VOLUNTEER ROLES EXPLAINED

Seagulls Swimming Club could not survive without the efforts and commitment of willing volunteers and helpers drawn from across the club and parents of club members. The attitude and behaviour of parents and spectators has a strong impact on the way in which a child approaches their swimming. There can be no better way to show your child an inclusive positive attitude than by volunteering to the benefit of the entire club.

At any swimming meet there are a range of difference roles required to run a competition. Below is an explanation of volunteer roles required. Many of these require no prior swimming knowledge. We encourage a natural progression from volunteer roles into technical official roles, these include timekeeper, judge (stroke finish and turns), starter and referee.

Role

What do I have to do?

Training requirements / swimming knowledge required?

   Door / Welcome

 
  • Welcome spectators
  • Take entrance fee / lucky square draw
  • Ensure doorway is kept clear for access in an emergency

 
  • None

   Raffle / spectator refreshments sales

 

   During our Open Meets

 
  • Display a trestle table with raffle prizes
  • Receive donated cakes from swimmers
  • Display drinks / cakes
  • Fill and plug in urn for hot water
  • Prepare tea / coffee
  • Take money
  • Restock / ensure visually appealing

 
  • None
  • On arrival, you will be shown prizes / drinks

   Poolside refreshments

 
  • Offering drinks and sweets to the volunteers and officials throughout the session

 
  • None
  • On arrival, you’ll be shown the drinks and sweets

 

   Runner

 
  • Walk results from poolside to the recorder and medal table

 
  • None
  • Familiarisation of the walking route will be given on the day

 

   Changing room marshall

 

   1 x female

   1 x male
  • Positioned outside the changing room
  • Ensure no members of the public or parents enter the changing room
  • Occasional walk round to ensure children are not loitering 

 
  • None

   Health & Safety

 
  • Walk around ensuring emergency exits are kept clear
  • Walk around pool side, remind teams not to block air vents with bags
  • Ask the announcer to remind spectators not to block stairs in viewing gallery
  • General visibility of H&S

 
  • None

 

  • Familiarisation of the site will be given on the day

 

   Marshall

 
  • Working within a team of volunteers to get the swimmers organised in the right heat and right lane
  • Swimmers are sent from their clubs to the marshalling area
  • You check you have each swimmer on the list for the heat and put them in lane order and send to the next marshalling point
  • Typically, 4 / 5 marshalling points

 
  • None

 

  • On arrival, meet the other marshals, walk through the marshalling points

Be given heat sheets

 

  • A pen is recommended

   Announcer
  • Use PA system to open / welcome the event
  • Deliver safety announcement from a script
  • Announce the races / lane and swimmers name for every race
  • Announce results – once the recorder has confirmed and runner run them back to you

 
  • None

 

  • Clear voice with engaging delivery

   Recorder

 
  • Receive results from the runner
  • Upload the times into the agreed software / database
  • Print results – runner will run these to the medal table

 
  • None

   Chaperone

 
  • Helps the Team Manager look after specific swimmers during events

And / Or

  • Helps to manage the swimmers on team travel / coaches / service stations

 
  • DBS check – conducted through the club

 

  • Safeguarding training – Swim England online course – 2-3 hours

 

   Team Manager
  • Poolside
  • Organise swimmers in time for warm ups and races
  • Ensure swimmer welfare whilst poolside
  • Support the coaches
  • Link between parents and swimmers

 
  • DBS check – conducted through the club
  • Safeguarding training – Swim England online course – 2/3 hours
  • Team Manager online training course – 2/3 hours

 

   Timekeeper

 
  • Poolside
  • Check the swimmer is in the correct lane
  • Operate a stopwatch
  • Record time
  • Check starts, turns and finishes

 
  • Swimming knowledge NOT required
  • Attend online training session
  • Poolside training / sign off – 1 session
  • Minimum age 14

 

   Judge 1

 
  • Extension to the timekeeper
  • Be confident with swim rules
  • DBS check – conducted through the club
  • Safeguarding training – Swim England online course – 2/3 hours
  • 9 months to complete practical training. We suggest starting in Sept to take advantage of the whole swim season to qualify
  • Online training course
  • Mentored training at events
  • Practical oral questions to pass
  • Minimum age 15

 

   Judge 2
  • Extension of J1
  • Extended responsibility for stroke rules
  • Broken into stroke and finish judge

 

 

  • All of the above plus
  • Online course 2/3 hours
  • Practical oral questions to pass
  • At event mentored sessions
  • Minimum age 16

 

   Referee

 
  • Highest level qualification in British Swimming
  • Overall control of the event
  • Responsible for health and safety
  • All judges and starter report to the Referee

 

  • All of J2 & Starter
  • Extensive hours – theory and poolside
  • Examination