Park Bridge Piranhas

OnDeck Lineup Parent: You will take the swimmers from the gate/bullpen manager and use a list we provide to put each swimmer on deck in the correct line behind their number block/lane so they are ready for their event. If you can walk and talk, you’re doing good. Actually, if you can call out peoples’ names very loudly and count, even better!

You will be keeping the flow by pointing the swimmers to go behind each numbered starting block (one for each lane). Eventually, you will be maintaining a line of swimmers, in order of their correct heat/race, behind each block at each lane. Your list will guide you to ensure everyone goes to their correct spot and the correct swimmer lineup is maintained.

Bullpen Manager: Along with your Assistant Bullpen Manager, you oversee and help gather the swimmers from their bullpens and have them lineup at the Deck Lineup sign for their events. You will have a list of swimmers and their events to guide you.

(Again, it’s not like this is a rodeo and you are trying to calm a wild bull… it’s worse. It’s children. Just kidding! Trust me, this is NOT hard and you will get total street cred for having such an ominous job title. Everyone will think you are untouchable. Everyone will want to be you…little do they know this is so straightforward even a kid could do it…but we don’t let them. That’s the point… If you can walk, check off items on a list, and yell loudly and point, you’re golden.)

Assistant Bullpen Manager: You help the Bullpen Manager by taking on “divide and conquer” mode and gathering up the children for their next event and directing them to the Deck Lineup sign.

Bullpen (all ages): You get to sit under a tent-like Genghis Khan. You rule over all you survey…while sitting. So take this one. Like Khan, this job is critical to the smooth running of the meet but you are part of a wide support system. You should listen to the announcer to know when events are coming up. You need to be ahead of that events and make sure the children in those upcoming events are present and in the tent. The Bullpen Manager or Assistant Bullpen Manager will be by to take them to the Deck Lineup sign/ Deck lineup parent. On the job signup, you will see there are several of these positions and they are for different age groups.

The following two positions sound like they are Olympic grade, but don’t let the titles scare you. They are easy. Not only that, you get to sit down.

The place judges’ decisions may later help with any dispute which may arise from the official timers or if something goes wrong with the timing systems (the place judges override the times and the starter/referee overrides the place judges if there is a dispute).

Place Judge: You get a sit in a chair and call it like you see it. For every event, you will jot down, on a sheet we provide, the place (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc…) of each swimmer/lane during the event. You will compare your order of finish with the Place Judge from the other team (sitting next to you) and both of you will tell the Judges Recorder the final places, as you viewed them. No fancy equipment, just eyes.  If there is disagreement between your order of finish and the Away team's Place Judge's order of finish, the Official makes the final decision and tells the Judges Recorder what to write.

Judges Recorder: You get to sit and simply listen to the place judges’ decisions and write them on a sheet of paper, being sure to note DQ if a swimmer is disqualified by the official and NS if there is a No Show swimmer. You do not contribute an opinion for order of finish. The Master Recorder will then take the piece of paper from you.  You are like Switzerland. Neutral, but without the chocolate; at least for now. You can take care of that later at the concessions stand when your half meet is up :)

Master Recorder: You need to know how to walk and ask for times. Easy! You will collect the score sheet from the judges recorder when an event is complete. You will then go to each lane and record each swimmer's time as noted by the recording timer. With all places and times recorded, you will deliver the score sheet to the scoring/computer table.

Timers: When you sign up for Timer, you will be paired with someone. Two timers per lane. You can decide who does which:

Electronic Timer: You get to use a fun piece of equipment and feel like you are in the Olympics but without all the stress. You will be shown how to run the easy-to-use timer at the beginning of the meet and you will be paired with a partner, the Recording Timer, who will have a stopwatch for backup. As it says in the personnel requirements: “In all events, at all times, the timer must have a clear view of the race and finish line. The timer shall look at the starter’s gun and start the watch at the instant the starting horn sounds. The timer stops the watch immediately when any part of the swimmer’s body touches the solid end of the pool as defined by the USS rulebook.” Recording Timer (you will sign up under “Timers” in job signup): You are paired with the Electronic Timer and you will use a stopwatch. You will record times on the timers’ worksheet and communicate these times to the master recorder who will then record them on the score sheet they have in hand. You will be working with the Timer, in partnership, so it won’t all come down to you.

Remember: We have Timers, Place Judges, and the referees all working together to ensure an accurate outcome. You will not ruin anything. You are not alone. Do your part, and you will have more fun than anything else!

Ribbon Writers: aren’t writers at all. They are sticker-put-er-on-ers. And you get to sit. You will get stickers from the computer folks and you put them on the correct place ribbon. You can have a nice icy beverage from concessions and chat while working at a table. What’s not to love?

Floater: When we are talking about pools, it is easy to see how this job title can be confusing…but this is simply someone who can help out wherever help is needed. You will fill whatever positions are vacant. Consequently, dare I say it, volunteering for this position could be a “crapshoot”: You may take on a position that is needed, or you may not be needed at all, but you must be available to the volunteer coordinator during your half meet. Each meet will have a slot for two floaters on the job signup.

Set-up: You, along with a handful of others, will help by arriving early getting the pool ready for the meet: arranging bullpen areas, setting up scoring area, lane ropes, backstroke flags, p.a. system, scoring canopy, etc. The pool chairs must be removed from the pool area. Note: as duties for this position are over before the meet begins, if you’re smart, you can work another position during the meet, as well. Two half meets for the price of one! Ding!

Clean-up: You, along with a handful of others, will take down everything the set-up person put up plus help straighten up the pool area and put all pool furniture back in place. Note: as duties for this position do not begin until after the meet is over, if you’re smart, you can work another position during the meet, as well. Two half meets for the price of one! Ding!

Parking: You will get parking signs at practice IN THE MORNING on the day of the home meet from the volunteer coordinator or head coach, and put them up in the appropriate areas for parking IN THE MORNING of the home meet. Did I mention please do this IN THE MORNING? It’s easy and a map will be provided. You will then pick them up after the meet and deliver them to the clean up crew near the men’s bathroom. This counts as one half-meet/one point.