Families that never volunteer - swim team

[Anonymous]

I have volunteered at every meet this year, except one, where I knew our family had to leave after the first event to get somewhere else. Usually I am on deck. I used to do set up—which meant I would sit and cool off in the shade during the meet, and still get pressured to do things like Marshall or time or clean up and take down. We have a huge team. There is no reason at all a person needs to do more than one job at a meet.

It made me realize our team has a management problem. They want everyone to pitch in but have no incentive system other than guilting people, grabbing the same people over and over again (because they know their names or their swimmers) and even suggesting that kids get better treatment from the coach if the parents volunteer more. It’s terrible.

I would prefer a system. Sign up for a slot, check in with the coordinator, get a point. If you don’t have a minimum number of points by the halfway point in the season, your kid isn’t going to swim until you get the points. Tired of the pressure campaigns and whining from reps and parents who have done nothing to change things.

Just do something about it. I’m at the point where I don’t even show up until I’m needed on deck and hide in my car so I can’t be conscripted.

[Anonymous]

I did the book and web page for our team. How would you know?

[Anonymous]

I volunteer to be a timer when I can get a babysitter (probably every third meet) but when I don’t I have a 4 year old that cannot be unsupervised near a pool. When my other kid is older, I will volunteer more. I assume that many of the U8 families also have other little kids. Their time will come when their kids are older.

[Anonymous]

I usually sign up to time. There are a few parents who do nothing at the meet itself. I know that a lot goes into the teen behind the scenes, like organizing the banquet for example, sorting out ribbbons, getting awards organized etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I volunteer to be a timer when I can get a babysitter (probably every third meet) but when I don’t I have a 4 year old that cannot be unsupervised near a pool. When my other kid is older, I will volunteer more. I assume that many of the U8 families also have other little kids. Their time will come when their kids are older.

This is not an excuse. You need to find something your family can do for the team other than being an on deck official during the meet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I volunteer to be a timer when I can get a babysitter (probably every third meet) but when I don’t I have a 4 year old that cannot be unsupervised near a pool. When my other kid is older, I will volunteer more. I assume that many of the U8 families also have other little kids. Their time will come when their kids are older.

This is not an excuse. You need to find something your family can do for the team other than being an on deck official during the meet.

Our team doesn’t seem to have a lack of volunteers for those roles. Probably because the long time parents on the team have those roles locked up. As a new parent, the jobs available are on deck during the meet. Mostly, they seem to need timers. I volunteer when I can. In two years, all my kids will be swimming and I will time every meet, which I actually like doing. Ours is a public pool and not very big. Maybe this is a bigger problem at the big, private pools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I volunteer to be a timer when I can get a babysitter (probably every third meet) but when I don’t I have a 4 year old that cannot be unsupervised near a pool. When my other kid is older, I will volunteer more. I assume that many of the U8 families also have other little kids. Their time will come when their kids are older.

This is not an excuse. You need to find something your family can do for the team other than being an on deck official during the meet.

Our team doesn’t seem to have a lack of volunteers for those roles. Probably because the long time parents on the team have those roles locked up. As a new parent, the jobs available are on deck during the meet. Mostly, they seem to need timers. I volunteer when I can. In two years, all my kids will be swimming and I will time every meet, which I actually like doing. Ours is a public pool and not very big. Maybe this is a bigger problem at the big, private pools?

Our large swim team required 5 volunteer jobs per season. No option to pay. I would not be happy if people could just buy their way out of their volunteer obligation. Everyone should have to chip in. If you can't volunteer at all, your kid can't participate in swim team. If people don't do their 5 jobs, their children aren't allowed to swim the next season.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our swim team says parents must sign up to volunteer for every meet DC attends. We do that but noticed some families don’t sign up for anything. Even some with multiple kids. Are we chumps for signing up every time?

Some people assume their time is more important than others. In our old school PTA was run by SAHM because worker bees thought other parents need to support their life choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you know they aren't? I do things that no one knows I do.

What kinds of things? I know some jobs are not necessarily visible (ie bringing snacks for the timers/officials), but most really are obvious to the rest of the team.

Website updates
Data entry of times
Sorting ribbons/adding names and times
Shirt orders
Buying supplies for pancake breakfasts

[Anonymous]

I volunteered when my kids where on swim team, but I really dislike this whole concept. It shuts out a entire group of families who cannot volunteer or afford the fee.

In my opinion, kid swimming should be pared WAY down (no need for all this food, awards, blah blah blah). Kids who are talented and want to compete should be able to do so without depending on parent availability or income. We should not have to incentivize swim team for kids who perhaps wouldn't want to participate without the grub and medals.

[Anonymous]

were

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I volunteer to be a timer when I can get a babysitter (probably every third meet) but when I don’t I have a 4 year old that cannot be unsupervised near a pool. When my other kid is older, I will volunteer more. I assume that many of the U8 families also have other little kids. Their time will come when their kids are older.

Again this is fine if volunteering an X number of time is not mandatory.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you know they aren't? I do things that no one knows I do.

What kinds of things? I know some jobs are not necessarily visible (ie bringing snacks for the timers/officials), but most really are obvious to the rest of the team.

Website updates
Data entry of times
Sorting ribbons/adding names and times
Shirt orders
Buying supplies for pancake breakfasts

Pre Meet set up and after meet clean up are two new jobs added for our team this season.

Sponsorship is also a job for ours that occurs pre season

End of season party planner is another job

Social events is another job

[Anonymous]

Thankfully this year DD (16) has taken our volunteer slot!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I volunteered when my kids where on swim team, but I really dislike this whole concept. It shuts out a entire group of families who cannot volunteer or afford the fee.

In my opinion, kid swimming should be pared WAY down (no need for all this food, awards, blah blah blah). Kids who are talented and want to compete should be able to do so without depending on parent availability or income. We should not have to incentivize swim team for kids who perhaps wouldn't want to participate without the grub and medals.

I get that a few people might have extenuating circumstances, but who is this whole group that can never volunteer, in any capacity? There are jobs during the meet, before the meet, at home in your pajamas whenever you find the time, etc.