Wells Branch Armada

Volunteer Roles (Alphabetical Order):

Announcer: Announces first, second and final calls for each event; plays music during swims; and makes other announcements throughout the meet, such as acknowledging our sponsors, promoting concession and swim shop items, and recognizing record breakers. 

Job perks: You're close to the action and see the entire meet. Great view of all the pool action. One of the most high-profile positions during the meet.

Job requirements: 

• Need to closely follow the meet to make sure announcements (especially first, second, and third calls to ready bench) are made in a timely fashion without interfering with the starter's duties.
• Works closely with the starter to keep the meet running smoothly. 
• Needs to ensure music and lyrics on the playlist are family appropriate. 
• Assigned to work for one-half of the meet, but may need to work the entire meet if other announcers are unavailable.
• Help set up & tear down crew with all audio equipment.
• Volunteers needed for home meets: 1-2

Concessions: 

Sells concessions. Helps set up and tear down concession stand. Assigned to work for one half of the meet. 

Job perks: Time flies, you won't get bored, and you get to see everyone. Concession staff who sign up for the season get their own t-shirt. Concessions is one of our biggest fundraisers, which helps keep registration fees low and keeps our swimmers, coaches, and parents fed so they have energy through the meet.

Job requirements:  

• Arrive 30 minutes before warm-ups; 
• Ability to take and fill orders, ability to make change
• Customer service and a positive attitude
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and keep up with the swim meet, while working outside the pool.
• Responsibilities can include pre-purchasing items, picking up and delivering some items before the meet, setting up, and concessions sales.
• You will be able to break to watch your child compete.
• Volunteers needed for home meets: 4-6 per shift

Grill Master: 

Run the grill at concessions. 

Job perks and job requirements: See "Concessions" above.

Data Management Assistant: 

Assists with the management of swimmer data associated with the meet. Assigned to work for one half of the meet. 

Job perks: With this job, you see the race results before anyone else. 

Job requirements: 

• You need to concentrate and pay close attention to the progress of the meet and the data you are entering. 
• Requires being available before the meet starts (first shift) and staying after the meet is completed (second shift).

Equipment Transport: 

Picks up equipment such as tarps and canopies from Willow Bend Pool and transports them to away meets. Supervises the setup of canopies for the pit areas. 

Job perks: The majority of your volunteering is done before and after the meet, so you can sit and enjoy the meet. 

Job requirements: You’ll need to have a large vehicle and the ability to get to Willow Bend pool the night before a meet to load up and immediately after a meet to unload, as well as strength necessary to carry and load large tarps and canopies.

Judge - Corner Judge:

The official who determines whether relay exchanges are done correctly. Required to attend Officials Clinic. Assigned to judge during both sets of relays at the start and end of the meet.

Job perks: Most of the meet you can relax and watch. Great job for watching your child compete and learning everything there is to know about swimming legal - great for helping your kids

Job requirements:

• must be present at start and end of meet;
• must be able to focus on relay exchanges during the necessary times;
• must be able to stay neutral and make confident calls.
• Need to be able to focus on the meet, and to make confident calls or non-calls as the need presents itself.
• REQUIRED to complete officials training (first 2 years, then every other year). Officials Clinic is offered before the start of the season.
• Volunteers needed for home and away meets: 4 per shift

Judge - Starter:

One of the most visible volunteer positions, the Starter, is the Meet Official, who notifies the swimmers of the distance and stroke for each event, starts each heat and calls false starts. Along with Meet Director and Computer Rep, most responsible for smooth running and timely completion of meet. Assigned to work for one half of the meet, or the whole meet if no other Starters available.

Job perks: Front row view to the entire meet; time flies.

Job requirements: Must attend Officials' Clinic.

• The 'head referee' for the swim meets who announces and starts each race
• Attention to the meet is a must.
• Volunteers must complete certification training
• Must be confident in ability to call false starts and alert swimmers that a false start has occurred, or disqualify a swimmer where appropriate.
• Must be able to work with Announcer, Computer Rep, Meet Director, timers, judges, coaches, and swimmers to ensure fair starts and adequate meet progress.
• REQUIRED to complete officials training (first 2 years, then every other year). Officials Clinic is offered before the start of the season.
• Volunteers needed for home meets: 1 per shift

Judge - Stroke & Turn: 

Meet Official who determines whether the swimmers are performing the strokes and turns correctly and keeps the competition fair. Assigned to work for one half of the meet. 

