Mount Vernon Park Swim Team

Having a child on the team means that you join the MVP Gators community as a volunteer. Volunteers run swim team meets and events and may pitch in to facilitate other activities (e.g., coordinating events, placing gear/food orders). There are two broad types of volunteers: meet officials and team volunteers.

Meet Officials 

Listed below are the officials needed for each meet and descriptions of their duties. Please consider being an official. Your involvement is not dependent upon your swimming skills. Deck officials and table workers are requested to wear blue shorts/skirt and plain white shirt. Deck officials should not wear clothing displaying a team logo. 

• Referee: The Referee is the chief official for each swim meet and is responsible for the conduct of the meets and is the final authority on the interpretation and enforcement of all swimming rules – he/she runs the meet. The referee inspects facility to ensure compliance with NVSL requirements; instructs other officials on their duties during the meet; oversees the meet to ensure swimmers have a fair and equitable opportunity to compete. The referee must have good knowledge of swimming techniques and NVSL rules. 
• Starter: The Starter is responsible for insuring that all swimmers are given a fair and equitable start. The Starter calls swimmers to their starting positions; advises them of the stroke; instructs swimmers to take positions and signals start. Some knowledge of swimming technique is needed. Starters must attend NVSL training before the season starts and have experience as a Stroke and Turn Judge. 
• Stroke & Turn Judges: Observes swimmers during each event to ensure strokes and turns are performed in accordance with NVSL rules. Signals referee if a swimmer performs an illegal stroke or turn. With the concurrence of the referee, prepares a disqualification slip that explains the reason for disqualification. The “DQ slip” is given to the coach, who uses the information to help the swimmer eliminate the cause to the disqualification. 
• Relay Takeoff (RTO) Judges: Observes start of each member to ensure proper stars. Does not need knowledge of swimming technique. 
• Timers/Chief Timer: Timers are the most important people to every swimmer because they determine each swimmer’s official time for the race. There are three timers for each lane (a mix of home and away team parents). The Head or Chief Timer collects the time cards from the timers, reviews them for accuracy and completeness, and forwards them on to the table workers. Does not need knowledge of swimming technique. 
• Head Time Recorder/Recorder: Checks scores and records times; keeps score. Works directly with other table workers. Does not need knowledge of swimming technique. Computer Operator: Enters swimmers times in computer database; prints out ribbon back labels. Does not need knowledge of swimming technique. 
• Clerk of Course: The “gatekeeper” for all swimmers in the meet. Checks swimmers against meet sheets; organizes swimmers in lanes; sends them to the start at the proper time. Needs patience but does not need knowledge of swimming technique. 
• Table workers: The time cards from the timers and any disqualification slips (a little more on this later) go the Table Workers who determine the order of finish for each event, score the meet, and prepare ribbons for the participants. Several people from each team perform these functions to insure that errors are caught before the results are announced. 
• Announcer: Assists coaches, swimmers and spectators by announcing upcoming events and results of previous heats. 
• Marshals: Volunteer parents to observe swimmers during warm-up periods to ensure their safety. Keeps deck clear. Maintains quiet during starts. 

Officials Needed for Home Meets Referee, Starter, Chief Timer, Stroke & Turn (2), Relay Takeoff (4) (at A meets only), Head Time Recorder, Computer Operator, Head Scorer/Assistant, Awards Clerk/Asst, Announcer, Marshals (2), Timers (9), Clerk(s) of Course. 

Officials Needed for Away Meets Assistant Chief Timer, Stroke &Turn (2), Relay Takeoff Judge (4) (at A meets only), Assistant Time Recorder, Assistant Scorer, Assistant Awards Clerk, Timers (9), Assistant Clerk of Course. 

Referee, Starter, and Stroke and Turn officials are required to attend clinics at least once every two years to reinforce their skills on the deck. NVSL Clinics are held each year for the various positions necessary to ensure fairness during any dual meet. Clinic times and locations will be announced at the registration meeting in May and are normally conducted on weekends prior to the first dual meet. 

Parent Volunteers

Listed below are the volunteers other than meet officials who are needed for each meet and descriptions of their duties. Unlike meet officials, there is no dress code or certification requirements for parent volunteers. 

• Concessions: Concessions are a big part of our fundraising. The profits go toward social activities for our swimmers and competition equipment for our pool. Your volunteer time and contributions of baked goods greatly enhances these efforts. If you would like to donate items for sale at the meet concession, contact the Concessions Volunteer Coordinator for guidance.  
• Gator Gear Coordinator: Gator gear is always a hit with the athletes and parents, as well as a fundraiser for the team. Our Gear Coordinator works with vendors to ensure we have a great selection for the team. 
• Hot Food/Ice Pick-Up: Hot food is a great fundraiser for the team and makes dinner a snap. Ice is needed at every home meet to chill drinks and other items. Volunteers will be reimbursed. 
• NVSL Team Representative: While not considered an “Official” by the NVSL, the MVP Team Representatives are the cornerstone of the team. The Teams Reps are responsible for the overall continuity and structure of the team. They are instrumental in hiring coaches for the team, bidding for meet locations, making sure that officials know when and where training clinics are scheduled, monitoring the list of eligible officials and maintaining times and profiles of each team member. The Team Reps attend several meetings during the swim season relating to team seeding within the divisions, swimmer seeding for the Division meets, approving and finalizing meet sheets, exchange of meet sheets with other Team Reps and numerous other activities. In addition, the Team Reps must know and understand the rules and inner workings of the NVSL. The Team Reps are the primary point of contact between the swim team NVSL, as well as between the swim team and the Mount Vernon Park Board and the Park Manager. If you have a swim team-related matter that you would like to have brought to the attention of the Board and/or the Park Manager, please first discuss that with one of the Team Reps.
• Parking: Helps direct traffic in the parking lot before the start of the meet.
• Pasta Dinner and End of Season Banquet: Coordinates the two team potlucks that bookend the beginning and end of season. 
• Photographer: Photographs meets and team events and uploads the best photos to the team website.
• Pool Set Up / Take Down: A team of volunteer parents and senior swimmers sets up the pool for all home meets. MVP staff participates only to the extent that they remove and reinstall the diving boards and pool ladders. All other set up is the responsibility of the team. Setting up the pool for a home meet at MVP takes approximately an hour with a team of 10-12 people. This is an especially good volunteer job for those parents who want to sit and enjoy the meet. 
• Senior Day Coordinator: The parent(s) of a senior work with the Team Reps to recognize and celebrate graduating seniors during the last Saturday home meet of the season. 
• Social Activities: We try to schedule social activities for the swimmers during the summer. Parents are needed to organize and chaperone these events. In the past, these have included pep rallies, movie nights at the park and teen nights. Without significant parental support, these will not happen. Please consider offering your assistance with one or more of these events. 
• Social Media Coordinator: We aim to maintain a positive and relevant presence on social media, primarily Instagram, where we can display some of the good cheer and sportsmanship associated with the team. Social media accounts are managed by one parent volunteer to ensure consistency.
• Team Treasurer: The Swim Team Treasurer records all receipts, makes bank deposits and pays all expenditures as approved by the Team Reps and is responsible for providing an annual report of swim team financial activity to the MVP Board.