Ridgetop Swim Team

Support the Ridgetop Swim Team!

Thank you for contributing your time and effort in support of a positive Ridgetop swim season - we can't do it without you!

• Each family is required to volunteer for at least 5 shifts throughout the season
• Preteam-only families required to volunteer 1 shift (but always welcome and encouraged to volunteer for more)

Home meets require more volunteers than away meets. Most jobs during a meet are divided into two shifts: 1st half and 2nd half. When you volunteer to help with a specific position, you will be scheduled to work according to the dates and times you prefer (if possible). Make sure that your assigned time is convenient for you. If you need to change your schedule, it is up to you to find your replacement for your volunteer slot and then notify the Head Table.

If a last-minute cancellation is unavoidable, please arrange for your spouse or another team parent to replace you.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Below is a list of ways to get involved! Many roles do not require training, but some roles require JRAC training.                                                                                                                                                   

• Volunteer Check-in Table: (2 volunteers for each meet) Check in volunteers. Handout name tags with name and volunteer position.

• Clerk of Course Helpers: (2 volunteers for each half) Assist the Clerk of Course to organize swimmers into heats and lanes for each event.  

• 8 & Under Caller: (1 volunteer for each meet) Located in the Clerk of Course area, the Caller will call individual swimmers to each race and locate upcoming swimmers if needed. The 8 & U Card Handler assists the 8 & U Caller in providing each child with lane cards to line them in his/her heat.

• 8 & Under Card Handler: (1 volunteer for each home meet) Manage swimmer cards and hand them to children to line them up for their heat.

• 8 & Under Walker: (1 volunteer for each meet) Assist the Clerk of Course in walking groups of children (per heat) to their seats behind the blocks, reminding children about their lane assignment, and locating upcoming swimmers if needed. Children will hold on to their swimmer card to ensure they are in the proper order.

• 8 & Under Card Runner: (1 volunteer for each home meet) Take the swimmer cards from 8 & U swimmers once they are ready to move up to the block. Ensure each participant maintains his/her heat and lane order while waiting behind the block. Once the event is complete, the Card Runner will take the cards back to the 8 & U Card Handler.

• DQ Runner: (1 volunteer for each half for home meets) Retrieve Disqualification (DQ) slips from the Strokes & Turns officials once alerted (the S&T officials will raise their hand to alert you) then take the slips to the Referee for his/her signature. The DQ Runner will take these slips to the Head Table for recording and then to the appropriate coach.

• Time Sheet Runner: (2 volunteers each half for home meets) Collect timer sheets from each recording timer in each lane and take timer sheets to the Head Table. The two volunteers will alternate heats. Post result sheets in several pre-designated areas for coaches, swimmers, and parents to view.

• Head Table Helpers: (2 volunteers each half for home meets and 1 each half for away meets) Help the Head Table worker with reviewing time sheets and data entry. This is typically in an air-conditioned space, and you can leave to watch your swimmer.

• Verifier: (1 volunteer for each half) Works with opposing team volunteer to verify correct data entry from cards, comparing swimmers to printouts.

• Lane Timer: (9 RT volunteers needed for each half at 6 lane pool; 12 RT volunteers needed for each half at 8 lane pool) Prior to the start of the meet, attend a brief timer meeting with the Head Timer to review lane assignments/rules and receive stopwatches/clipboard. Lane timers are assigned a lane with 2 other timers; One of the three timers is responsible for recording all three times on the swimmer's card. A runner will collect the card from the recording timer after each heat.

• Riptide Ribbons: (1 volunteer for each half) This volunteer visually determines the winner of each 8 & U heat and Hot Heat and immediately congratulates the winner with a ribbon and prize.

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• Meet Ribbons: (1 volunteer) Paste swim meet labels onto meet ribbons after the meet then deliver the sorted ribbons to the fun practice by Tuesday 9:45am.

• Water Runner: (1 volunteer for each home meet) Distributes water bottles to meet staff and volunteers throughout the home meet.

• Parking Director: (1 volunteer for each home meet) Directs parking before and at the beginning of home meets.

• Doughnut Parent: (1 volunteer for morning after each meet) Purchase and deliver doughnuts for fun practices on Tuesday morning (You will be reimbursed).

• Set up: (2 volunteers before each home meet) Help set up volunteer tables, signs, and supplies before each meet.

• Clean up: (2 volunteers for each home meet) Help clean up trash and put away folding tables after the meet.

• Announcer: (1 volunteer for each home meet) Enthusiastically communicates information throughout the meet such as volunteer meet ups, heat numbers, swim results, and hot heats.

• Head Clerk of Course: (1 volunteer for each home meet) Organize swimmers into heat and lane assignments for each event. Requires mandatory JRAC Clerk of Course training.

• Head Table: (1 volunteer for each home meet) Assumes responsibility for table supplies. Coordinates table workers. Requires mandatory JRAC Head Table training.

• Head Table Computer Operator: (1 volunteer for each home meet) Processes meet results using league provided computer software, works with several table volunteers to enter results, check accuracy, and resolve any malfunctions. Produces and prints final results at end of each meet. Required JRAC computer training.

• Head Timer: (1 volunteer for each half at home meets) Lead brief meeting prior to meet starting to review lane assignments and distribute clipboard/stopwatch. Keep several running stopwatches and supervise all lane timers. Give a ready signal at the start of each race to the Starter to indicate that all timers are ready. Provide an extra stopwatch in the event of a malfunction stopwatch or missed start. Requires mandatory JRAC Head Timer Clinic (A Head Timer who has worked in previous years only need to attend the clinic every other year; course can be taken online with a minimum of 3 consecutive years of taking the clinic).

• Referee: (3 volunteers for each home meet) One volunteer takes the lead; the other two volunteers are on call. The Referee is the meet facilitator and has the final word in all protests or conflicts involving matters pertaining to the meet including disqualifications, sportsmanship issues, meet procedures, etc. Requires mandatory JRAC referee clinic and one JRAC strokes and turns clinic within the last 12 months; or be a United States Swimming (USS) certified strokes and turns official.

• Starter: (1 volunteer for each half at home meet) Operates the starting system for all events by announcing the event and heat, commanding swimmers to take their mark, and hitting the beeper to begin each race. Must be able to determine and call a swimmer's illegal motion/procedure and call a false start or disqualify a swimmer who repeatedly violates rules. Requires a mandatory JRAC starter clinic within the past 24 months; or be a USS certified starter. Course can be taken online with a minimum of 3 consecutive years of taking the clinic.

• Strokes & Turns Official: (2 each half for each meet) Analyze the swimmer's start, stroke, and turn to determine if it complies with US swimming rules and regulations. Officials are required to disqualify a swimmer if his/her start, stroke or turn is deemed legal. Requires mandatory JRAC strokes and turns clinic within the past 12 months; or be USS certified strokes and turns official. Course can be taken online with a minimum of 3 consecutive years of taking the clinic.

The Swim Team Committee is here to answer any questions or help you find a good role for you!

Kristen Abner, Suzanne Andrews, Lolly Hodge, Ami Shah, Melissa Snader, Julia Tompkins