Volunteering With the Gators
Running a swim meet takes a team - a team of parent volunteers that is!
Unlike some youth extracurriculars, it takes a coordinated group effort to pull off a swim meet. There are no paid officials or referees to fill the numerous roles, just us parents. From timers to place judges, and scorers to starters, volunteers are what make this clock tick!
In order to complete swimmer registration, you will be required to commit to volunteer roles. If you can't meet your commitment (a meet gets rained out, for example) the parent coordinators will help you find an alternative way to fulfill your volunteer points.
A Note To New Families
Families new to swim team sometimes feel intimidated about volunteering. We understand! It wasn't so long ago that we were in your shoes! We can assure you that volunteering isn't rocket science, and with a little experimentation, we are sure you will find a volunteer role that suits you. You'll likely find yourself meeting new people and even having some fun!
Volunteer Points
Volunteer point systems are commonly used by swim teams and other youth activities to keep things fair. For our purposes, volunteer points will be awarded according to the following criteria:
| # Points | Example Jobs | |
| 1 | bake sale donation | |
| 2 | timer, bake sale table, gator swamp | |
| 3 | champs volunteer, scorer | |
| 5 | multi-week jobs (starter, Friday donuts) |
The number of points required is per family. Based on previous seasons we estimate 5 volunteer points will be required for each family. This is an estimate and is subject to change. If you have trouble earning your points, please promptly reach out to the parent coordinators.
Job Descriptions
Detailed descriptions for certain jobs can be found on the North Hills Summer Swim League website.
| Scorer | Sits at the scoring table with the scorer from the opposing team. Uses provided score sheet to record points earned by each team. Regularly verifies score totals with opposing team to catch any inconsistencies. |
| Timer | Stands at their assigned lane. Uses provided stopwatch to track swimmer times. Records times on heat cards. |
| Backup Timer* | A timer not asigned to a specific lane. Starts stopwatch for each race. Takes over timing if lane timer signals they need a backup time. |
| Place Judge | Sits pool-side at the finish with the other place judges. Watches heat finishes. Place judges from each team signal to one another after each race to confim consesus on finishes. |
| Stroke & Turn Judge | Uses NHSSL expectations to judge stroke and turns. Only the first heat of an event is judged. Completes Stroke & Turn Report as necessary, indicating reason for DQ and submits to the scorers. |
| Runner* | Collects completed heat cards from timers and delivers them to the scoring table. A second runner is necessary for events 27-30 (25 yd events). |
| Starter/ Announcer* |
Announces events and any other updates throughout the meet. Signals swimmers to prepare and start. Calls for quiet at the start as necessary. |
| Gator Swamp | Helps corral and keep track of the youngest gators. |
| Bake Sale & 50/50* | Sells donated bake sale items and tickets for the 50/50 raffle. |
| Friday Donuts | Pick up and deliver several dozen donuts to Friday practices. The team covers the cost of donuts. |
* home meet only