LMST Parent Service Hour Positions
Welcome Table/Heat Sheets Sales (Home meets only): positioned at a table at the entrance of the pool to sell heat sheets and greet everyone entering the pool to give information or directions when asked.
Team Photographer: This person will take candid photos of LMST swimmers (both in and out of the pool) during pre-meet warm-ups and during the meet. These photos should be sent to an LMST rep the day after the meet to be distributed to LMST families via email and social media. Some pictures may also be sent to JSL for use on their social media pages and pictures are often used for newspaper articles and heat sheet ads for Champs.
Timer: Each lane ideally has three timers, which are supplied by both the home and away teams. This position gets the best views of the meet and can be fun. Timers can work one half or the entire meet.
Runner: This person is responsible for gathering all of the timecards, sweep judge cards and “DQ” cards after each heat or event and takes them (“runs”) to the Head Table.
Awards/Ribbons: This person ensures that all pre-printed labels go on the correct awards/ribbons, which are then placed in the correct team’s award box.
Heat Ribbon: This person watches every race to see who the first swimmer is to finish for each heat and gives the “Heat Winner” a ribbon.
The Clerk of Course: is responsible for lining up the swimmers in event and heat order prior to sending them to the starting blocks. The “Clerk” should have an understanding of swim meet organization and may attend a preseason clinic.
The Starter: is responsible for lining the swimmers up at the starting blocks and ensuring a fair and equitable start. Starters should have previous meet experience. JSL requires that starters attend the preseason Starter’s clinic or be USA Swimming or YMCA certified in this position.
The Stroke and Turn Judges: positioned on the sides and ends of the pool to observe all swimmers for proper stroke and turn technique, they must disqualify ("DQ") a swimmer for not swimming in accordance with the rules. Stroke and Turn Judges must complete an online training course and attend a preseason JSL clinic or be USA Swimming, YMCA, or High School certified.
Sweep Judges: from each team are positioned on opposite sides of the pool at the finish line and serve as backups to the timers in determining the order of finish for every heat. Although no preseason clinic is required, this position requires a cool head and a keen eye.
Table positions: The “Table” positions require a thorough knowledge of sorting procedures. The table workers receive all of the cards from the Runner, “sorts” them into heat & event order, removes “DQs”, and determines the official time, place, and scoring for every swimmer. They also sort the ribbons and place the appropriate stickers on ribbons for each swimmer.
Computer Operator and Assistant: receive the cards from the table workers and are responsible for entering final data into the Meet Manager program. Both should be familiar with the Meet Manager Program and the operation of laptop computers and printers. JSL requires all Computer Operators to attend the preseason clinic for this position or be certified by the Software Consultant.
Hospitality (Home meets only): This person is responsible for serving snacks and water to those parents who are working poolside during the meet.
Newspaper column: This person is responsible for writing and submitting an article to the local newspaper after each meet. For assistance in writing the article, specific meet results and information can be obtained from the Head Coach. The article must be submitted by the newspapers deadline and often pictures are submitted with the articles.