Parent Volunteers

Volunteer Points System

This season the Club will encourage participation within the program by using the VPS (Volunteer Points System), adopted from other swim clubs.  A great swim club requires parental volunteer support.  Parent jobs are given  point values.  Points are worth $20 each.  Families with more than one swimmer in the program will only be required to fulfill the points of the highest-level swimmer.  Swimmers registering with the club after Jan. 1 or swimmers moving into squad 5 as of Jan. 1 will have their points pro-rated. Any swimmer moving from squad 6 to 5 for session 3 will not have VPS levied.  Families of Squads 1 to 5 are required to fulfill the number of points per family (to be determined each swim season) or choose to pay the Club the equivalent monetary compensation. All families must earn at least one of their points by attending an official’s clinic. 

This is critical for our club to have enough qualified officials to host sanctioned swim meets and is required by Swim BC. Clinics can be completed online.  Members must have Level 1 Timing before they can take other clinics. At Home Swim Meets:  All positions are worth 1 point per day.  For VIR’s working either Prelims or Finals are worth 1 point each.  Positions: Timer, Food Helper, Stroke and Turn Judge, Chief Timer, Clerk of the Course, Starter, Referee, Electronics, Meet Secretary.   A post-dated cheque for the pre-determined amount for each swim season is required.  This will be held until your points have been earned. In addition, the following points can be earned from: 

Attending an Officials Clinic = 1 point

Attending the AGM = 1 point

Attending Parent Meetings = 1 point

Tag day = 1 point

Silent Auction Prize   (min $35 value) = 1 point

(This is not an all inclusive list)Many options are available and accessibility to earn points has been created.

Parent volunteers at swim meets ... Why do we need swim officials?

In order to be permitted to host meets for the VIR region, each club must have trained, active officials. Meets allow our swimmers to meet other teams in a competitive environment in their home pool, usually 3 times a swim year.

Who Is a swim official?

It’s you, the swimmer’s parent. When a club hosts a swim meet, all the official positions on deck are filled by volunteer parents of the hosting team who have trained to take on specific roles at the meet.

What are the positions and how many are needed at a meet?

Timers (18)
 
Starters (2)
 
Stroke and Turn judges (8)
 
Chief Finish Judge (1 and a backup/helper)
 
Meet Manager (1 or 2, depending on size of meet)
 
Chief Timer (1)
 
Clerk of Course (1 and a backup/helper)
 
Safety Marshal (2)
 
All officials at a meet come under the wing of the Chief Official, a highly experienced, high level official.

What does training cost?

It’s free! It takes about 1 ½ hours of your time, per course, in the comfort of your own home. All you need is an Internet connection and a telephone.

How many courses can you take?

You can take as many courses as you like and we encourage you to do so.

How many do we need?

The number of officials depends on the number of swimmers in each club. For example, if the Sharks have 61-75 competitive swimmers by the end of 2008 then the club will need to have 45 parents trained at Level 1 (Timers, Safety Marshalls), 4 parents trained at Level II, 2 parents trained at Level III and one trained at Level IV. Officials need to act in their officials capacity at two meets to fully qualify.

Why would I consider doing this?

It’s fun and volunteers are all well fed! Also, your swimmer trains very hard every time they get into the pool. Swimmers are able to fully gauge their personal progress at competitive swim meets. Meets depend on volunteers to run them. This is the parents’/guardian's opportunity to show their swimmers that they actively support their children and the club in a competitive environment. It is also an opportunity for parents to get to know each other better and have some fun.

Are there any other volunteer opportunities?

Absolutely, at a swim meet you can volunteer to sell Heat Sheets, sell 50/50 tickets, serve and prepare food for the volunteers, do photocopying before the meet, etc. 

Positions outside swim meets

You might also consider becoming a Club Board member and taking on the role of President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Meet Manager, Registrar, Public Relations, Corporate Sponsorship or organizing one of the annual fundraising events such as Tag Day or the Swimathon.
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