Volunteer Job Descriptions

Starter (1):  It is the responsibility of the visiting team to supply one starter for a meet.  Starters must attend the CNSL starter's clinic before acting as a starter for any meet.  It would be helpful for each team to try to train more than one starter. 

Announcer (1):  The announcer should be aware of each event as it is swum.  He/she can begin announcing the next event shortly after the last swimmer in the previous event has touched the wall.  The announcer also announces scores, All-City qualifying times, and team records.  This should be done during a break when timers are switching ends of the pool, and at the end of the meet.  The announcer should limit the amount of unnecessary talk between and during events.  It is extremely helpful if the announcer reminds everyone to help clean-up trash and return the pool to a presentable appearance.

Referee (1):  The home team is responsible for supplying one referee.  The referee has full authority over all officials and shall assign and instruct them before each meet.  The referee shall also resolve all matters relating to the conduct of the meet.  The referee may double as the starter or stroke and turn judge.  The individual should have at least one season's experience in one of these positions before he/she starts to referee.

Stroke and Turn Judge (2):  Each team must supply at least one qualified Stroke and Turn Judge for each meet.  Before anyone acts as a Stroke and Turn Judge, the individual must attend a CNSL stroke and turn training clinic to ensure consistency throughout the league.

Head Timer and Timers (8-9):  The head timer is responsible for recruiting, organizing, briefing, and supervising timers for all how meets.  The head timer should assign each timer to a lane.  There should be one home team timer and one away team timer per lane.  The head timer normally times each event in a back-up capacity.  If necessary, the head timer can be assigned a specific lane to time.  All timers should arrive a the meet no later than one-half hour before the meet.

Clerk-of-Course (2):  Teams may prefer to maintain two clerks-of-course.  Together they are responsible for writing each meet's cards from the coach's line-ups as well as assigning heats and lanes as per the coach's designations.  The clerk should check the swimmers in, tell them their lane assignment, and have them wait in the designated area until it is time to go to the starting area.  When it is relay time, the clerk should check relay cards to see if swimmers' names are filled out in order of swim.  The clerks-of-course from each team confer in order to combine heats when necessary.  The clerks-of-course from each team also distributes all cards to the swimmers during each meet.  The clerk should also confer with the announcer to control the flow of swimmers to the clerk's table.  (TIP - It usually works well to call swimmers to the clerk two events ahead of the event they are to swim.)

Seeders (2):   Each team should have at least two seeders.  The seeders will function to ensure that younger swimmers compete in the correct event, heat, and lane. The seeders should check the swimmers in, tell them their lane assignment, and have them wait in the designated area until it is time to go to the starting area.  When it is relay time, the seeders should check relay cards to see if swimmers' names are filled out in order of swim.  The seeders from each team confer in order to combine heats when necessary. 

Pied Piper for 6 and Under swimmers (1): The Pied Piper will function to remind the younger swimmers to line up for their events.

Sweep Judges (1):  Each team needs at least one person who has some experience as a sweep judge.  Sweep judges and timers share the responsibility of place designation for each heat.

Recorders (1):  Recorders record the sweep judges' order of finish. (One recorder per meet).

Scorers (2):  At least two individuals per team are required to record and score the meets.  Scorers are responsible for receiving completed event cards and sweep sheets and recording the appropriate placement of swimmers on the scoring sheets.  The scorer determines the official time of the swimmer.  The scorers mush pay attention to disqualified swimmers and record them on a separate form.  Specific scorer information will be provided when the equipment is distributed before the time trials.

Ribbon Writers (4-5):  At least two individuals per team are needed to write the award ribbons and best time ribbons during meets.  Ribbons are awarded up to eighth place per event.  Ribbon writers take the cards from the scorer's table.  The cards should have a place written on them (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.).  The ribbon writers then proceed to write appropriate place ribbons for the swimmers.

Heat Winner Ribbon Distributor (1): The heat winner ribbon distributor will give out the ribbons to the heat winners.

Ribbon Distributor (2): At the end of each meet, the ribbon distributors will give out the award ribbons / best time ribbons to different age group swimmers.

Runners (4):  At least two individuals are needed as runners.  Runners collect the cards from each swimmer; distribute them to the proper timer, and then to collect these from the timers along with the sweep sheets to the scorers at the end of every heat.

Master Swimmers (4 or 8): The master (parent) swimmers swim against the other team during the half time for fun.

50/50 Raffle Ticket seller (1): The 50/50 Raffle ticket seller will sell tickets during home meet for team fund raising purpose.

Meet Set up / Clean up (4): To set up the meet on Friday night for the home meet or clean up after the meet.

Vendor/Concessions (2-4):  Each Team Manager should assign two to four individuals and a head of concessions to coordinate and purchase supplies to sell at each meet.  Those people should also be responsible for selling refreshments and food at home meets.  This is a very important source of income for the team.

Team Managers:  At the end of the swim team season it is the responsibility of the team manager to decide whether he or she wishes to continue as Team Manager for the next season.  If a Team Manager does not wish to serve for another second, he or she has the responsibility for securing a replacement.  See the CNSL Rules and Regulations for team manager replacement procedures.

Treasurer (1):  Every team must have a treasurer who managers the team's finances.  Team managers should not be the only people in charge of all the team's finances.  There should be two lines on team checks for the treasurer and a team manager to sign checks.  It is required that each team establishes a budget.

Social Events (many):  Available to help at various social events throughout the season on an as needed basis.  Events include pep rallies, swim mania and awards night and are typically held in the evening hours.  Excellent position for fun loving individuals, families new to the team or with younger children.