lack of volunteers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People should hire a teenager to do their volunteer commitments if they don’t want to. I know a bunch of teenagers that would jump on timing a meet for babysitter type pay.

But really, it’s sad that people are so disengaged. We saw it in other sports too, we were always coaching rec teams.

If parents are willing to pay the fine instead of volunteering, why can't the teams do this? My kids have never done swim team and never will but if the pool was willing to pay them $15-20 an hour to work the snack bar or time the races, they would gladly do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for the volunteer duties and expectations to be well-organized and communicated. I have signed up to help multiple times (not just at swimming but other activities, school, etc) at places and when I show up there has no need for me, or the job is loosely defined, or the supplies are not there, etc. A time or two I have used my own executive functioning skills to solve these problems or take charge. However, I am over doing that these days after my 3rd kid.

I hear you. It’s very annoying when you wake up early, or carve the time out to be there, and there is no need for you. I get it that they found 4 volunteers to do the job of 2 people because it was assumed that people wouldn’t show, but when 3 or 4 people show up it feels disrespectful of their time and doesn’t make them want to do it again. Or, and this has happened too many times to count, but “would you just mind moving on over to some role that you definitely didn’t sign up for and really don’t want to do because Sarah and Molly are besties and really want to work together? Thanks a bunch!” Why can’t they just do the jobs they signed up for like adults and actually talk to someone new?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People should hire a teenager to do their volunteer commitments if they don’t want to. I know a bunch of teenagers that would jump on timing a meet for babysitter type pay.

But really, it’s sad that people are so disengaged. We saw it in other sports too, we were always coaching rec teams.

This is a perfect example of ” throwing money at a problem.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for the volunteer duties and expectations to be well-organized and communicated. I have signed up to help multiple times (not just at swimming but other activities, school, etc) at places and when I show up there has no need for me, or the job is loosely defined, or the supplies are not there, etc. A time or two I have used my own executive functioning skills to solve these problems or take charge. However, I am over doing that these days after my 3rd kid.

I hear you. It’s very annoying when you wake up early, or carve the time out to be there, and there is no need for you. I get it that they found 4 volunteers to do the job of 2 people because it was assumed that people wouldn’t show, but when 3 or 4 people show up it feels disrespectful of their time and doesn’t make them want to do it again. Or, and this has happened too many times to count, but “would you just mind moving on over to some role that you definitely didn’t sign up for and really don’t want to do because Sarah and Molly are besties and really want to work together? Thanks a bunch!” Why can’t they just do the jobs they signed up for like adults and actually talk to someone new?

Don’t agree to change jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are seeing that it is a lack of commitment. My kids have seen swimming on our summer team for 15y and DH and I have been very involved (stroke and turn, on the board, timing, etc.)

When my kids started, nearly 100% of parents made every effort to get their kids to practice/meets. It was rare to have kids missing at meets. Now we are seeing MANY younger families whose kids *maybe* make 2-3 meets. We have stressed the importance of meets (both on an individual level and as a team.) We have offered rides, brought breakfast items so parents wouldn't have to deal with that, etc with little to no avail. When talking to parents I hear "it was hot", "it was cold", "I didn't sleep well and didn't want to wake up", "it is too much to get the kids out of the house on a Sat AM",

And if they do make it, they sit and watch while others are scrambling. We have asked for help directly "Hey, Larlo, we need you to time today. Even half the meet would be helpful.", we have tried the 'fine' for not volunteering (they are happy to pay), we have explained the importance of volunteering to keep things running....

Honestly, I am worried about the existence of the team past the next few years when older kids/families age out. I am hoping that the younger families become more invested and step up.

We have seen this as well but something else I noticed is the "my kid did not feel like it" or "we will ask my kid their thoughts/opinion on going to a meet/practice/etc" "we discussed it, and Larla decided she wanted to sleep in" and I am like WHAT!?! They are asking from input/feedback from a six year old who developmentally cannot make these decisions. Then on the flip side, they do not seem to understand what making a commitment actually means when they do.

