Norfolk Silver Dolphins

The following volunteer roles are critical to ensuring a smooth swim meet: 

• Referee
  • This is the official for the entire meet. The referee ensures a smooth meet and makes final judgements on any conflicts (e.g., coaches wanting to sub another swimmer, dispute a disqualification, etc.).
• Starter
  • The Starter role announces each event and operates the CTS starter system. This role is important to announce swimmers to line up, take their mark, and then start each event. Works closely with the referee to ensure continual flow of events and avoid delays.
• Head Timer
  • Head timer stands on the edge of the pool and runs NSD's Time Drops system tablet, which tracks the lane buttons used to record times. If needed (Time Drops system unavailable), they will hold backup stopwatches to provide to lane timers if they forget to start their own.
• Lane Timer
  • NSD uses the Time Drops system. A lane timer only needs to press the button when a swimmer finishes their race. You do not need to press it when the race starts (the system records the race start from the starter equipment). 
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  • If needed (Time Drops system unavailable), the timer records the swimmer’s time on provided lane sheets. Each timer is provided a stopwatch and assigned a lane; there are two or three timers for each lane. This job gives you the best view of the pool and the swimmers during their races.
  • Important: 
    • Ensure you're tracking the events on the heat or timer sheets and checking the swimmer's name matches the name on your heat/timer sheet. If not, check with the clerk of course. 
    • When using a stop watch (Time Drops system unavailable) and:
      • You forget to start the stopwatch, raise your hand and get the head timer to swap stopwatches.
      • Start your stopwatch based on the starter system LIGHT (when available), not the sound. This is a more reliable way to begin timing each event.
      • Clear your stopwatch after each event.
    • During relays, be cognizant of when the final swimmer enters the water to ensure you press your time drops button (or stop your stopwatch, if applicable) at the right time.
    • For Butterfly or Breast, you press the Time Drops button (or stop the stopwatch) when they touch the wall, regardless of whether the swimmer used two hands or not!
• Runner
  • Runners grab DQ slips from Stroke & Turn Judges and delivers to the Meet Manager table to record in the system. If needed (Time Drops system unavailable), they also gather time sheets from lane times. 
• Clerk of Course
  
  • Responsible for lining up the swimmers by event, heat, lane, and getting them to the starting blocks in the correct order and on time. Can be assigned to 1-2 lanes to oversee. Work closely with shepherds /zookeepers finding swimmers for your assigned lane(s). This job gives you the chance to see your swimmer immediately before their event.
  • Important Tips:
    • We typically designate a "Zoo" area at the pool. This is where we corral all the younger swimmers so it's easier for shepherds and clerks to find them for upcoming events. Traditionally, the younger athletes have the hardest time staying attentive to upcoming events so the more they can remain in that area so you can get them lined up in advance, the better.
    • We will have chairs behind each lane so you can queue swimmers up in advance and make your job less stressful. The key is to be prepared early at the start of the meet and after the mid-meet break. As long as you have swimmers ready at the start (and re-start after break) of the meet, it will enter a smooth rhythm and it will be much less stressful.
    • Relays are typically right before the midway break and is the most challenging for clerks/shepherds so, when you see the relays coming up, start getting shepherds to find the swimmers and corral in the zoo (older swimmers too). Once you have every swimmer in a relay lane lined up in the zoo, send them to their lane to wait! (Note: younger relays alternate so they only have to do a 25 - that means half the relay swimmers need to be at the shallow end of the pool)
• Shepherd / Zookeeper
  • Assist the Clerk of Course in locating and lining up swimmers for their events. Responsible for tracking down errant NSD swimmers. Will be floating around parent's and swimmer's areas to find swimmers for upcoming events and sending them to the clerk of course.
• Stroke & Turn Judge
  • This is a trained position. You must have completed the stroke & turn training in order to sign up for this role. Judges rule on infractions on their side of the pool. They observe strokes, turns, and finishes to see that swimmers comply with requirements for that stroke.
• Meet Maestro Manager
  
  • This involves tracking times logged into Meet Maestro system through the Time Drops system for each swimmer and validating results. Tech-savvy individuals should volunteer for this role. There may also be a need to scratch, substitute, or enter DQs for swimmers. It is important to be accurate in this process to ensure meet integrity.
  • If needed (Time Drops system unavailable), you may also be required to manually enter times from time sheets.

In addition to the aforementioned positions, the following are also very important:

• Athlete Sign-in Host
  • Staffs the sign-in table before the meet. Assist parents and swimmers to find their events and mark their arms.
• Concessions
  • This involves set up and staffing the concession stand throughout the meet. Should allow enough coverage to see your swimmer’s events while someone can still monitor the concessions. Following the end of the meet, breakdown and cleanup is expected.
• Photographer
  • Takes photographs throughout the day with the aim of providing a limited quantity of high quality shots for social media posts and promotion. (We don't need 1,000 pictures for parents to sift through.) We have a photography policy here - so please review.