Volunteer Descriptions
Timers
*You will each get two stopwatches. You will start and stop the watch with the button on the right and clear the watch with the reset button on the left.
* At the start of each race, watch for the light on the starter mechanism. Start one watch with the light, not with the sound, as that is more accurate.
*If your watch malfunctions or you miss the light, raise your hand to alert the Head Timer. S/he will bring you a watch to use for that race. If your watch is broken, the Head Timer will replace it.
*Lean over the edge of the pool so you can accurately see the swimmer touch the wall – the touch may be underwater--then stop your watch.
*You can use the second watch to start the next race so that there is less of a delay between races.
*Record the swimmer’s time on the event sheet on the clipboard, either at the end of the race if there is time or after you have started the next race.
*Relay times are recorded on the relay card handed to you by a swimmer in your lane. There are no event sheets for relays, only relay cards. Stop your watch after the 4th/last relay swimmer touches the wall. One relay=one time. You do not need to record times for each member of the relay team.
*Runners will collect the time sheets/relay cards every other race.
*Ask each swimmer his/her name prior to the race to make sure it matches the time sheet. DO NOT confirm (“Is your name _____?); ASK (“What is your name?”). For 25 yard races (1 length), ask the swimmer at the end of the race. *If the name does not match, raise your hand to alert the Starter or Referee (for 50 and 100 yard races) and write in the correct name. It is okay if a swimmer goes on a different time sheet than originally expected, as long as the correct name goes with the correct time.
*Swimmers age 13 and older have some events that are 100s (4 lengths). Please check your time sheets and look at the event to know when to stop your watch. Head Timers
*You will each get two stopwatches. You will start and stop the watch with the button on the right and clear the watch with the reset button on the left.
*One head timer will be assigned to lanes 1-3 and the other head timer will be assigned to lanes 4-6.
*Each Head Timer starts two watches at the start of each heat in case a timer’s watch fails. If a timer in one of your assigned lanes raises his/her hand, trade your running watch for their failed watch.
*Do not stop and reset your watches until the last swimmer touches the wall. *If a swimmer is close to breaking a GRAL record, both head timers may be asked to time a particular lane. You will still start both watches, and stop one watch when that swimmer touches the wall. A swimmer needs 3 official times to be recorded to break a GRAL record.
Runners
*One Runner picks up the Lane/Timer Sheets from the Timers after every two events and takes the sheets to the table workers. We have a pulley system in place that hangs down from the deck so that the Runner does not have to leave the deck. The sheets are simply put into a plastic bag for our table workers to collect.
* A second Runner collects any DQ cards from the two Strokes & Turns judges located at each end of the pool and takes them to the Referee for signature. A Strokes & Turns Judge will raise his/her arm when an infraction is seen and the DQ card is written. The Runner then collects all signed DQ cards from the Referee and takes them to the table workers. We have a pulley system in place that hangs down from the deck so that the Runner does not have to leave the deck. The DQ cards are simply put into a plastic bag for our table workers to collect.
Tableworkers
*Table workers are supervised by the Head Table Worker (certified position) who will explain how to process the information (times, DQs, etc.) to give to our computer reps.
*You will receive the timer event/lane sheets and DQ cards from the runners.
*Tasks may include receiving and sorting timer event/lane sheets, identifying official swim times, matching up DQ cards with the appropriate heat and lane, and writing the swimmer information on the DQ cards for the coaches.
Clerk of Course
*Clerk of Course workers assist our Head Clerk of Course (certified position) with managing our swimmers in the clerk of course area.
*Roles and responsibilities assigned by the Head Clerk of Course may include: --calling swimmers' names and telling them what heat and lane they are in based on the preprinted meet program --ensuring that swimmers are on the right bench and in lane order before they leave the Clerk to go behind the blocks --taking swimmers from the benches to the chairs behind the blocks and ensuring that they remain in the right order and move up to the blocks when called.
Candy
*You will be given a basket of lollipops at the start of the meet.
*You will watch each heat and give a lollipop to the heat winner when they exit the pool.
*You will be positioned behind the timers, inside the rope.
Water
*You will distribute water to all of our volunteers and coaches working on deck during the meet.
*There will be a packed cooler of water bottles located against the wall behind the starting blocks.
*There will be extra bottles located next to the cooler to replenish as needed.