Then they wonder why their monster of a child turns into a bigger monster as a teen. They do not define rules, structure, and familial hierarchy. It is wild.

Yes. Lots of "Larla didn't feel like it this week". WTF. Many weeks we could barely seed relays because so many younger kids didn't show. And even when we explained this to parents, they just kind of shrug.

DP
We see this too, plus “It was too far”. The swimmer was seeded in a meet and just didn’t show because it was “too far”. We also see families leaving the meet as soon as their child is done swimming. It used to be that the expectation was the team would stay to root on their teammates. Oh, and pep rallies. Attendance has really dipped, especially by the older swimmers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for the volunteer duties and expectations to be well-organized and communicated. I have signed up to help multiple times (not just at swimming but other activities, school, etc) at places and when I show up there has no need for me, or the job is loosely defined, or the supplies are not there, etc. A time or two I have used my own executive functioning skills to solve these problems or take charge. However, I am over doing that these days after my 3rd kid.

I hear you. It’s very annoying when you wake up early, or carve the time out to be there, and there is no need for you. I get it that they found 4 volunteers to do the job of 2 people because it was assumed that people wouldn’t show, but when 3 or 4 people show up it feels disrespectful of their time and doesn’t make them want to do it again. Or, and this has happened too many times to count, but “would you just mind moving on over to some role that you definitely didn’t sign up for and really don’t want to do because Sarah and Molly are besties and really want to work together? Thanks a bunch!” Why can’t they just do the jobs they signed up for like adults and actually talk to someone new?

Don’t agree to change jobs.

What, and have those women glaring at me the whole time? Making a somewhat unpleasant activity even worse?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People are tired, it's hard to survive on one income, more people are working two jobs and employers have become less flexible.

I’m wondering if this is a reason why our summer club membership and as a result, team membership has been dropping in numbers.

[Anonymous]

It's hard to find the time to volunteer for anything if you work full time, but summer swim is particularly rough. It starts in June when school is still in session and there's a flurry of end-of-year school activities. In our case, my kids are still in school for the first 3 weeks of the season and it's madness. On top of that, there is often overlap with spring or club sports wrapping up for the season. It's non-stop for nearly the entire month.

My kids are old enough now that I can let them manage themselves during the meets and they'll keep track of their events, and I can volunteer during the meets. But that wasn't the case when they were younger! There is no way my youngest would've made it to any of her events if she was left to manage herself during meets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's hard to find the time to volunteer for anything if you work full time, but summer swim is particularly rough. It starts in June when school is still in session and there's a flurry of end-of-year school activities. In our case, my kids are still in school for the first 3 weeks of the season and it's madness. On top of that, there is often overlap with spring or club sports wrapping up for the season. It's non-stop for nearly the entire month.

My kids are old enough now that I can let them manage themselves during the meets and they'll keep track of their events, and I can volunteer during the meets. But that wasn't the case when they were younger! There is no way my youngest would've made it to any of her events if she was left to manage herself during meets.

I am so tired of that excuse that your kids are so helpless they need you hovering. There are so many coaches and helpers in the team area. Let them know of your concern the kid might get distracted and let them do their job while you do one of your own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's hard to find the time to volunteer for anything if you work full time, but summer swim is particularly rough. It starts in June when school is still in session and there's a flurry of end-of-year school activities. In our case, my kids are still in school for the first 3 weeks of the season and it's madness. On top of that, there is often overlap with spring or club sports wrapping up for the season. It's non-stop for nearly the entire month.

My kids are old enough now that I can let them manage themselves during the meets and they'll keep track of their events, and I can volunteer during the meets. But that wasn't the case when they were younger! There is no way my youngest would've made it to any of her events if she was left to manage herself during meets.

I am so tired of that excuse that your kids are so helpless they need you hovering. There are so many coaches and helpers in the team area. Let them know of your concern the kid might get distracted and let them do their job while you do one of your own.

