Volunteer Job Descriptions
*2026 Season will be an official Rappahannock Swim League (RSL) Season, and all RSL official rules will apply.
** = required training to be completed prior to event. During the 2026 season each family is asked to be certified in one of these areas.
**Referee: The referee is the chief official for each swim meet. He/She is responsible for the conduct of the meets and is the final authority on the interpretation and enforcement of all swimming rules. Prior to the start of each race, the referee sounds four short whistles to advise the participants to get ready. After the announcer or starter announces the event, the referee sounds one long blast as a signal for swimmers to get into position for the start or to jump feet first into the water for a backstroke event. For backstroke events, a sound blast is given to bring the swimmers to the wall for the start. When the referee sees that all the swimmers are ready, he extends his arm pointing toward the starter. At this point, the starter takes control.
Starter: starts each event with the announcement of the age and stroke and the words "SWIMMERS TAKE YOUR MARK", pauses to make sure that all swimmers are motionless, and then gives an electronic sound or a blast of a whistle. He/She shall be the sole judge of FALSE STARTS and all false starts shall be restarted.
**Head Timer: Organizes and briefs the Lane Timers on their duties prior to the meet and is in charge of the lane timers throughout the meet. The head timer has the authority to remove and replace any lane timer, with the approval of the home meet director.
**Stroke and Turn Judge: Work in pairs on each side of the pool with one member of a pair being from each team. Judges only rule on infractions on their side of the pool. They observe strokes, turns, and finishes to see that swimmers comply with requirements for that stroke.
**Scorer: Marks the official time for each swimmer, records the order of finishes and verifies the computer results. Assigned to work for one-half of the meet. With this job, you see the race results before anyone else.
Lane Timer: Records the swimmer’s time. If you can start and stop a stopwatch, you can be a timer! Each timer is provided a stopwatch and assigned a lane; there are three timers for each lane. All three times are recorded and the middle time becomes the official time. Timers are assigned to work for one-half of the meet. This job gives you the best view of the pool and the swimmers during their races.
Awards Clerk: Determines the winner of each individual event heat and awards that swimmer a heat winner ribbon. Assigned to work for one-half of the meet.
Safety Marshall: Directs traffic and parking in the parking areas before the start of the meet. Persons must also be calm, discreet, patient and polite with the swimmers, coaches, and guests while maintaining control and applying the rules; they shall be responsible to the referee for all aspects of safety related to conduct during the warm-up period. Usually, the person acting as the Safety Marshall is also working another position during the meet.
Announcer: Announces first, second and final calls for each event. Works closely with the starter to keep the meet running smoothly. The announcer will need to anticipate flow based on the number of swimmers, the stroke, the number of lengths to be swum, and the age of the swimmers.
Runner: Responsible for obtaining the completed event cards and DQ forms for each race from the timers and judges. The cards and DQ forms are delivered to the scoring table. The job title is very descriptive. Runners should have good tennis shoes that work well on slippery wet surfaces. Assigned to work for one-half of the meet. This job keeps you moving around at the poolside and the time passes quickly.
Relay Coordinator: Responsible for lining up the swimmers for relay events and getting them to the starting blocks in the correct order and on time. Assigned to work for one-half of the meet. This job gives you the chance to see your swimmer immediately before his/her event.
**Clerk of Course: Responsible for ensuring meets are run smoothly and fairly by overseeing that the swimmers swim in the proper event, heat, and lane. At all meets the clerk will call swimmers by event and allocate lanes/heats, direct swimmers to proper blocks, reseed on the fly based on no-shows/scratches upon approval by the referee, and run cards to timers. The first-half clerk is more intense than the second half.
Data Entry: Responsible for entering data from time cards and verifying data entered. Assigned to work for one-half of the meet. With this job, you see the race results before anyone else.
Team Photographer: take pictures of swimmers during the meets to be used for our website.
Meet set-up: Sets up the pool area for the swim meet. Moves deck chairs, starting blocks, sets up canopies, announcer stand, and ready bench. This position requires you to arrive at home meets by 4:00.
