder at the beginning of meet. First round of results are usually ready at the start of 9-10 year olds first event. Labels for ribbons are completed at the end of each stroke and after results have been checked. Directions for ribbons.
SVSL is a volunteer run organization. Some of our volunteer positions require special training and practice and other volunteer positions do not. At each meet, teams should be prepared to provide their fair share of the workers. A worker list is provided for each meet. It gives a suggested start time and if there are any pre-meet meetings for your job. It is more helpful to sign up (and being switched into another job if needed) than to tell your team you will do whatever is needed. Many thanks in advance for helping our swim meet run smoothly.
Trained positions (Anyone who is USA-Swimming Certified does not need to complete additional training):
Referee**: Meet referee overseas all aspects of the meet are run fairly. Need to complete online training and be able to lead other stroke and turn officials. Protests for DQs should be brought to the referee. Referee has final decision. Wear white shirt and blue shorts, skirt, or pants.
Starter**: Responsible for starting each race. Need to complete online training and it is recommended to work with a trained starter. Starter will meet with head timer and together they will organize timers and lead timer’s meeting. Wear white shirt and blue shorts, skirt, or pants.
**If needed Referee can also be the starter.
Stroke & Turn Judges: Responsible for monitoring each race to make sure all swimmers are competing with legal strokes and turns. If a disqualification occurs, judge will record information on the back of the card. Wear white shirt and blue shorts, skirt or pants.
Online training for Referee, starter and stroke&turn judges(who are not certified by USA-Swimming): Contact Amy Brehl, [email protected], and she will sign you up for the online course through strokeandturn.com. SVSL pays the $24.99 fee for anyone wanting to complete the training. Each team is encouraged to have 3-5 officials (the more trained the better!!!). Shadowing and additional training available as needed.
Recorder- uses meet manager to run the meet. Training is available (contact Amy Brehl : [email protected]). Detailed directions are prepared for recorders to follow. Meets at CAC will need someone who has been trained with the electronic timing system. Teams should have 1-2 people trained. Sometimes assistants to the recorder (info below) are also trained recorders and then can rotate jobs during the meet.
Head of Clerk of Course: Organizes the other clerk of course volunteers and makes sure swimmers are organized and ready in heats for each event. Directions for Clerk of Course. There is not a formal training for this job. Each pool has a different location and flow for clerk of course. Person can be trained by someone at their own pool, at a meet as an assistant or contact Amy Brehl, [email protected]. Each team should have at least 1 person trained for this job. Directions for clerk of course.
Volunteer Jobs that don’t require special training:
Assistants to the recorder: There are at least 2 assistants to the recorder. One will average times, record and circle on the card. One will check to make sure results are correct (check cards to results) so that we can make sure results are accurate before posting and doing ribbons.
Assistant to Clerk of Course: responsible for putting labels on cards, follow the directions of head of clerk of course, organize swimmers in heat and help get to blocks.
Head Timer: responsible for getting clipboards and watches organized before the meet starts. Help to lead or lead the timers meeting (directions are on the clipboards). Starts 2 watches at the start of each race and if needed switches watches with any timers who missed a start or has had a watch issue.
Timer: responsible for timing in a specific lane. It is important to attend timers’ meeting, watch the starter light to start watch, and lean over edge of pool to see finish. Times should be written neatly on the card. Officials may need to see card to record a disqualification. Directions for timing (also on clipboards).
Runner: responsible for getting cards to other side of pool when 25s are taking place & collecting cards at end of heat and taking to recorder (computer table). Each pool has a slightly different flow of how to do this best.
Posting Results/Ribbons: responsible for posting results and completing ribbons. Check in with recorder at the beginning of meet. First round of results are usually ready at the start of 9-10 year olds first event. Labels for ribbons are completed at the end of each stroke and after results have been checked. Directions for ribbons.