Culpeper Barracudas Swim Team

Swimming is a sport that requires parents to be participants, not just spectators! If this is your first time getting involved with swimming, don’t worry! Volunteering is easy and a great way to get to know other team parents. However, please read all volunteer requirements before committing to participation on the Culpeper Barracudas Swim Team.

• There are six regular-season swim meets this summer. Each swim meet is split into two shifts, first half and second half. It takes about 60 Culpeper Barracudas parents to run both shifts at a Home Meet and 40 for an Away Meet. *In order for meets to run smoothly, we need one adult from each family to work a minimum of six points worth of shifts per season.
  

• Each job is worth a certain number of points. Some jobs are worth 0.5 points, most are worth 1 point, and a few positions, including trained positions, are worth 2 or 3 points. So if you can work any combination of jobs throughout the season to reach your six required points.

• Parents will commit to their (at least) six volunteer points when registering their swimmers before the start of the season.

• Please see our Volunteer Policy.

Find online training courses for all these positions here.

Untrained Positions / No Experience Needed

These are jobs that can be learned as you go. These are the easiest positions and are best-suited for parents who are new to summer swimming.

• Three Timers are positioned at the finish line and record the swimmers’ times using stopwatches. Official times determine the order of finish. This is a great job if you don’t want to miss out on the action and don’t mind getting a little wet.
• The Clerk-of-Course Assistants are responsible for lining up the swimmers in event and heat order prior to sending them to the starting blocks. This is best suited for someone with a big voice and a cool head.
• The Awards position is only needed for the second shift of the meet and will be required to stay until all of the ribbons are assigned. They organize and assign the winner ribbons for each event. The ribbons are then given to each team to distribute the next day. Ribbons Volunteers are needed at both home and away meets. This is a low-stress job in the dry zone.
• The Backup Checker confirms that all official times have been entered correctly by the Computer Operator. This is a job well-suited for anyone detail-oriented with a basic knowledge of computers.
• Sweep judges from each team are positioned on opposite sides of the pool at the finish line and serve as backups to the timers in determining the order of finish for every heat. This position requires a cool head and a keen eye.
• Runners are responsible for gathering all timing cards, sweep judge cards, and “DQ” cards after each heat or event and taking (“running”) them to the “Table” area. This job is best suited for someone who is high-energy and doesn’t mind being on their feet

Untrained Positions/ Experience Recommended

No formal training is needed for any of these positions. However, they should only be filled by someone who is familiar with them and their requirements.

• The Sorter receives all of the cards from the Runner, “sorts” them into heat & event order, removes “DQ’s”, and determines the official time, place, and scoring for every swimmer. This job is best suited for someone with a cool head and thorough understanding of how swimming events are organized.
• The Head of Table’s job is to make sure that everything runs smoothly at the scoring and awards table. They must be familiar with all procedures and should be prepared to step in and fill any other untrained position if/when needed. JSL encourages persons interested in this position to attend the preseason “Table” clinic if offered.
• Head Clerk-of-Course is responsible for lining up the swimmers in event and heat order prior to sending them to the starting blocks.
• The Head Timer is responsible for starting two stopwatches at the start of every event in case one of the lane timers has issues with their timing or stopwatch. The lane timer needing assistance will raise their hand and the Head Timer will swap stopwatches with them.

Trained Positions

These positions can only be filled by someone who has completed the required training.

• The Computer Operator and Computer Operator Assistant receive the cards from the Sorter and are responsible for entering final data into the Meet Manager program. Both should be familiar with the Meet Manager Program and the operation of laptop computers and printers. JSL requires all Computer Operators to attend the preseason clinic for this position or be certified by the Software Consultant.
• Stoke-and-Turn Judges are positioned on the sides and ends of the pool to observe all swimmers for proper stroke and turn technique. They must disqualify ("DQ") a swimmer for not swimming in accordance with the rules. Stroke-and-Turn Judges must complete an online training course and attend a preseason JSL clinic or be USA Swimming, YMCA, or High School certified.
• The Starter is responsible for lining the swimmers up at the starting blocks and ensuring a fair and equitable start. Starters should have previous meet experience. JSL requires that starters attend the preseason Starter’s clinic or be USA Swimming or YMCA certified in this position.
• The Meet Director requires previous meet experience as well as a general knowledge of JSL rules and procedures. Meet directors must attend a preseason clinic & supervise all home meets and serve as the team’s official representative at away meets.