Meet Worker Positions
DO I HAVE TO VOLUNTEER?
Swim meets are completely volunteer driven. Without our volunteers, a meet simply won't happen. For that reason, SAC asks each family to volunteer (one person per family) for one half of each meet when they have at least one swimmer participating in the meet.
BUT WHAT IF I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO?
Don't worry. We'll train you. To start, you can read the descriptions of each volunteer position below. You can also ask an experienced parent to show you the ropes. Everyone was a newbie once, so our moms and dads are happy to share their knowledge with you.
HOW DO I SIGN UP TO WORK?
As you are signing up your swimmer for each meet, you will be directed to sign up for a job. Directions are under the FAQ's.
Meet Worker Descriptions
Please note that not all positions are needed for every meet.
ROLES THAT DON'T REQUIRE A CERTIFICATION:
Relay Take Off Judge
The Relay Take Off Judge ensures that a relay swimmer does not leave the starting platform before the preceding swimmer has touched the end of the pool.
Finish Judge
The Finish Judges stand at the end of pool and observe the end of the race. They help decide the order in which the swimmers finished the event. No technical knowledge of swimming is required, but it does require a keen ability to focus your attention for close races. Training or shadowing is recommended and happily provided.
Runner
The Runners are responsible for collecting the event cards from each Timer, Finish Judge slips from each finish judge, and the Over-call judge’s slip after each heat. The cards are then brought to the Placer at the scoring table. They are also responsible for collecting any disqualification (DQ) slips from the Stroke and Turn Judges and relay jump slips from the Relay Jump Judges and taking them to the Meet Referee for their signature. These cards are also taken to the Placer at the scoring table.
Head Timer
The Head Timer assures that all lanes have timers, working stop watches, clipboards, pencils, and timing cards. The Head Timer starts two watches on every race, and delivers a working watch to timers when their own watches fail. The Head Timer will meet with the lane timers before the start of a session in order to explain the duties ot the timer and answer any questions. The Head Timer supervises lane timers during meets and signals to the Referee when Timers have cleared their watches.
Timers & Scribes
Lane timers are responsible for starting their watches at the Starter's signal, and stopping their watches when any part of the swimmer's body touches the wall at the finish. The watch time is then recorded by the Scribe on the entry card. Timer’s meetings are held just before the start of a session in order to explain the duties of the timer and answer any questions. When we don't have enough workers. One person will time and scribe.
Card Sorter
The Placers are responsible for placing the event cards for each heat in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. place order, according to GKAISA scoring rules.
Scorer
The Scorer takes event cards from the Placer and puts them on the score sheet and adds the points earned by each team in the appropriate total column. Scorers need to be able to add simple numbers quickly in their head, as they will be adding the score. The Scorer then gives the event cards to the Computer Entry person.
Computer Entry
The Computer Entry person enters the times and places from the event cards into the computer and prints labels for the Ribbons person.
Ribbons
The Ribbon person takes the labels and then places the labels on the appropriate place ribbon.
12 & Under Clerk of Course/ Tent Parents
12 & Under clerk of course workers will assist parents in getting swimmers to the proper location prior to their race. Parents are responsible to get their children to report to the designated location, where clerk of course/tent parent volunteers will then take the children to the white chairs behind the lanes on the turn end of the pool or behind the blocks for IM and Relays.
ROLES THAT REQUIRE CERTIFICATION/SPECIALIZED TRAINING:
Meet Director - Has the responsibility for organizing the meet, insures that officials and workers are present prior to start of meet. The Meet Director is also responsible for insuring that all equipment (lane lines, backstroke flags, etc.) is available and in place before the meet begins.
Meet Referee - Has authority over all meet officials, assigns and instructs them, leads all discussions regarding rules, makes final decisions concerning any protests, interprets applicable USA Swimming and GKAISA rules for the meet - requires annual GKAISA certification
Starter - Lines up & starts all events, calls false starts in conjunction with Meet Referee - requires biannual GKAISA certification
Stroke & Turn Judge - Observes swimmers in lanes designated by Referee and calls rule infractions. - requires biannual GKAISA certification
