Parent Volunteers
The Seahawks Swim Team is 100% reliant on parent and family volunteers to ensure our meets run smoothly and successfully. Every role - from setting up to timing races - helps create a positive experience for our swimmers.
Why Volunteer?
✔ Meets Can’t Happen Without You – Swim meets require dozens of volunteers to function. Your help ensures every race is timed, every swimmer is organized, and every event runs efficiently.
✔ Support Your Swimmer & Team – Volunteering fosters a strong, connected team culture, making the experience better for all families.
✔ Build Community & Make Friends – Get to know other swim parents and be part of a team beyond the pool deck.
✔ Set an Example – Show your swimmer the value of teamwork, responsibility, and giving back.
Volunteer Job Descriptions
SETUP (Home Meet Only)
- 8 - 9 PM night before meet
- Install lane lines & backstroke flags
- Rope off perimeter of pool
- Setup umbrellas for both teams
- Set up tables & canopies
- Hang banners, lane line numbers on chairs/
- Remove ladders from pool
- Setup Clerk of Course benches
- Other needs as directed by coordinators
ANNOUNCER (Home Meet Only)
- Set up as DJ on the grassy area
- Plays music and announces events that are to report to the Clerk of Course
- Starts meet with introductions and the singing of the National Anthem
STARTER & REFEREE (Home Meet Only)
- Requires pre-season FSSL Training (1-hr online)
- The Referee is the official, with the most seniority on deck
- Announces & starts the events with the buzzer/light device on the pool deck
- Meets with Timers & Stroke/Turn Judges 30 minutes prior to the start of meet
DECK MARSHALL (Home Meet Only)
- FSSL mandatory position
- Wears a safety vest
- Walks the deck, checks restrooms, walks spectator areas, etc.
- Reports any safety concerns to FSSL Team Reps.
- Can report concerns about any swimmer, family, spectators, etc.
TIMER SHEET/DQ RUNNER (Home Meet Only)
- Collects each lane’s completed timer and DQ sheets at the end of each heat & delivers sheets to the IT team
- Post final results, provided by IT team
CLERK OF COURSE
- Checks swimmers in for each event; make sure they are “queued” & get to the correct lane chair for their events
- 1 clerk ensures the swimmers on deck stay in correct lane chairs & move with their heat
- Write the event numbers on the white board for the announcer to see and call out the upcoming events
HEAT WINNER RIBBON (Home Meet Only)
- Distribute Heat Winner ribbon to the winner of each heat (or race)
- Check with the timers for winner
RIBBONS (Home Meet Only)
- Attach stickers to correct ribbon
- Works in clubhouse, alongside IT Team
- Place ribbons in the appropriate family folder
TAKE DOWN (Home Meet Only)
- Immediately after meet ends
- Breakdown & store inside shed: canopies, backstroke flags, lane lines, chairs, tables
- Put umbrellas and chairs back on deck in appropriate locations
- Put ladders back into pool
- Pick up trash
- Remove results from building
IT HELP/SCORER (Home Meet only)
- IT Team works on deck
- Scorer works with IT Coordinators & the opposing team to validate times
- Once checked, the timer sheets are signed and approved (only then will final results be posted)
TIMERS
All timers attend a meeting before their shift (the Referee will identify the Head Timer and walk through the rules).
“Lane Timer” (8 positions per half)
- 3 timers to a lane
- 1 person records all 3 times on the provided sheets
STROKE & TURN JUDGES
- Requires pre-season FSSL Training (1-hr online or in person)
- Requires 1 shift to shadow a S&T Judge (we recommend doing this for Time Trials)
- 2 judges are supplied by each team
- Responsible for ensuring swimmers comply with the rules regarding strokes, turns, and finishes, making calls for any rule violations within their assigned jurisdiction