HOST Swim Meet Job Descriptions 

There are several jobs that are available, please look at the description to see what training is needed before you sign up. The age requirement for all positions is 16 and older. More detailed information regarding trained positions can be found at http://rslswimming.com/

TRAINING DEFINITIONS:

• HOST TRAINED: The team volunteer coordinator (Emily Hall) will briefly explain the position to new parents. This can be done before their shift or at the swim practice. These positions are open to everyone and will require 10-20 min. orientation.

• RSL (Rappahanock Swim League) TRAINED: These positions require the parents to attend a RSL Training Session prior to season start. They are not difficult and open to everyone who is interested. These positions are crucial for the team. No meet can be held without trained officials!

ANNOUNCER: HOST Trained position. Works entire meet. Operates the Public Address system; announces the events and heats, results, swimmers’ names, and makes other announcements to keep everyone informed. 

AWARDS CLERK: HOST Trained position. 2nd shift only. Separates medals and ribbons; places appropriate labels on awards. Ensures Head Coaches receive all awards by meets end. 

SET UP/TEAR DOWN: No training needed. Before and after the meet. Prepare the facility prior to the event. Clean up after the event. This includes, but not limited to, moving tables, chairs, loungers. Handling lane lines, flags & poles, blocks, lights, banners along with concessions equipment. 

CLERK of COURSE: RSL Trained position. Works entire meet. Collects entry cards from each team. Organizes cards by events, heats, lanes. Ensures entry cards are handed out prior to start of event. 

CLERK of COURSE ASSISTANT: No training needed. 1st shift and 2nd Shifts. Assists the Clerk of Course by organizing swimmers by events, heats, and lanes. Assists in handing out entry cards. 

CONCESSIONS MANAGER: This is a HOST Board position. Works entire meet. Plans, buys, sets up, organizes ALL concessions. 

CONCESSIONS: No training needed. 1st and 2nd Shifts Sets up and takes down concessions area. Working with food drinks, utensils, condiments as well as handling money. 

HEAD TIMER: RSL Trained position. 1st and 2nd Shifts Responsible for assembling/instructing all lane timers on their responsibility and procedures for timing prior to start of the meet. Assigns lanes, distributes and collects watches, pencils , and clipboards. Signals the Referee that all timers are ready. Starts two watches for every race in the event of a failure for any reason of an official timer's watch. 

HEAT WINNER AWARDS: No training needed. 1st and 2nd shifts Stands behind lane timers and hands out the Heat Winner Ribbons. 

LANE TIMER: No training needed. 1st and 2nd shifts Checks in with the Head Timer prior to start of the meet to receive instruction. Receives lane assignment, stop watch, clip board and pencil. Upon sighting flash from starting device, starts their watch and stops their watch immediately when any part of the competitor's body touches the end of the pool. 

RAFFLE TICKET SALES: HOST runs a 50/50 raffle at each home meet.  The funds raised from this raffle go to purchase the awards for our Lap-A-Thon.  This is an easy position for someone with young kids as you can bring them with you.  You will walk through the crowd selling raffle tickets during the first 2/3 of the meet.

REFEREE: RSL Trained Position. Works entire meet. The Referee shall have full authority over all officials and shall assign and instruct them prior to and during the meet. Signs off on all DQ slips and can disqualify any competitor for any personally observed rules violation. Signs the score sheet at conclusion of the meet. 

RELAY COORDINATOR/ MANAGER: HOST Trained position. Works entire meet. Instructs and hands out assignments to Relay Organizers prior to start of the meet. 

RELAY ORGANIZER: No training needed. 1st and 2nd shift Meets with Relay Coordinator/Manager prior to start of the meet for instruction and assignments. Responsible for gathering swimmers and ensuring they are in proper lane assignments prior to the start of their event. 

RUNNER: No training needed. 1st and 2nd shift Runs score cards from the lane timers to the score keeping booth. 

DATA COORDINATOR: RSL Trained position. Works entire meet. Enters swimmers times into the computer. 

SCOREKEEPER NON- COMPUTER: HOST Trained position. 1st and 2nd half Assists the Data Coordinator by organizing and reading data so that it can be put in the computer. 

