Parent Volunteer Positions
From setup to cleanup, a swim meet works best when we share the effort. Volunteering at the meets is a great way to meet a lot of terrific people. The meets go by a lot faster when you’re involved. Many teams present their parents with the option of paying a fee to opt out of volunteer duties. We think that runs contrary to our mission of creating an enjoyable and competitive environment for summer swimmers. Following is a technical description of the various jobs that exist to help a swim team run effectively:
Parent Rep(s) (Parent board member)
Represents the team at monthly league meetings, distributes and collects insurance forms, nurtures all team parents while encouraging volunteerism, works with South Suburban on pool issues, maintains and stores team equipment, and fosters cooperation and good relations with the teams in our division. The parent rep position is made much easier by the participation and enthusiasm of a great parent board.
Clerk of Course (Parent board member; two per home meet; must attend MHSL clinic)
Two clerks of course from the home team and one from the visiting team are responsible for lining up the swimmers for each heat in an event. One clerk handles the swimmers' cards and the other organizes the heating area. They are also responsible for combining heats and events – when swimmers have been scratched – to use as many lanes as possible, and in this effort work closely with the starter and meet referee.
Volunteer Coordinator (Parent board member)
Enlists parents to work jobs by shift at home and away meets. Is present at timers meeting and at shift change to make sure jobs are filled and second-shift replacements have arrived. By season’s end, this volunteer probably knows more people on the team than anyone. The coordinator stays in close contact with parents who have not had an opportunity to volunteer.
Concessions (Parent board member)
This job is for the mega shopper – usually Sam’s Club or Costco – and creative salesperson. A variety of items, including pastries, bagels, fruit, veggies, candy, water and soda, are sold at home meets, and the menu changes as a meet moves from early morning toward noon. Helping in concessions is a good way to stay out of the sun.
New Parent Coordinator (Parent board member)
Facilitates information and training on how the team and meets work.