Volunteer Roles within Derby Excel
At Derby Excel, we are entirely run by a fantastic team of unpaid volunteers who give their time and skills to help out - because they find it rewarding and enjoyable, enjoy the sport, and want as many children/young people as possible to be able to take part in swimming. Many are involved because their children swim, many stay on to help the club even when their child stops swimming.
Since the pandemic, the number of volunteers coming forward to help us has fallen, leading to some people having to perform multiple roles within the club. We would invite all parents/carers of swimmers at the club to step forward and offer your help. There are many roles, and a lot of them are not too time consuming and onerous!
Swim England have produced a guide which you may find useful:
https://www.swimming.org/swimengland/good-club-guides/
There are two main types of volunteer – the day to day roles involved with training, and roles for the Open meets that we host.
Roles within Derby Excel
We are a registered charity with 3 Trustees who oversee the club, with a working committee helping to run the club. There are many roles here, including Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Volunteer Coordinator, Press, Social media, Marketing/Sponsorship, Paraswimming rep, Masters coordinator, Webmaster, Kit, and Welfare officer.
One very important role is that of Squad Rep. The squad reps provide a link from the swimmers and their parents to the club, helping to answer any queries, and provide feedback to the Committee and Trustees.
A role may involve joining our Committee but this isn’t necessarily required. We are a very friendly bunch, and welcome anyone wanting to get involved, however much or little time you have to spare!
Roles at Open meets/galas
Promoter – the promoter is responsible for the organisation and delivery of the meet.
Team Managers – supervise our swimmers during meets, ensure they are where they should be, and generally looking after their health and wellbeing. This is a specific role within Derby Excel, and TMs must be qualified for this role.
H&S – various roles, ensuring the gala runs safely. Eg checking fire exits are not blocked by chairs or bags, being a presence during the event in case of any incidents, answer queries or direct queries to someone who can help.
Raffle – request and collate raffle prizes before the meet, sell raffle tickets at the admissions desk.
Admissions desk – take admission money from spectators attending the meet, give out wrist bands to them, sell programmes
Medals table – sit at the medals table with the race results, give out medals to swimmers.
Announcer – a crucial role, the announcer makes health and safety announcements, announces which race/event is about to take place, and which swimmers are competing.
Competitive Stewards – arrange the swimmers into heats and the correct lanes (working from a start sheet which is provided)
Poolside refreshments – circulate during the meet to the officials and helpers, with jugs of squash/water, sweets, etc
Officials – you can train as an official (one of the people in white!) – training is online for the first level of qualification, Judge level 1, with support from other officials within Derby Excel. Our very own Ralph Shepherd is the officials’ coordinator for Derbyshire, and can help with additional advice and information.
- J1 officials – this role involves timekeeping (with a stopwatch) during races, operating a backup button at some events, judging the start/turns/finish to ensure the swimmer complies with the rules.
- Judge level 2 – this role involves judging stroke in addition to the above, ie walking alongside the swimmers as they race, ensuring their stroke complies with the rules. J2 judges also judge the finish order of the swimmers to help with the race result
- Starter – starting the races
- Referee – the referees are in charge of the fair and smooth running of the meet.
If you are interested in joining us, please email Babs Ingram: [email protected]