STARTER: RSL trained. 1st and 2nd shift Electronically starts each heat when the swimmers are ready to start. 

STROKE and TURN JUDGE: RSL trained. 1st and 2nd shift See job description at RSL training class.

10.4. Referee. The Referee shall:

10.4.1. Have full authority over all officials and shall assign and instruct them prior and during the meet. The Referee shall have authority to decide any questions relating to the actual conduct of the meet.
10.4.2. Signal the starter, before each heat, when the pool is clear and ready for competition with the Stroke and Turn Judges in position.
10.4.3. Determine the final decision on any point where the opinions of any other official differ.
10.4.4. Sign off on all Disqualification slips (DQ) ensuring each is properly filled out. If in the opinion of the Referee, the DQ is not valid for any reason, then the Referee shall overrule the decision of the signatory official.
10.4.5. Prohibit the use of any bell, siren, horn or any other artificial noisemaking device, if in his/her opinion it is interfering with the course of the meet.
10.4.6. Disqualify any competitor for any personally observed rules violation.
10.4.7. Have the authority to interpose in a competition at any stage after the start of the meet to ensure competitive racing conditions and rules are observed.
10.4.8. Sign the score sheet at the conclusion of the meet.

10.5. Starter. The Starter shall:

10.5.2. Take a position within 10 feet of the starting edge of the pool, in a position so as to provide all timers with an unobstructed view of the starting device.
10.5.3. Upon clearance from the Referee, assume full control of the competitors until a fair start has been achieved.
10.5.4. Direct the competitors into their starting position and issue final instructions to include:
10.5.4.1. The distance to be covered.
10.5.4.2. The stroke(s) to be swum and in what order.
10.5.4.3. The number of lengths to be covered.
10.5.5. Follow the instructions above with the command, "TAKE YOUR MARK." Sufficient time should follow this command to enable all competitors to assume a starting position. All competitors must assume a still position prior to the use of the starting device.
10.5.6. With the concurrence of the Referee, adapt any starting procedure to accommodate a
handicapped competitor.
10.5.7. With the concurrence of the Referee, disqualify competitors for delaying the start by entering the water while assuming a starting position, or for willfully disobeying an order on the start, or for any other misconduct observed while in the starting area.
10.5.8. If in his/her opinion a false start has been committed, the Starter shall immediately recall the swimmers using the starting device again and/or a recall rope (if available).

10.6. Stroke and Turn Judge. The Stroke and Turn Judge shall:
10.6.1. Observe the competitors in his/her assigned area to ensure all applicable rules pertaining to the stroke being swum are performed.
10.6.2. Upon sighting a violation, immediately raise a hand to signal the infraction.
10.6.3. The Stroke and Turn Judge will then fill out a DQ slip and will present it to the Referee for concurrence.
10.6.4. Insofar as possible every effort should be made to explain to the competitor the reasons for their disqualification.

10.12. Clerk of the Course. The Clerk of the Course shall:

10.12.1. Be provided with an area clearly marked as "CLERK OF THE COURSE" where all competitors must report as soon as their event is called to report.
10.12.2. Collect the entry cards from each team. Entry cards will then be placed in order from fastest to slowest, as designated by the number in the upper right hand corner of the card. (1 = fastest competitor)
10.12.3. Collate the entry cards into events, heats and lanes.
10.12.4. The entry cards marked as slowest will be placed in the first heat with the subsequent heats containing faster competitors.
10.12.5. Lane assignments:
10.12.5.1. In a 4-lane pool the home team will use lanes 1 and 3. Lanes 2 and 4 will be used by the visiting team.
10.12.5.2. In a 5-lane pool, the home team in heat 1 will have lanes 1, 3, and 5. The visiting team will use lanes 2 and 4. In heat 2 the home team will swim in lanes 1 and 3. The visiting team will swim in lanes 2, 4, and 5.
10.12.5.3. In a 6-lane pool, the home team will use lanes 1,3, and 5. The visiting team will use lanes 2,4, and 6.
10.12.5.4. Relay lane assignments:
Relay Team 4 and 5 lane pool 6 lane pool
Home A relay 3 3
Home B relay 1 5
Visiting A relay 2 4
Visiting B relay 4 2

