Does your team allow alumni swimmers/coaches to volunteer?

[Anonymous]

Our team has always allowed former swimmers to volunteer - they have been table workers, timers, marshals etc. We've also had former (and even current) swimmers hired (paid) as the assistant coach.

This summer we had 2 college students, who were both paid jr coaches last summer, sign up to volunteer to be Clerk of Course for a B Meet (we are NVSL).
They were paid jr coaches for several summers, as well as winter coaches for our team. They also swam for more than a decade for this team and are still members of the pool.

We've told them no.

And then sent out new rules to the entire team:

For Monday B Meets –

Alumni / Siblings can volunteer for Concessions, Setup / Take Down, Timer, Card Runner, or Table Worker.
Alumni / Siblings cannot volunteer as Clerk of Course, Marshal, or any “lead” role such as Chief Timer or Data/Table Lead.

For Saturday A Meets –

Alumni / Siblings can volunteer for Concessions or Setup / Take Down
Alumni / Siblings can volunteer as a Timer, Card Runner, or Table Worker with prior approval by the Team Reps (experience generally required).
Alumni / Siblings cannot volunteer as Clerk of Course, Marshal, or any “lead” role such as Chief Timer or Data/Table Lead.


Does your team allow alumni swimmers/coaches to volunteer?

TIA!

[Anonymous]

Why on earth would they not be allowed to volunteer as long as they are adults? Parents are _required_ to volunteer in many capacities. Alumni or former junior coaches would likely be the best C of Cs, since they know the team culture from the inside and know the kids!

[Anonymous]

I'm with the PP. why are you not allowing those who want to volunteer to volunteer? Clerk of course is a long job and it would be great to have a younger person running it. This is just short sighted.

[Anonymous]

Yes. It’s annoying as former parents and grandparents dominate the jobs then complain when no one else does them. We are refused the spots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Our team has always allowed former swimmers to volunteer - they have been table workers, timers, marshals etc. We've also had former (and even current) swimmers hired (paid) as the assistant coach.

This summer we had 2 college students, who were both paid jr coaches last summer, sign up to volunteer to be Clerk of Course for a B Meet (we are NVSL).
They were paid jr coaches for several summers, as well as winter coaches for our team. They also swam for more than a decade for this team and are still members of the pool.

We've told them no.

And then sent out new rules to the entire team:

For Monday B Meets –

Alumni / Siblings can volunteer for Concessions, Setup / Take Down, Timer, Card Runner, or Table Worker.
Alumni / Siblings cannot volunteer as Clerk of Course, Marshal, or any “lead” role such as Chief Timer or Data/Table Lead.

For Saturday A Meets –

Alumni / Siblings can volunteer for Concessions or Setup / Take Down
Alumni / Siblings can volunteer as a Timer, Card Runner, or Table Worker with prior approval by the Team Reps (experience generally required).
Alumni / Siblings cannot volunteer as Clerk of Course, Marshal, or any “lead” role such as Chief Timer or Data/Table Lead.


Does your team allow alumni swimmers/coaches to volunteer?

TIA!

Is the concern that there is no coaching in Clerk of Course so you're avoiding the optics of former coaches volunteering in that capacity? Otherwise, not sure I follow.

[Anonymous]

I also find it odd to turn this down. They seem perfectly suited to help and it is generous of them to volunteer!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Our team has always allowed former swimmers to volunteer - they have been table workers, timers, marshals etc. We've also had former (and even current) swimmers hired (paid) as the assistant coach.

This summer we had 2 college students, who were both paid jr coaches last summer, sign up to volunteer to be Clerk of Course for a B Meet (we are NVSL).
They were paid jr coaches for several summers, as well as winter coaches for our team. They also swam for more than a decade for this team and are still members of the pool.

We've told them no.

And then sent out new rules to the entire team:

For Monday B Meets –

Alumni / Siblings can volunteer for Concessions, Setup / Take Down, Timer, Card Runner, or Table Worker.
Alumni / Siblings cannot volunteer as Clerk of Course, Marshal, or any “lead” role such as Chief Timer or Data/Table Lead.

For Saturday A Meets –

Alumni / Siblings can volunteer for Concessions or Setup / Take Down
Alumni / Siblings can volunteer as a Timer, Card Runner, or Table Worker with prior approval by the Team Reps (experience generally required).
Alumni / Siblings cannot volunteer as Clerk of Course, Marshal, or any “lead” role such as Chief Timer or Data/Table Lead.


