🏊♀️ Volunteer Roles
Whether you like running the show, keeping things organized, or cheering swimmers on deck, there’s a role for everyone. Some positions require training, others you can jump right into — all of them help our meets run smoothly.
All Training information can be found HERE at the RSL website!!!
⭐ Trained Positions ⭐
Referee
The calm, experienced official who keeps everything fair and flowing. Referees confirm disqualifications and decide when each heat is ready to start at home meets.
✔️ Training required (two parts)
🏠 Home team role
Clerk of Course
The organizer-in-chief! The Clerk of Course lines swimmers up in the correct heat and lane and hands out deck cards so everything runs on time.
✔️ Online training required
🏠 Home & Away meets
Safety Marshal
Keeps an eye on the pool deck and surrounding areas to make sure everyone stays safe. You must register for a free account with USA swimming and complete the Safesport Training for Volunteers. It takes approximately 10 minutes to complete.
✔️ SafeSport training required (RSL rule for 2025)
Starter
The voice that gets every race underway! Starters announce events and signal the official start of each race at home meets.
✔️ Online training + shadowing recommended
🏠 Home team role
Scoring
The numbers expert! Scorekeepers review the three timer results for each swimmer and determine the official time.
✔️ Online training required
🏠 Home & Away meets (both teams)
Stroke & Turn Judge
The rule-watchers on deck! Stroke & Turn Judges make sure swimmers’ strokes and turns follow USA Swimming rules.
✔️ Online training + shadowing recommended
🏠 Home & Away meets (both teams help)
Head Timer
Head Timers coordinate lane timers, distribute stopwatches, run backup watches, and jump in when help is needed.
✔️ Online training required
🏠 Home & Away meets
🙌 Untrained Positions
(No experience needed — we’ll show you the ropes!)
Time Drops Operator
Works next to the Starter, Referee, or Head Timer to manage the electronic timing system. Helps keep events synced and alerts scorers to any issues.
🏠 Home meets only
Clerk of Course Assistant
Assistants help line swimmers up and direct them to the correct lanes, keeping the meet moving quickly.
🏠 Home & Away meets
Ribbons
Organize and label awards ribbons. This is a second shift position that is highly flexible but does require you to stay until all scoring is completed at the end of the meet.
🏠 Home & Away meets
⏳ Stay until all ribbons are complete
Water to Volunteers
Deliver cold water to volunteers working the meet — greatly appreciated on hot summer days.
🏠 Home meets only
Set-up/Take down
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Set-Up: Arrive early to help set up tables, ropes, speakers, benches, and equipment
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Take-Down: Stay after the meet to put everything away
🏠 Home meets only
⚠️ No overlapping jobs during the same timeframe
Concessions
Help fuel the meet! Set up the concessions table, sell food and drinks, and work with the Treasurer.
🏠 Home meets only
✔️ This role has unique timing. The first shift arrives earlier to help set up. Second shift begins slightly earlier as well. Please check with the volunteer coordinator to confirm timing.
Runner
Runners collect completed heat sheets and DQ slips from the Referees and timers and deliver them to the scorers.
🏠 Home meets only
Timer
One of the most important (and plentiful!) roles. Timers record each swimmer’s time using a stopwatch and clipboard.
✔️ Short timer meeting before the meet
🏠 Home & Away meets
Announcer
The voice of the meet! Announcers help start the meet, play music, call swimmers to the Clerk of Course, and share announcements.
🏠 Home meets only
Heat Winner Awards
Watch each heat finish and award a ribbon to the fastest swimmer as they exit the pool.
🏠 Home meets only