Isn't the coaches job to "heard the cats?" How annoying to have hovering parents interfering with the team dynamic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for the volunteer duties and expectations to be well-organized and communicated. I have signed up to help multiple times (not just at swimming but other activities, school, etc) at places and when I show up there has no need for me, or the job is loosely defined, or the supplies are not there, etc. A time or two I have used my own executive functioning skills to solve these problems or take charge. However, I am over doing that these days after my 3rd kid.

I hear you. It’s very annoying when you wake up early, or carve the time out to be there, and there is no need for you. I get it that they found 4 volunteers to do the job of 2 people because it was assumed that people wouldn’t show, but when 3 or 4 people show up it feels disrespectful of their time and doesn’t make them want to do it again. Or, and this has happened too many times to count, but “would you just mind moving on over to some role that you definitely didn’t sign up for and really don’t want to do because Sarah and Molly are besties and really want to work together? Thanks a bunch!” Why can’t they just do the jobs they signed up for like adults and actually talk to someone new?

Don’t agree to change jobs.

What, and have those women glaring at me the whole time? Making a somewhat unpleasant activity even worse?

Then stop complaining. Poor you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's hard to find the time to volunteer for anything if you work full time, but summer swim is particularly rough. It starts in June when school is still in session and there's a flurry of end-of-year school activities. In our case, my kids are still in school for the first 3 weeks of the season and it's madness. On top of that, there is often overlap with spring or club sports wrapping up for the season. It's non-stop for nearly the entire month.

My kids are old enough now that I can let them manage themselves during the meets and they'll keep track of their events, and I can volunteer during the meets. But that wasn't the case when they were younger! There is no way my youngest would've made it to any of her events if she was left to manage herself during meets.

I am so tired of that excuse that your kids are so helpless they need you hovering. There are so many coaches and helpers in the team area. Let them know of your concern the kid might get distracted and let them do their job while you do one of your own.

Isn't the coaches job to "heard the cats?" How annoying to have hovering parents interfering with the team dynamic.

Parents aren't even allowed on deck for summer swim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People should hire a teenager to do their volunteer commitments if they don’t want to. I know a bunch of teenagers that would jump on timing a meet for babysitter type pay.

But really, it’s sad that people are so disengaged. We saw it in other sports too, we were always coaching rec teams.

This is a perfect example of ” throwing money at a problem.”

It’s better than just collecting a fee for not meeting your volunteer obligations. Parents are responsible for tracking down someone, ensuring the teen understands the task, and managing the payment. That shouldn’t be an already overwhelmed rep’s responsibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People should hire a teenager to do their volunteer commitments if they don’t want to. I know a bunch of teenagers that would jump on timing a meet for babysitter type pay.

But really, it’s sad that people are so disengaged. We saw it in other sports too, we were always coaching rec teams.

If parents are willing to pay the fine instead of volunteering, why can't the teams do this? My kids have never done swim team and never will but if the pool was willing to pay them $15-20 an hour to work the snack bar or time the races, they would gladly do it.

Because teams run on volunteers, and this would be another task to manage when parents are fully capable of doing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for the volunteer duties and expectations to be well-organized and communicated. I have signed up to help multiple times (not just at swimming but other activities, school, etc) at places and when I show up there has no need for me, or the job is loosely defined, or the supplies are not there, etc. A time or two I have used my own executive functioning skills to solve these problems or take charge. However, I am over doing that these days after my 3rd kid.

I hear you. It’s very annoying when you wake up early, or carve the time out to be there, and there is no need for you. I get it that they found 4 volunteers to do the job of 2 people because it was assumed that people wouldn’t show, but when 3 or 4 people show up it feels disrespectful of their time and doesn’t make them want to do it again. Or, and this has happened too many times to count, but “would you just mind moving on over to some role that you definitely didn’t sign up for and really don’t want to do because Sarah and Molly are besties and really want to work together? Thanks a bunch!” Why can’t they just do the jobs they signed up for like adults and actually talk to someone new?

Don’t agree to change jobs.

What, and have those women glaring at me the whole time? Making a somewhat unpleasant activity even worse?

Then stop complaining. Poor you.

Then stop complaining about your lack of volunteers. Hang out with your BFF on your own time.