Does your team allow alumni swimmers/coaches to volunteer?

TIA!

Is the concern that there is no coaching in Clerk of Course so you're avoiding the optics of former coaches volunteering in that capacity? Otherwise, not sure I follow.

This is the only explanation I can think of, but is that even relevant for a B meet?! I came back (after 3 seasons of coaching and then a year off) to volunteer as Stroke & Turn for my old NVSL team, but my youngest sibling was still on the team (and my parents were still volunteering, too).

[Anonymous]

Is this some weird Safesport Crazy or did the rules change for a particular kid?

They seem to removing them from positions where they would interact with swimmers.

I also think that you cannot stop a family member who is an adult from volunteering or limiting their roles. We have grandparents, aunts, uncles, and siblings work the meets if they have a family member swimming.

If you prevent that, then a family should say sorry - we cannot volunteer at all due to the weird restrictions.

[Anonymous]

Let them!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Our team has always allowed former swimmers to volunteer - they have been table workers, timers, marshals etc. We've also had former (and even current) swimmers hired (paid) as the assistant coach.

This summer we had 2 college students, who were both paid jr coaches last summer, sign up to volunteer to be Clerk of Course for a B Meet (we are NVSL).
They were paid jr coaches for several summers, as well as winter coaches for our team. They also swam for more than a decade for this team and are still members of the pool.

We've told them no.

And then sent out new rules to the entire team:

For Monday B Meets –

Alumni / Siblings can volunteer for Concessions, Setup / Take Down, Timer, Card Runner, or Table Worker.
Alumni / Siblings cannot volunteer as Clerk of Course, Marshal, or any “lead” role such as Chief Timer or Data/Table Lead.

For Saturday A Meets –

Alumni / Siblings can volunteer for Concessions or Setup / Take Down
Alumni / Siblings can volunteer as a Timer, Card Runner, or Table Worker with prior approval by the Team Reps (experience generally required).
Alumni / Siblings cannot volunteer as Clerk of Course, Marshal, or any “lead” role such as Chief Timer or Data/Table Lead.


Does your team allow alumni swimmers/coaches to volunteer?

TIA!

Is the concern that there is no coaching in Clerk of Course so you're avoiding the optics of former coaches volunteering in that capacity? Otherwise, not sure I follow.

This is the only explanation I can think of, but is that even relevant for a B meet?! I came back (after 3 seasons of coaching and then a year off) to volunteer as Stroke & Turn for my old NVSL team, but my youngest sibling was still on the team (and my parents were still volunteering, too).

I don’t think it’s SafeSport. They cannot Marshal either. But they can time and that has swimmer contact.

[Anonymous]

Pp here. Sorry. I meant to comment on the SafeSport comment.
Don’t think the appearance of coaching is it either. CoC for a B meet is like herding cats so cannot imagine even trying to coach there.

[Anonymous]

Yes. All 3 of our coaches (head and 3 assistant coaches) are alumni. Head coach is 8y out, 2 assistant coaches are 4y out, and 1 assistant coach is 1y out.

[Anonymous]

So OP, you really need to come back with a rationale here. What's the line of reasoning why these experienced, generous, and previously vetted adults are not allowed to volunteer to support your recreational swim team in full view of parents?

[Anonymous]

NP, but we have similar rules and they've been in place for years. In speaking with our VC, the rational has been that recent alumni generally want to be there to socialize. Timing is fine, because it's a very social job. CoC as many have said, is like herding cats as is. It's supposed to be a place of quiet and calms (yes - "supposed to" being the optimal word) not a place of high energy and working kids up.
We don't have the restrictions on marshalls, but I don't understand why an alumi would WANT to do that job? It's the worst. And again, you really can't socialize?
Just go hang out with the team and be alumni. Say "hi", cheer the kids on and enjoy your freedom to leave whenever you feel like it!

[Anonymous]

Having run higher level meets in higher divisions, this makes sense to me. B meets are often chaotic with a lot of swimmers, having experienced adults as volunteers makes things run smoothly. Is there a reason the other opportunities are not appealing, if you can still volunteer - what’s the issue?

We have similar rules at our pool.