Saddle Creek Dolphins

Swim team would not be possible without our amazing parent volunteers!

To help ensure that the meets run smoothly, we need your help!  As a condition of registration, each family is required to accumulate 5 volunteer points per season.  Failure to meet this requirement will result in a $150 penalty, auto-charged to the credit card used during registration.

Each meet takes around 70 volunteers!  You may sign up for a job the entire meet and yes, multiple people from your family may sign up! We often do not fill all jobs (especially at Home meets) and would not survive without the families who help us out with more than the minimum obligation. It takes a village!

If you think meeting this requirement will be a challenge for your family, please contact Summer. 

There are lots of opportunities to help and we are happy to work with you!

Announcer

Announces events, heats, sponsors, and other general information to keep the meet running smoothly. First shift announcing begins as early as 5:00 at some meets.

Baby Pool Monitor

The Baby Pool Monitor monitors and instructs all kids to stay out of the baby pool. In addition to safety, this job is a huge help to our Bullpen Parents. The second shift Monitor must remain until the meet concludes.

**This job is ok for tag-along siblings

Bullpen Parent

The bullpen is a designated location where the swimmers stay when they're not participating in a race. The Bullpen Parent will identify the swimmers as they arrive and mark their back/shoulder with a Sharpie (to help the coaches identify them on deck). The Bullpen Parent should make sure the kids stay in the bullpen and help them keep track of when their events occur. Swimmers should be ready to swim 6 events before their event. For example, if the swimmer is in Event 50, they should be in the tent with goggles and cap on by Event 44. First half workers will need to help the kids get to warm-ups. Second half workers will assist with tear-down. Other general duties include making sure the kids respect the property and keep them from being too crazy. Swimmers may not leave the bullpen unless they are going somewhere with their parents. This job is especially important during Away events, as we are not always on the pool deck. You will need to be able to be fun but firm with the kids in this position!

**This is a good job for parents with tag-along siblings because siblings can hang with the big kids.

Computer Operator

This person inputs swimmer times into the computer (along with a volunteer from the other team), then prints labels for ribbons. The system is pretty self-explanatory. Typically, this job is away from the pool and crowd, and sometimes it is inside. We prefer this job to be done by someone who has been a part of swim before, and would like the same 2-3 people fill this job. The Computer Operator needs to be at the meet no later than 5:30 PM. The second half worker will need to help wrap up the last entries, which takes 10-15 minutes after the meet ends. This job is shared with the other team therefore, you can take breaks and see your swimmer’s events!

**This job can be good for a tag-along sibling that will be fairly content hanging out with you.

Concessions

This job is only for Home meets. First half job duties include setting up at 4:30, selling and restocking candy and drinks. A Grill Assistant will help with wrapping and serving food. Second half workers will take over at 6:30 and duties will include selling and restocking concessions, breaking down and cleaning up during the last 20 minutes of the swim meet. The Concessions Committee plans and purchases food and beverages. They will be at all home meets to direct concessions volunteers.

**Okay for a tag-along sibling for the 2nd shift ONLY, especially one that will want to be a helper! The first shift of concessions involves the majority of the cooking and more movement.

Deck Manager

The Deck Manager organizes swimmers on deck by heat and by lane. The Deck Manager will take swimmers from the bullpen to their lanes and coaches.

**This job is not ideal for those with tag-along siblings

Event Tracker

The Event Tracker Keeps track of the meet on the digital tracker and on Swimtopia (at home meets). This job is performed while sitting. The Event Tracker must be close to the pool and be able concentrate on the meet to ensure the meet runs smoothly.

**This job is not ideal for tag-along siblings, as concentration is required.

Floater / Runner

This position will assist as-needed during their shift. Due to the nature of this position, duties could include filling in for any role with needs, from Bullpen Parent to Concessions to Timer. The job would be suited for those who are flexible and can switch tasks easily.

**This job is not ideal for tag-along siblings, since the roles needed will not necessarily be known in advance.

Fun Friday Helper

This person will pick up treats for Fun Friday and have them at the Saddle Creek pool by 9:20 on Friday morning. The treats are typically from Sarah’s Donuts and payment will already be made. In addition, this person will help clean up Fun Friday by lowering umbrellas, returning furniture to the proper place, and picking up trash.

**This job is fine for a tag-along sibling.

Grill Assistant

The Grill Assistant helps the Master Griller prepare the food before and during the meet. This person will assist with food preparation and service, including setup, wrapping food, and helping the Master Griller as necessary.

**This job is not ideal for tag-along siblings due to the hot grill and close quarters.

Master Recorder

The Master Recorder collects the master record from Judge's Recorder at meets where there is not a specialized timing system. They also collect times from all lane timers for each event. The scoresheets are then delivered to the Computer Operator. The other team also provides a Master Recorder. This job may require a lot of walking at Away meets, depending on the other pool's layout.