Job perks: You get a front-row seat to the meet while you work, leverage your knowledge of the sport, and move around. This is a great job for watching your child compete and learning everything there is to know about swimming legally—and it's great for helping your kids.

Job requirements: 

• Be able to 'referee' each swimming events/heats
• Need to be able to focus on the meet, and to make confident calls or non-calls as the need presents itself.
• REQUIRED to complete officials training (first 2 years, then every other year). Officials Clinic is offered before the start of the season.
• Volunteers needed for home and away meets: 4 per shift

Crew - Meet Set-up: 

Moves and sets up equipment in the pool area for the home meets; at away meets, sets up the age pits for swimmers.  

Job perks: Works Friday evening before home meets, so meets are more relaxing—great job for watching your child compete.  For Away meets, set up early morning before the swim team arrives.

Job requirements: This job is more manual labor intensive and requires good physical health. 

• Friday night set-up volunteers will set up the timer tent and snack shack equipment from approx. 5:30PM-6:30PM
• Saturday morning set-up will arrive 30 minutes prior to warm-ups to set-up age-group tents, volunteer tables and chairs
• One volunteer needed to transport tents to away meets.
• Help with trash removal from each age group tent and surrounding area.
• Moves deck chairs, starting blocks, sets up canopies, announcer stand and ready bench. 
• Volunteers needed: 3-4

Crew: Tear Down

Staying after the conclusion of the swim meet to help put things away.

Job perks: You're not working during the meet.

Job requirements: Must be in good physical health, since this is more manual-labor intensive. Must stay after the meet is over.

• Break down age-group tents, volunteer tables and volunteer tents
• One volunteer needed to collect tents after away meets and bring them back to the Armada closet.
• Great job for watching your child compete
• Help with trash removal from each age group tent and surrounding area.
• Volunteers needed: 3-4

Austin FC Coordinator 
Help coordinate and prep volunteers to work the Austin FC home games at Q2. If we get a good number of volunteers to participate, our team can make $1000- $3000 per game. If we can actively engage in games, we can reduce fundraising requirements, keep swimmer fees low, and possibly leverage for any needed equipment. 

Job perks: Great role for someone who can't volunteer during the meets. Get to connect with the Austin FC.  

Job requirements: 

• Need to be organized and a good communicator, able to access and send emails/texts to volunteers (Gmail account will be given to coordinator)
• Liaison between Q2 and Wells Branch Armada to get 6-8 volunteers per meet and ensure training and schedules are complete. 
• The coordinator does not need to work all games, but it is important to at least work one shift to understand the process our volunteers will experience.  
• Keep a record of volunteers who have participated in fundraising credit. 
• Volunteers needed: 1  

Parking Attendant:

Directs traffic and parking in the parking areas before the start of the meet. 

Job perks: Great for the early riser. Once the meet starts, your job is complete! Great job for watching your child compete.

Job requirements: 

• Must arrive to meet early, at least 30 minutes before check-in. 
• Help direct parking and traffic
• Place arrow signs in the neighborhood the night before
• Be aware that some people will be unhappy when they are required to park elsewhere.
• Volunteers needed for home meets: 4

Photographer

It captures pictures of our swimmers in races and around the pool. The photos are also used in a slideshow at the end of the season. 

Job perks: Always able to watch your kid compete. Front seat to all the action. Photographers who sign on for the season get a shirt.

Job requirements: 

• Take photos throughout the season at meets and events
• Upload photos to the Wells Branch Armada Google Album for parents to view after the meet (usually by Monday). 
• Ensure to follow photography rules by the circuit (no photos from behind the blocks).
• Volunteers needed for home and away meets: 1-2

Pit Parent:
Supervises the waiting area for a particular age group during meets; marks arms of swimmers with event/heat/lane; keeps track of swimmers between events; and gets swimmers to the ready bench on time with caps and goggles. For most age groups, two parents will share this job. For younger age groups, this may also involve making sure the swimmers eat, hydrate, and use the restroom at appropriate times so as not to miss their races.

Job perks: If you are assigned to your swimmer's pit, this job keeps you with your swimmer during the whole meet and typically allows you to easily catch their events without being otherwise distracted. Much of the time you are in the shade.

Job requirements: 

• Pit parents should also arrive 10-15 minutes ahead of the recommended team arrival time in order to set up and start swimmer check-in..
• Check in swimmers and let children know which event(s) they are swimming (write event/heat/lane on their arms)
• Sit with age group throughout entire meet
• Line up age group for event and walk them to ready bench
• Help with relay team line-up as needed and inform relay coordinator of 'no shows'
• You should be able to watch your own child compete; however this may not be possible if you have multiple children swimming
• Volunteers needed for home and away meets: 2 per age group (only 1 for 11 & ups)
• With the exception of the 6&U pit parents, this is a full-meet commitment. 6&U pit parents may generally leave after the 6&U Breaststroke event but should stay to ensure that all 6&U swimmers are checked out.
  

