Family Participation/Volunteering Policy
Families of swimmers age 14 years or younger are required to volunteer the minimum number of shifts per Sharks bylaws.
Failure to satisfy volunteering requirements may result in your swimmer not being eligible to attend practices, swim at meets, or return to the team in the future.
1. The sport of swimming is unique due to the amount of volunteer hours required to successfully run a team. On all summer league teams, the parents/families of the swimmers perform these volunteer duties.
2. Volunteer board members operate the team, and it takes over 100 volunteers per team to run each swim meet. While most volunteers are parents, we also have grandparents, aunts and uncles, and siblings who volunteer.
3. Volunteering is fun, it's a great way to meet other Shark families, and the kids love to see their parents/families involved. Not many youth sports allow you to actively participate without being a coach or referee. But there are all kinds of volunteer positions for swim team, so you can find one that fits you!
4. Historically, the number of required volunteer points has been a minimum of seven (7) points per family per season.
5. Each family must fulfill the number of required points regardless of whether or not the swimmer participates in meets.
6. While not required, we welcome volunteers from families of swimmers age 15 and over. We can always use the help!
7. A typical "volunteer shift" counts as one point. During the meet there will be first-half shifts and second-half shifts. Some meets may have three shifts. Some volunteer shifts can be performed before or after the meet (e.g. meet preparation and clean-up) or independent of a meet. Descriptions of the various volunteer jobs are here.
8. Our biggest volunteering needs are at the meets (we have over 100 positions to fill at each meet!). We expect swimmers to attend meets and families to volunteer at the meets their swimmer attends. If you know are going to miss meets, you may do multiple shifts at the meet(s) you do attend. Also, while limited, there are some non-meet volunteering opportunities; please reach out to us if you're interested.
9. We have a "practice" meet, called the Vanessa's Blue & White Meet, and we usually have 5-6 regular season meets, plus a Divisional Meet. Thus, families can satisfy the volunteer requirement by volunteering at least one shift per meet. Families with children swimming at the meet are expected to volunteer.
10. Because the Divisional Meet has a lot of volunteer positions to fill, families with swimmers attending the Divisional Meet will be required to fulfill at least one volunteer shift at this meet, regardless if the minimum shift commitment has been fulfilled.
11. We also have an Invitational Meet for swimmers who have qualifying swim times. Volunteering at the Invitational Meet does not count towards the minimum requirement. If your swimmer is participating in the Invitational Meet, you will be asked to volunteer at that meet in addition to your number of required shifts.
12. If you are unable to fulfill a shift you have signed up for, you are responsible for finding a replacement and notifying the volunteer coordinator.
13. In order to give all families the opportunity to complete shifts, we do not allow more than (2) shifts per family, per meet. If you have a situation in which you need to complete more than (2) shifts for a particular meet in order to complete your minimum shift requirement, please contact the volunteer coordinator early in the season.
14. Failure of a parent to perform their required shifts causes numerous problems for the team, the other parents, the coaches, and ultimately the swimmers. Please note that by registering your child with the
16. Platinum Sponsors are exempt from volunteering. To become a Platinum, Gold, or Silver Sponsor, contact our Sponsorship Chair at [email protected].
