Volunteer Requirements
Volunteer Requirements
There are 2 components to the Volunteer requirements for competitive swim families at RDCSC (NOTE
THIS EXCLUDES the JUNIOR YOUTH GROUP)
1) Officiating Certification Progression Requirement
2) Minimum Volunteer Requirements for Home Swim meets.
Families must achieve the below requirements in all components to complete their MINIMUM volunteer
commitment.
Officiating Certification Progression Requirement
a) In order for RDCSC to host home swim meets there must be all level of officials on deck. A swim
meet requires up to 35 trained officials on deck for each session and all competitive families are
needed to help out in officiating positions. As swimmers graduate out of the program it is vital to
have parents training to fill the more advanced levels of officiating to ensure coverage in all areas.
For these reasons RDCSC has implemented the following minimum requirement for official training
for each competitive swim family:
b) Year 1: One family member* must complete Level I training (Introduction to Timing; Safety
Marshall) and complete their shadow sessions to be certified as a Timer.
Year 2: The family member must have a minimum of 2 more timing sessions during their second
season to become an “experienced Timer”. Officials are encouraged to consider Level II training for
Freeze or Fry meet but this is not a requirement.
Year 3: A family member must complete and be certified (do 2 shadow sessions) in one Level II
position (Stroke and Turn, Starter, Chief Timer, Chief Finish Judge)
Year 4: Must complete and be certified (do 2 shadow sessions) in a second level II position (Stroke
and Turn, Starter, Chief Timer, meet manager, Clerk of Course, Chief Finish Judge)
*A family member is anyone designated as an official connected to a RDCSC swimmer. This may be a
parent/guardian/grandparent/sibling/friend or other. *
c) The Club understands that some families take on other important volunteer coordinator positions
at swim meets for the Club outside of officiating. For those members who fill the Officials
Coordinator, Hospitality and Concession Coordinator roles, they are exempt from this policy as
these positions do not allow time for them to do the shadow shifts necessary for certification.
d) An officiating fee will be applied to those who have not obtained additional training as required.
The fee is a method of encouraging members to continue their certification in the various
officiating positions to ensure RDCSC can continue to run home swim meets. Any family who has
not obtained the training expected for number of years in the Club will be charged $200 after the
Freeze or Fry meet in June. Families who are in danger of incurring this financial penalty will be
contacted by the Officials Coordinator prior to the Freeze or Fry meet to ensure they are aware.
If there are reasons why a family is unable to meet the officiating progression requirement this
must be discussed with the Officials Coordinator and will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis in
consultation with the Board.
e) This requirement is for any swim family with a swimmer registered in the Youth to Elite squads by
Oct 31. If a swimmer joins the competitive program after Oct 31 (for example from Learn to Swim),
Year 1 will be considered the swimmer’s first FULL year in the Club.
Minimum Volunteer Requirements for Home Swim Meets
a) Our home swim meets are important events for our team as they allow friends and family in Red
Deer the opportunity to come and cheer on their swimmers without travel and allow our newer
swimmers the opportunity to race in their home environment. Home meets also help with
interclub relationships as the majority of the team are in attendance. The Freeze or Fry meet at the
outdoor Rec Centre pool in June is the highlight of the season for most of our swim families
especially if the weather cooperates.
b) The minimum volunteer shifts at our home swim meets are the same for all competitive swim
families (Youth to Elite), regardless of group. Swim meet shifts include (but are not limited to):
officiating, set up, tear down, hospitality, marshalling and concession. A typical shift is
approximately 5 hrs. A shift of 2-3 hours is considered a ½ shift. For the 202/2025 swim season the
MINIMUM requirements / competitive swim family is estimated as:
Total for the season
Home Mini Meets (Oct; May) 1 shift TOTAL
Valentines meet (February) 3 shifts
Freeze or Fry (June) 5 shifts
c) The number of swim meet shifts is subject to change depending on Club enrollment numbers and
what our swim meet schedule looks like for the season. The required number of shifts will be
communicated to competitive families prior to each swim meet. The dates of our home meets will
be communicated at the beginning of the season to allow for family planning.
d) Swim meets CANNOT be run without the help from all competitive families and this is not an
activity that can be “paid out”. To encourage families to volunteer the board has set a punitive FINE
for not completing the MINIMUM volunteer requirements. For each shift missed the swim family
account will be charged $200.
a. Families will be charged for missed shifts at the Valentine meet on the Monday following
the meet in February.
b. Families will be charged for missed shift for the home mini meets on Monday following the
second/spring Mini meet in May.
c. Families will be charged for missed shifts for the Freeze or Fry meet on the Monday
following the meet in June.
d. If you sign up for a volunteer position and then wish to cancel it less than 7 days prior to
the date of the event you are volunteering at, you must contact the Officials Coordinator
and MAY be required to find your own replacement (with the correct qualifications for
the job that you signed up for). Failure to do so, will result in a $200 per shift charge to
your family account in the month immediately following the swim meet.
e) The Club understands that families have many other commitments and that for some families
completing the volunteer requirement at EVERY swim meet can be challenging. The requirements
are in place to ensure we can continue to host our home meets and that all competitive families
share in the work involved in running a swim meet. If a family is unable to complete requirements
at one of the home meets they may be allowed to make up shifts at another meet or there may be
an opportunity to help with organization in advance. Inability to volunteer for the minimum number of shifts per swim meet MUST be discussed with the Volunteer Coordinator well in
advance of the meet and will be considered on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the Board.
f) For swimmers who join the competitive program later in the season the requirements will depend
on when the swimmer joins the Club & the group they are in. If a swimmer joins the Club after the
first mini meet (Oct 1), volunteering at the spring mini meet is encouraged but not required. For
the other meets:
a. Joins after October 15 but prior to Dec 1:
i. If in Provincial/Prospect/ Performance or Elite must complete Valentine AND Freeze
or Fry shifts
ii. If in Youth or Development must complete Freeze or Fry shifts. Families are
encouraged to help out at Valentine meet, but no requirement.
b. Joins Dec 1 to April 1: Must complete Freeze or Fry shifts.
c. Joins after April 1:
i. Must complete 2 shifts at Freeze or Fry if in Provincial/Prospect/ Performance/Elite
ii. If in Youth or Development