Parent Volunteers Requirements
Volunteer Opportunities
We could not have swim meets without our Parent volunteers. Each meet (home or away) requires more than 70 volunteers to ensure a successful event. No experience is necessary, and training will be provided as needed.
Volunteers sign up for each meet on our swim team website. Each family is required to volunteer for two swim meets.
Announcer:
This person introduces the Cherokee Swim Team and the visiting team, makes the start of the meet announcements, and introduces each swimmer by name at each heat.
Bullpen Parents/Leaders:
A Bullpen Parent is a regular helper who attends all/most meets. They arrive at the meet by 4:00 PM to mark swimmers, they ensure swimmers get to their events during the meet, and generally manage the bullpen area. (Bullpen Parents do NOT need to sign up to volunteer at the meets--we already have you.)
Bullpen Helpers:
Bullpen Helpers assists the main Bullpen Parents in the 6 & Unders (6), 7&8s (6), and 9&10s (4) with the swimmers, as needed. These volunteers arrive to the meet at 4:00 PM to mark swimmers, they stay to ensure swimmers get to their events, and generally managing the bullpen area. The helpers sign up to volunteer when they declare their swimmers at the meet.
Substitute Bullpen Helpers:
Substitute Helpers fill in when a main Bullpen Parent in the 11&12 and 13&14 bullpens cannot attend a meet. Arrival time for the subs is 4:00 PM to the meet. If the Bullpen Parents are all present and do not need any extra assistance, then you will be excused. Your job is to arrive early (4:00 PM) to mark swimmers, ensure swimmers get to their events, and generally manage the bullpen area.
Check-in Attendant for Swimmer/Volunteer Arrival:
Arrive at the meet location no later than 3:45 PM to begin checking in each swimmer and the volunteers. Mark off when each swimmer/volunteer arrives and keep a primary list of swimmers present up to the start of the first event. Remind their parents/guardians to NOT have the swimmer leave his/her bullpen (even just for food or bathroom) unless the parent for that child's bullpen is notified first. Once swimmers are checked in, direct them to their bullpen areas. These attendants will have spirit items to pass out for fun, have a list of the bullpen parents' names and contact info in case a swimmer needs to leave, have the instructions to use the SwimTopia app, pass out name badges, and have a list of where the volunteers should go once checked in.
Ribbon Assistants:
Assistants label each ribbon with the matching printed label generated by the timing system and place it in the appropriate swimmer folder.
Timers:
These volunteers play a very important role in the course of the meet and must be attentive. There will be two shifts, one shift for each half of the meet. A pre-meet timer meeting will be held by the head timer and meet officials before each meet to explain to timers how the timing system works. Plus, you get the best view from the whole pool! Arrival time for this position is 5:00 PM and you must stay for your entire shift.
