Volunteer Requirements

Participation with the Marlins Swim Team requires parents to volunteer and complete a specified number of shifts during swim meets throughout the season. This is required because it takes nearly 100 adults working a variety of different jobs in order to make a swim meet happen.

Point System

Each volunteer shift at a swim meet is worth a set number of points. The number of points required to fulfill the volunteer requirement will be determined based on the total number of swimmers once registration closes.

Deposit

Each family submits a $500 deposit check as part of registration. This is returned at the end of the season if your volunteer requirements have been fulfilled. If you do not fulfill the volunteer obligation by the end of the season, the volunteer deposit of $500 will not be refunded and will be forfeited to the Marlins Swim Team.

Opt-Out

If your family has obligations that prevent you from volunteering, you can elect to have your $500 deposited at the beginning of the season, but we encourage families to volunteer. The team doesn’t need this money, but we NEED volunteers; otherwise, we cannot run swim meets.

Shifts

There are two volunteer shifts, or time slots, during every meet.

1st Shift: Events 1-42
2nd Shift: Events 43-80

How to Get Credit for Working Your Shift

SIGN UP (before the meet)
Login to SwimTopia and select the job/shift you want to work at each meet.

BE ON TIME (day of the meet)
Some jobs require an EARLIER start time than the check-in time (equipment set up and tent parent, for example)

CHECK IN (day of the meet)
ALL shifts (1st and 2nd) must check in at the volunteer table no later than 7:45 a.m. If you are not signed in by 7:45 a.m., we will begin looking for a replacement to work your shift.

WORK (day of the meet)
You must work the entire shift to earn credit.

CONFIRM (after the meet)
Login to your SwimTopia account and confirm you were awarded points for your shift(s). Notify the volunteer coordinator of any discrepancies ASAP

What Happens If You Can’t Make a Shift

Watching Your Swimmers Race

All meet volunteers can briefly step away during the shift to see their child swim an event. If you are a timer, scribe, or official no need to break away — you have front-row seats for ALL events!