PARENT’S RESPONSIBILITIES
- Registration & Fees. Complete registration, including the emergency medical release form, and submit all required fees. Swimmers may not participate in practices until all fees— including any applicable Robinwood West Pool membership—are paid in full.
- Practice Arrival & Supervision. Please ensure your child arrives at practice on time. Swimmers may not be left unsupervised on the upper deck at any time.
- Post-Practice Pick-Up. Pick up your child promptly after practice. Swimmers who are not participating in practice must leave the pool grounds.
- Meet Availability. Notify the Head Coach as soon as possible if your child cannot attend a meet. Meet availability must be updated in SwimTopia via the team calendar.
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Meet Arrival. TimesSwimmers should arrive at dual meets at least 15 minutes prior to the start of warm-ups.
- Most away meets begin warm-ups at 5:30 PM
- Home meets may begin as early as 4:30 PMPlease watch for team communications, as host teams may adjust warm-up times. (Meet schedules may vary depending on location, number of lanes, and team size.)
- Meet Check-In. Swimmers must check in with bullpen staff immediately upon arrival at each meet.
- Meet Participation Commitment. Swimmers are expected to remain at the meet and participate in all scheduled events, including relays. Families are encouraged to plan to stay until the end of the meet, as last-minute changes may require your child to swim additional events.
- Meet Duration. Every effort is made to run meets efficiently and finish as early as possible. However, meets may occasionally run late to ensure all swimmers have the opportunity to compete. Your patience and understanding are appreciated.
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Questions & Protests. If you have questions regarding results or official rulings, please contact the Parent Representative.
- Protests must be submitted within 30 minutes of the meet’s conclusion
- Do not approach meet officials, scorers, timers, or coaches directlyOnly Parent Representatives may address these matters during a meet. Failure to follow this policy may result in forfeiture of the meet.
- Parent Work Requirement. Parents are expected to work assigned shifts at dual meets.
- Conference Finals Requirement. Parents must work at Conference Finals if their child is participating.
PARENT’S PARTICIPATION
Parents are required to work a minimum of three meets during the swim season. To support this commitment, a credit/debit card must be kept on file, or three separate $100 checks must be submitted as a deposit. Checks should be provided separately from other registration fees.
If you do not fulfill your assigned meet responsibilities, your card will be charged or a check will be deposited.
All volunteers must check in at the beginning of each meet to receive their job assignment and name tag.
Please note:
- Conference Finals do not count toward the three required meets.
- All families are required to work at Conference Finals if their swimmer is participating.
Meet Volunteer Positions
Timer: Times swimmers in a designated lane for each event. No experience is required for regular meets. To time at Conference Finals, volunteers must have successfully timed at least two dual meets.
Runner: Collects heat cards from timers and delivers them to the awards table. During 25-yard (one-length) races, runners also transport cards between pool ends. This role requires being quick on your feet.
Bullpen: Volunteers organize swimmers for upcoming events, supervises the bullpen area, and assists younger swimmers during relays. A high tolerance for energetic, wet children is helpful!
Clerk of Course: Lines up swimmers in event order and ensures they are ready and in position on deck.
Block Worker: Assists swimmers behind the starting blocks. Familiarity with meet flow is helpful.
Starter Assistant: (home meets only) Records race placements (lane finishes) as announced by the official starter.
Card Judge: Reviews heat cards, circles official times, organizes results from fastest to slowest, and submits cards to scorers.
Scorekeeper: Maintains the running team score, regularly compares totals with the opposing team’s scorekeeper, and reports discrepancies to the parent representative.
Announcer: (home meets only)Announces events and heats throughout the meet.
Security/Parking: (home meets only)Directs traffic in the parking lot, monitors street parking, and helps oversee the community center.
Clean-Up: (home meets only)Handles post-meet cleanup, including trash removal, restroom checks, and concession area cleanup. This role may extend beyond the meet end time.
Concessions: (home meets only) Sells snacks and drinks during the meet.
Additional volunteer roles may be introduced during the season and may count toward the parent participation requirement.