I have meet availability and volunteer positions ready to go!!

Please let us know if your swimmer(s) will be available for next week's meet by using the SwimTopia website calendar page. While you're there, you can sign up for your volunteer position! If there's a job you love, go ahead and get your signups done for the entire season before someone else gets to it first! You can go week by week or get all your signups done at once. (Don't worry...new swimmers will only be put into a meet if they're ready to compete. If they aren't swimming yet, we don't expect you to volunteer yet, but it would be good for them to come see what happens at a meet.)

Remember, we ask that every family serve at least four times, but so many go above and beyond and work every meet, sometimes even the entire meet all five weeks. Feel free to sign up for as many as you'd like. If you aren't sure what to volunteer for, we're happy to put you where we need you most! We couldn't make summer swim happen without all of you - thank you for being so willing to go above and beyond!

For those of you who are new to the swim world (or maybe just new to Saddlebrook), I've put together a list of jobs so you can see what might fit you best.

We have so many ways for you to plug in at Saddlebrook! Some of our parents are all in and have full time positions while others volunteer during meets and still others find ways to help outside meet times. It all works so much better if you can find something you will truly enjoy! If you already know how you can best plug in, that's great, but if not, feel free to try out a few before you find what you love or just mix it up with something new every week to keep it fresh! All positions have the flexibility to watch your swimmers' races. Here are some job descriptions to help you figure out what you might like to do:

• Bullpen Parent: The bullpen parent is responsible for monitoring the kids in the bullpen during the meet. They will assist their swimmers in getting to the staging area in time for their races. They should make sure all the kids remain in the bullpen during the meet. They should assist the kids in cleaning up the bullpen at meet completion.
• Clean up/Breakdown:
  • Admin Area: Take tables, chairs, extension cords, etc into the clubhouse and store upstairs.
  • Pool Area: These volunteers will make sure that the tents are taken down (once the sun goes down) are packed away and taken upstairs in the clubhouse to the SST storage area. Will help put away tables and misc equipment at the end of home meets. Collect items for lost and found.
  • Cone/Sign Collection: Will bring all signs and traffic cones back from the parking lot and Saddlebrook Way and return them to storage upstairs in the clubhouse. (Home meet only)
• Computer/Computer Assistant:
  • The lead will learn Swimtopia Meet Maestro online software. They are responsible for running meet reports and recording finishes and times in the computer system. They also print labels for award ribbons.
  • An assistant for each half of the meet will help with data entry.
• Concessions: Fill orders at the concession stand along with some small setup/tear down, delivering water to volunteers, etc.
  
  • The pre-game shift will finish setting up items for sale as well as manning the concession stand until the beginning of the meet.
  • If you are working 2nd shift, please remember that helping to clean up concessions is part of the job.
• Finish Judge: Finish judges are responsible for recording the order of the swimmers finishes. They work with the opposing team. They alternate jobs so that one team of two has SST recording and the opponent calling the finish while on the other team, SST records while the opponent calls the finish. This position does require you to relocate between deep and shallow end.
• Garbage Duty (home meet only): Will take out garbage at the pool, concessions, and bathrooms as needed but especially at the middle and end of the meet.
• Grill Assistant (home meet only): Helps the grill master with cooking hamburgers, hot dogs, and grilled chicken.
• Ice Delivery (home meet only): This volunteer position is for someone who can pick up 6 large bags of ice and return them to clubhouse on the afternoon of the meet. Having the ice by 2:00 is necessary so the drinks can get be chilled in time for concessions.
• Photographer: This person will photograph races, bullpens, volunteers, and general activities at the swim meet. They will deliver digital files to the board after every meet for use on the website and end-of-season slideshow. Photographers must have their own camera.
• Ribbons: After the computer operator generates stickers based on the race finishes, the ribbon writer places the stickers on the appropriate ribbons and files them in the individual swimmer files.
• Scorekeeping: The scorekeeper is responsible for manually recording the meet score. They will also work alongside the opponent to ensure scores are accurate and also in line with the computer software while the software continues to be tweaked for our league scoring. The assistant will help with document sorting and will learn to keep score manually.
• Morning Setup (home meet only): During morning practice on the day of home meets, will set up tents for bullpens, tables for concessions and scorekeeping and computer area, signs along street, etc.
• Afternoon Setup (home meet only): Help with final touches on setup for the meet (lane ropes, admin area, etc)
• Sound Setup/Breakdown (home meets only): Will setup the sound system for the announcer and break down and put away after the meet.
• Starter (home meets only): Will start races using bullhorn. Requires some training.
• Timer: The timers are responsible for using a stopwatch and filling in finish times on the time sheet provided by SST.
• Uber Driver (home meets only): Will shuttle people inside the neighborhood from their cars to the pool area.
• Volunteer Check-In: This team works with the meet coordinators. They report to the swim meet early in order to check in all volunteer positions. If someone does not report in, they will attempt to fill the position with the help of a meet coordinator if neccessary. The volunteer check-in person provides all equipment required to perform volunteer responsibilities, i.e. clipboard, timers, etc.
• Jack of All Trades: Don't know what to sign up for but want to fill whatever gaps we may have? This is the perfect spot for you!
• Banquet Committee: Will help plan, setup, and clean up for the end-of-season banquet. May help with side dishes depending on the banquet chair's plans for each season. (Awards, video, etc are handled by the swim team board and coaches.)

Other larger jobs:

• Meet Coordinators
• Spirit Wear Coordinators
• Volunteer Coordinators
• Concessions Coordinators
• Snack Bar Coordinator
• Age Group Reps
• Bullpen Chief/Chieftess
• Announcer
• Grill Master
• Photography Coordinator
• Banquet Coordinator
• Neighborhood Liasons