**This job is not good for tag-along siblings

Meet Clean Up

Assist with clean up and tear-down after the meet. This includes, but is not limited to, removing signs, removing trash, putting away supplies, straightening the pool deck, etc. A detailed list is provided at the meet. Breakdown begins during the last 10 events of the meet, so the timing is approximate.

**This job is a maybe for a tag-along sibling. Clean up may be past little sibling bedtimes!

Meet Setup

Meet Setup includes miscellaneous jobs, such as removing materials from storage and assist in setting up, plugging in speakers, arranging furniture, putting up caution tape. In addition, you will assist with No Parking signs and parking lot cone set up. Only sign up for this job if you can arrive at 3PM.

**This job is a maybe for a tag-along sibling.

Place Judge

The Place Judge watches each race and ranks lanes on who placed 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc. This is a backup when a Timer's time is off or did not get recorded. Judges must be on the pool deck at 5:15 PM to meet with the ref. There are 2 Judges at each meet. We provide one for Away meets and 2 for Home meets. The

**This job is NOT good for someone with a tag-along sibling as the swim events have to be watched closely.

Ribbon Writer

The Ribbon Writer puts stickers on ribbons and files them. This job is done beside the Computer Operator and starts around 6:30 PM. Ribbons are labeled in batches, leaving plenty of time to label them in between swimmer events. The Ribbon Writer must stay until the last labels are printed, about 10 mins after the meet ends. This job is typically not in sight of the pool, but it's easy to stop and watch swimmer events. In pre-approved cases, the ribbons can be finished at home, BUT because the labels have to be printed 10ish minutes after the meet ends, most stay and finish up after the meet. The ribbons must be delivered back to pool no later than 9:30 the following morning. Parent volunteers will not be able to take them to you or pick them up.

**This job is okay for a tag-along sibling who is willing to sit with you

Sign Placement and Removal

This person will place “Swim Meet Today” signs at all 5 Saddle Creek entrances the night before the meet (Wednesday) after 8:00 PM and remove them after 8:00 PM the night of the meet (Thursday). This notifies Saddle Creek HOA members that the pool will be closed for the meet. The signs can be grabbed anytime at practice Monday-Wednesday. This job involves two nights, so do not sign up if you can’t fulfill the duties on both nights.

**This job is ok for a tag-along sibling.

Swimmer / Volunteer Check-In

This person assists with checking in swimmers and volunteers as they arrive at the meet. Any missing swimmers must be reported to the Coaches before the meet begins.

**This job is okay for a tag-along sibling who is willing to sit with you.

Time Drops Manager

The Time Drops Manager manages, monitors, and trouble shoots our time drops system. If you like technical jobs and hope to be around another year, this could be a great job for you!

**This job is not good for tag-along siblings.

Timers

There are 2 Timers per lane --one from each team. One person in the lane times the swimmer, and the other writes down the time with traditional timers. 4/5 of our meets will have a button to push and one timer will have a traditional timer. If you don't know what to do, follow the group of the other 9-11 Timers! Timers need to be at the pool no later than 5:00 PM to meet with our meet ref. The ref prefers both first and second half Timers attend this meeting. Second half Timers must watch the event numbers and be ready to take over at event 44.

**This job is NOT good for tag-along siblings or someone who struggles to focus.

If you have any questions regarding job duties, please contact a Volunteer Coordinator or Summer Bolte.

• Parents, if you do not have a toddler tagging along, please choose a job other than those noted as "good for parents with a tag-along sibling." This way we can do our best to meet the needs of everyone on the team at all stages of parenting. (We have all been there!)
• Some first half jobs start as early as 4:30. The second half of the meet begins around event 43/44, which is typically in the 7-7:30 time frame.
• Some shifts are based on Time and not event numbers. Our volunteer coordinators will indicate to you at meets when you should change shifts.
• If you need specific dates, shifts, or jobs, you need to sign up as soon as sign ups open.
• Sending a grandparent? We love our grandparent workers! Make sure to read the job descriptions to sign up for a good fit.

Ideas for Juggling Jobs and Young Siblings:

• Divide and Conquer: One parent takes charge of the kids while the other works their shift
• Bye-Bye: Send 6 & Under swimmers and siblings home with a spouse after the first half of the meet and work the 2nd shift alone.
• First Half, Then Home: If you only have 6 & Under swimmers, work a first half job. Your swimmers will be finished and your job duties will be complete after event 42. Note: Please do not go home until you are replaced at event 43--it puts the team in a bind! Notify a Volunteer Coordinator before the meet begins if you need to leave your shift early. 
• Family Help: Those who have grandparents or family nearby may ask them to come to the meet to help with younger siblings, or even to work a shift.
• Babysitter: Some also choose to leave young siblings at home with a babysitter. (My family did this because our youngest was too bored to last the entire meet).