About to be a Pit Parent? Check out this Pit Parent video from Andria Dowie our head pit parent, to know what to expect. 

Ready Bench:
Assists in lining up the swimmers by event, heat, and lane and gets them to the starting blocks in the correct order and on time. Assigned to work for one half of the meet.

Job perks: This job gives you the chance to see your swimmer immediately before his/her event, and time passes quickly.
 
Job requirements: 

• Arrive at least 15 minutes before meet begins (depending on shift)
• You must have an audible voice, be organized and able to organize people quickly and react quickly and effectively to changing circumstances.
• Call teams/children to line up in order of event/heat sheets
• Place swimmers on ready bench and get them pumped up for their race.
• This is not a stay in one place, slow paced job and you will be on the move the entire meet
• Usually able to watch your child compete
• Volunteers needed for meets: 4 pe shift

Ribbons: 
Places labels on ribbons; sorts and files ribbons into swimmer file folder. Works second half only.

Job perks: This job keeps you sitting down and out of the sun and allows flexibility for you to easily catch your swimmers' races.

Job requirements: 

• This job requires you to keep working 15-20 minutes after the meet is over to finish processing the ribbons and adding them the swimmers family folder.
• Put stickers on the meet ribbons and file them during and after the meet (only one volunteer needed for this part)
• Will be able to watch your child compete
• Volunteers needed for home and away meets: 1 per shift
  
  

Ribbons - Heat Winner: 
Distributes ribbons to the winners of each heat. Works one half only.

Job perks: You see every race, up close. You make young swimmers happy.

Job requirements: 

• Handing out Heat Ribbons keeps you hopping during the meet. It requires quick judgments about who won the heat and if the heat is close enough to award more than one swimmer a heat-winner ribbon.
• Get to swimmer to give them their heat ribbons after the heat. 
• Able to watch your child compete
• Volunteers needed for home and away meets: 1 per shift
  

Runner: 

Picks up the disqualification forms and time sheets from the judges and timers and delivers them to scorekeepers. During "down time" from DQ slips, works with the Meet Director and Concessions to make sure the judges, starter, and announcer are well-hydrated. 

Job perks: This job keeps you moving around at the poolside, and time passes quickly. You get some of your exercise needs met, and you get a close view of the meeting. 

Job requirements:  

• Requires paying attention to the judges at the side of the pool and the heats.
• Wear comfortable shoes and be ready to walk, especially during the young swimmers' breaststroke and butterfly.
• Collect time heat sheets from timers and take to computer table
• Will be able to watch your child compete
• Volunteers needed for home meet: 1 per shift
  

Scorekeeping: 

Verifies the computer results and marks disqualifications. Assigned to work for one half of the meet. 

Job perks and job requirements: 

See Data Management Assistant above.

Swim Shop: 

Sells Swim Shop items. Helps set-up and pack up unsold items. Reconciles inventory and sales to ensure that the funds collected match the number of items sold. Assigned to work for one half of the meet. 

Job perks: Flexibility is generally available and catching your swimmers' event/s is typically not difficult. You are in the shade, and may sit if people are not purchasing items. 

Job requirements: You must be able to handle money and make change, as well as record sales in a simple system (written). It helps to have product knowledge so you can guide people making purchases to the correct product to meet their needs (this is easily learned). You may need to report early for the first shift or stay a little longer after the second shift to help with set up/ wrap up.

Timer: Records the swimmer’s time. Each timer is provided a stopwatch and assigned a lane; there are three timers for each lane. All three times are recorded and the middle time becomes the official time. Timers are assigned to work for one half of the meet. 

Job perks: This job gives you the best view of the pool and the swimmers during their races. A good job for watching your child compete

Job requirements: 

• Must be able to focus on the current races, especially the start and finish, and you must be able to work a stopwatch/ other timing equipment.
• Work with head timer for training at the beginning of the meet. 
• Turn in equipment to computer desk after the meet. 
• Time swimmers throughout entire meet 
• Volunteers needed for home meets: 8 per shift

Contact our Volunteer Coordinator in order to learn about some of our head positions. i.e. Head Concessions, Head Timer, Head Judge, Head Ready Bench, etc.