10.9. Head Timer. The Head Timer shall:

10.9.1. Prior to the start of the meet he/she shall group and instruct the timers on their responsibility and procedures for timing. This meeting should also include a test to verify the accuracy of all watches to be used.
10.9.2. Assign 3 timers to each lane.
10.9.3. Designate one of these timers as the official recorder for that lane.
10.9.4. Signal the Referee that all timers are ready after all times have been recorded and time cards have been collected. The command to signal the Referee will be, "TIMERS CLEAR YOUR WATCHES."
10.9.5. Be responsible for delivering to the scorers, via the runner, all official time cards as completed by the lane recorder. This is to include the time cards of any disqualified swimmer.
10.9.6. Shall start his/her watch(es) on every race. The Head Timer's watch shall be used in the event of a failure for any reason of an official lane timer's watch.

10.10. Lane Timers. The Lane Timers shall:

10.10.1. Perform their duties in the lane assigned to them by the Head Timer.
10.10.2. Look at the starting device after the Referee gives control of the competitors to the Starter. Upon sighting the flash from the starting device they should start their watch. The only time sound should be used to start a watch is when the starting device does not have a visual signal.
10.10.3. Stop their watch immediately when any part of the competitor's body touches the pool or course.
10.10.4. Promptly report the time listed on their watch to the lane recorder and if asked, present the watch for inspection.
10.10.5. Not clear any time from their stopwatch until after all times (from their respective lane) have been recorded on the time cards.

10.11.Scorekeepers.

10.11.1. Each team will provide one scorer, one recorder and one data checker.
10.11.1.1. The scorers will be jointly responsible for:
10.11.1.1.1. Overseeing the entire scorekeeping process.
10.11.1.1.2. Determining the official times.
10.11.1.1.3. Sorting entry cards by order of finish.
10.11.1.1.4. Determining and posting individual team scores and results.
10.11.1.1.5. Informing the clerk of the course of any entry changes and/or scratches.
10.11.1.1.6. Confirming record breaking time cards have the required 3 recorded times.
10.11.1.1.7. Marking DQ and attach the DQ slip to an entry card where an infraction was recorded and countersigned by the referee.

10.11.1.1. The scorers will be jointly responsible for:

10.11.1.1.1. Overseeing the entire scorekeeping process.
10.11.1.1.2. Determining the official times.
10.11.1.1.3. Sorting entry cards by order of finish.
10.11.1.1.4. Determining and posting individual team scores and results.
10.11.1.1.5. Informing the clerk of the course of any entry changes and/or scratches.
10.11.1.1.6. Confirming record breaking time cards have the required 3 recorded times.
10.11.1.1.7. Marking DQ and attach the DQ slip to an entry card where an infraction was recorded and countersigned by the referee.

10.11.6. The Data Checkers shall be jointly responsible for:

10.11.5. The Recorders shall jointly be responsible for:

10.11.5.1. Entering changes in event results at the direction of the Referee.
10.11.5.2. Making corrections to either the score sheet or the software program in the event errors are detected.
10.11.5.3. Producing the meet results.

10.14. Announcer. The Announcer shall:

10.14.1. Announce the following before the start of the meet:
"This meet is hosted and sponsored by the Rappahannock Swim League, Incorporated. All spectators, athletes and coaches are reminded the RSL is committed to the development of sportsmanship, teamwork, dedication and a love for the sport of swimming."
10.14.2. Announce on two other occasions the following:
"This meet is hosted and sponsored by the Rappahannock Swim League, Inc.
10.14.3. Announce a running score as given to him/her by the scorer, ensuring that such announcement does not interfere with the starter or any other official.
*These positions require a minimal amount of advanced training, which is provided free of charge by the RSL at local pools in early June.

10.9.5. Be responsible for delivering to the scorers, via the runner, all official time cards as completed by the lane recorder. This is to include the time cards of any disqualified swimmer.

10.9.6. Shall start his/her watch(es) on every race. The Head Timer's watch shall be used in the event of a failure for any reason of an official lane timer's watch.