Volunteers
Welcome to the First Colony Flyers Swim team. Volunteers are an integral component of a successful summer swim team season. The information below is designed to assist families in planning and selecting jobs that suit their experience and strengths.
Sign up for Volunteer slots on the Meet Schedule page.
How many points is my family responsible for earning through volunteering?
How can my family help?
There are two ways families can volunteer.
ROLES: Season-long commitment in a specifically-defined job.
SHIFTS: Jobs at meets that make the meet run smoothly.
When can I sign up for shifts?
Meet shifts will be open Tuesday morning @ 8:00a prior to each meet. One-time roles or special events shifts will become available at the discretion of the Volunteer Coordinator. Reminders will be sent via email or text message through SwimTopia.
What shifts are available at meets? (see chart at end for further detail)
VSPU-Required Training: Stroke & Turn and Scoring
Experienced Swim Families: Clerk of Course, Sweeps Judge, Head Timer
Great for All: Parking, Concessions, 8 & Under Helper, Marshall, Timer, Runner, Clean-Up, Ribbons, Spirit Day Crafts.
What else do I need to know?
Shifts are broken into early and late, approximate by time. However, the switch between early and late shifts is MEET DEPENDANT and occurs at Event #30.
If you are no longer able to fulfill a shift previous signed up for, it is your responsibility to find a replacement to earn your points.
When a meet is rain-delayed or called due to adverse weather, the meet will continue to the next evening. Volunteers are expected to fulfill their shifts or find a replacement.
VOLUNTEER SHIFT DESCRIPTIONS
VSPU-Required Training
Chief Judge, Stroke & Turn, Scoring
Experienced Swim Team Families
Clerk of Course: 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
Head Timer: This person supports timers and meet officials by holding the "official time" of each event during the meet. Requires good communication and focus.
Sweeps Judge: This job records the event swimmers by place for each heat during the meet. Understanding of the swim meet structure and reading a heat sheet are required. Early shift = Events #1-30 Late shift = Events #31-54
Great Shifts for All
8 & Under Helper: Assists our youngest swimmers in order for the heats prior to each event. You must be willing to work in a team, know how to read a heat sheet (training provided) and be ready to walk/talk to team members and children for up to 2 hours. Early shift events - #9-12 (freestyle) and #21-22 (breaststroke) Late shift events - #31-34 (backstroke) and #43-44 (fly)
Clean-Up: These volunteers’ clean restrooms, help pick up the trash, take trash to the dumpsters, and return/organize patio furniture to the pool deck at the end of the meet.
Concessions: Sell great food to nourish our swimmers, families, and spectators to support our team! There are 3 specific shifts - setup for opening, mid-shift does most of the selling, and end-shift cleans up and puts equipment away.
Marshal: Directs traffic flow of spectators on pool deck.
Parking: This duo assists all Flyers and guests park safely in our parking lot and overflow lot. This is an early shift from 4:45 - 6:15 pm.
Ribbons: 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.
Runner: The runner collects and organizes heat sheets and sweeps judge sheets after each event and delivers them to the scoring table. Early shift = Events #1-30 Late shift = Events #31-54
Spirit Day Crafts: Assist the Spirit Coordinator with activities for swimmers before/after practice the morning of the meet under the pavilion from 8:45-11a.
Timer: Lane timer for part of the swim meet (early = events #1-30, late = events #31-54). Meet on pool deck 5:45pm for a timers meeting, held by meet officials.
