TEAM MANAGER ROLE
The Greenwich Royals Swimming Club Team Manager role is a varied and extremely rewarding position, which enables the volunteer to spend time poolside with the swimmers, sharing in their successes. It is vital in ensuring the swimmers are in the right place at the right time for their various races, and that they come away from the gala having really enjoyed the experience.
The Process
The process for qualifying as a Team Manager is relatively straightforward compared to some more technical roles. Swim England offer a three hour online Team Manager course, which is a great opportunity to meet potential Team Managers from other Clubs. In addition, there is an important three hour online Safeguarding course. At the end of this, combined with a DBS check conducted by the Club, you are ready to go in your new role!
Before the Gala
The Team Managers for each Gala often form a WhatsApp group before the day to ensure everyone is fully briefed. Team Managers are required to bring along the sign in register for each session, and to ensure they are up to date with any medical requirements for the swimmers attending.
On the day!
Team Managers arrive well in advance of the start of the warm up for their allotted session, to take the register as the swimmers arrive and to ensure the First Aid box is in a suitable location. If any swimmers arrive with their own medical equipment, this is added to the box and returned to them at the end of the session. After that, it is the Team Managers job to ensure the swimmers are aware of when they should be heading to marshalling, and to cheer them on when they swim! If any of the swimmers are upset or disappointed after a swim, it is important that the Team Managers are available to check in with them. At the end of the Gala, we tidy up our area and say goodbye!
The Team Manager role is vital to the Club's success at each Gala, as well as being a lot of fun!
