Competition and Event Volunteers
Do you feel like you want to get involved and give something back?
This page aims to give more information on volunteer roles and we are always looking for people to help out.
“I want to get involved, but I can’t because I don’t know anything about swimming!”
You can volunteer regardless of how much you know about swimming – there are a number of activities and tasks that need your knowledge and skills.
“ I don’t have the time to commit to volunteering every week!”
Support is needed in a variety of areas, with many different levels of time commitment. Some activities do need a weekly commitment, whereas others could be for a single event. We are grateful for any and all offers of help, no matter how little or how much time you can contribute.
“I don’t know anyone at the club!”
Volunteering is a great way to get involved and get to meet the other parents and volunteers at the club. It is easy to sit poolside, read a book or just drop your athletes off, however once you get involved and start volunteering, you will be surprised to find out how many people you can get to know and that you might even enjoy it!
“I don’t have any experience!”
Everyone has to start somewhere and often a fresh perspective on things without the politics of having been involved for a long time helps to look at things in a new way and start to make positive changes.
There are many different volunteering opportunities and roles to suit your skills and experience. If you are interested in volunteering for the Club and/or you have a particular skill set that you think may be helpful, or have a fantastic idea, we would love to hear from you.
As a volunteer you will be able to:
Put your existing skills to good use and learn new skills as you do
Help to make a difference by giving something back to our club
Be a part of the events and activities we undertake
Have fun and get involved
Whether you can spare an hour a week or an hour a day, your time will really make a difference. Volunteering is hugely rewarding! It is a great way to develop yourself and others, to meet people, and to get involved in and give back to our local community.
Club volunteer positions essentially fall into four categories
Team Manager and Timekeeper/ Official Roles who help out at swimming galas/competitions where your child is competing. These roles are essential to meet the licensing criteria for competitions – full training is provided.
Volunteer positions to help competitions run smoothly for which no training is required, e.g. Competition stewards, runners.
Regular Poolside coaches /helpers to help existing coaches during your child’s training sessions.
Governace Roles Chairperson Treasurer Secretary which may require a degree of commitment around two hours per week.
Timekeeper
(Manual & Electronic)
What do I have to do?
Operate a stopwatch
Record time
Check starts, turns and finishes
Training Requirements
Attend online training and a practical session
The minimum recommended age for candidates to undertake this training is 14 years, and all need to be registered members of a British Swimming affiliated club or member of the Institute of Swimming (IoS).
https://www.swimming.org/ios/course-information/swimming-technical-officials-timekeeping/
Recorder
What do I have to do?
Use database on laptop to record results from timekeepers.
Training Requirements
On the job
Runner
What do I have to do?
Runners provide general assistance.
Distribute start sheets and results to different personnel in the venue.
Training Requirements
None required
Announcer
What do I have to do?
Use PA system to announce safety instructions from script and each race plus ad hoc announcements.
Provide accurate and essential information about the event in a friendly and enthusiastic way.
Training Requirements
On the job
Medals Tables
What do I have to do?
Gives medals to correct swimmers
Training Requirements
None Required
Poolside Helpers
To assist with the set-up of the pool for club training sessions and ensure all equipment is correctly stored away at the end of the session.
To follow the instructions of the coach / teacher to support the delivery of the session.
To be aware of the safety of the session at all times, ensuring the poolside is tidy and any health and safety risks are reported to the coach or appropriate personnel.
To make sure that swimmers have the correct equipment needed for the session such as pull buoys and floats.
Officials
What do I have to do?
All Galas and Opens have officials, dressed in white, that have received training by the Swim England, and are all volunteers.
Training Requirements
Training to become an official commences at the timekeeping level, from there one can progress to Judge 1 (turns, starts and finishes) then onto Judge 2 (Strokes), J2S (Starting) and finally Referee.
(swimmingofficials@swimming.org)
Judges -
Level 1 - Timing and Turn Infractions
Level 2 - Timing, Turn and Stroke Infractions
What do I have to do?
Similar to timekeeping role but more training and mentoring provided to become confident in swimming rules.
Where: Level 1 2 3 4 Meets
Training Requirements
Online theory course followed by on the job training/assessment undertaking different roles at different events.
Marshalls/ Stewards
What do I have to do?
Get swimmers in heat and lane order according to the event list so they are ready to take part in their event at the right time.
You will be part of a team who are responsible for checking that all athletes required for an event are present and ready to compete, in the right order.
During the warm up all the withdrawals for an event are processed and the final list of competitors will be provided to you before the start of the session. The athletes will be called by the announcer to go to the marshalling area for each event. Once swimmers are in the marshalling area they are under the control of the marshalls.
At events with medal presentations the marshalling team are required to make sure that award winners are present and ready (properly dressed) to collect their awards in good time and assembled near the podium (the announcer will have already done a roll call of athletes needed for finals, medal presentation and other awards).
When signalled to do so, the marshalls should send the award winners to the podium for presentation.
Training Requirements
On the job
Team Manager
What do I have to do?
Organise swimmers in time for races as prompted by announcer/stewards.
Link between parents and swimmers
Ensure swimmer welfare whilst poolside.
The Team Manager ensures team cohesion at aquatic events and competitions. This may include the organisation of the logistics where the competition is at a different venue.
Training Requirements
DBS check conducted by club
Appropriate safeguarding training (3 hours)
Team Manager training (2 hours)
Chaperone
What do I have to do?
Helps Team Manager to look after specific swimmers during galas/competitions.
This is primarily at ‘away’ competitions. They take on the role of a responsible parent for designated swimmers under 18yrs of age.
Training Requirements
DBS check conducted by club
Appropriate safeguarding training (3 hours)
Front of House Team Member
What do I have to do?
The Front of house team members are essentially ‘the face of the event’.
You may be responsible for a selection of selling or checking tickets, selling merchandise and checking and handing out accreditations and passes.
Generally you act as the information desk for the event and are usually the first person someone attending the event may interact with so a friendly customer focused attitude is a benefit
Training Requirements
None required
Social Media Coordinator
What do I have to do?
Promote and Publicise all information about the club
Training Requirements
IT website skills and a working knowledge of social media platforms would be an advantage.
Armthorpe Kingfishers Swimming Club is happy to discuss Volunteer Roles with interested parents and individuals.
Contact the club for further details.
