PVS Champa not letting parents in

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Note to PVS and UMD event staff. There is a saying “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”.

I’m less inclined to help out with timing multiple sessions when I’m a paying customer (meet fees - where does that money go?) and your staff is flat out rude and yelling.

Maybe UMD has more issues getting timers because of how they treat volunteers? As someone pointed out meets at GMU, PWCS, Fairfax Co, don’t seem to have these issues. They might be looking for a few volunteers at the start but it hasn’t been the catastrophe of UMD.

It’s got absolutely nothing to do with UMD staff or the security contractors/CSC.

The decision to not let parents into the stands and or to kick parents out of the building is coming from PVS deck officials. This is a PVS induced problem that needs a real solution.

The real solution is parents step up and time.

Now would they do that? Some parent on this board said they’d gladly pay extra for someone else to time. I’m surprised someone hasn’t come up with a biz model where youth sports parents outsource their volunteer commitments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Note to PVS and UMD event staff. There is a saying “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”.

I’m less inclined to help out with timing multiple sessions when I’m a paying customer (meet fees - where does that money go?) and your staff is flat out rude and yelling.

Maybe UMD has more issues getting timers because of how they treat volunteers? As someone pointed out meets at GMU, PWCS, Fairfax Co, don’t seem to have these issues. They might be looking for a few volunteers at the start but it hasn’t been the catastrophe of UMD.

It’s got absolutely nothing to do with UMD staff or the security contractors/CSC.

The decision to not let parents into the stands and or to kick parents out of the building is coming from PVS deck officials. This is a PVS induced problem that needs a real solution.

The real solution is parents step up and time.

And I’m not going to step up any extra when I being treated disrespectfully.

[Anonymous]

As a pvs official this thread really rubs me the wrong way.
1. Pvs officials are all volunteers
2 meet fees primarily go to facility rental. Pvs typically ‘loses’ money on the championship meets. They budget for this but the meet fees do not cover the cost of the meet as is.
3. As a pvs officlal I always work an entire session. I frequently work sessions that my kids are not swimming in. I have multiple kids and a complicated life, it’s just that I care about the sport and I care about meets being successful. I sometimes arrange carpools for my kids so that they can leave when they are done swimming and don’t have to wait for me. Or my kids hang out and wait for me. If you time your kids can hang out with my kids when they are done swimming. (:
4. Could they have the timers switch out 1/2 way? Yes but it would slow the meet down significantly. It would mean time for them to leave, time to track down missing timers, a second briefing etc.
5. Could you pay people to time? I don’t really think there are that many college students hanging around who want to be paid to time. Also, it’s a little strange to pay timers but expect officials to work for free.

[Anonymous]

Delaying the start of the meet until you have the volunteers needed makes sense. Getting those volunteers and then even once you have them forcing patents to wait outside in the heat or miss their child's race entirely is vindictive and petty.

That's what happened Friday (and last Sunday).

[Anonymous]

I have no idea why people find the responses sad and aeem to think it’s a selfish-parents issue only. Officials who volunteer know upfront they are staying a whole session and have planned for it. Have all distance swimmers need timers at prelims and finals. This makes far more sense and cuts off 45 min from the timing requirement for non distancing swimming families AND ensures distance swimmers start on time with timers.

Other teams who host ensure they have timers. This is a repeat issue at Epply Ctr meets. Knowing you have had an issue in the past getting timers and knowing you already have insufficient timers for this meet beforehand - fix it.

How can anyone think it’s okay that John timed at prelims and was unable to get into finals. Or Mary and Louise each had kids in finals but Louise saw her kids swim bc it was the third event of the night and Mary didn’t bc her kid was in the first event…and neither volunteered. Or that they are announcing an issue getting timers as the meet is starting so parents could have planned ahead of time (so their kids aren’t waiting around).

95% of PVS meets do not have this repeated issue - this needs to be solved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a pvs official this thread really rubs me the wrong way.
1. Pvs officials are all volunteers
2 meet fees primarily go to facility rental. Pvs typically ‘loses’ money on the championship meets. They budget for this but the meet fees do not cover the cost of the meet as is.
3. As a pvs officlal I always work an entire session. I frequently work sessions that my kids are not swimming in. I have multiple kids and a complicated life, it’s just that I care about the sport and I care about meets being successful. I sometimes arrange carpools for my kids so that they can leave when they are done swimming and don’t have to wait for me. Or my kids hang out and wait for me. If you time your kids can hang out with my kids when they are done swimming. (:
4. Could they have the timers switch out 1/2 way? Yes but it would slow the meet down significantly. It would mean time for them to leave, time to track down missing timers, a second briefing etc.
5. Could you pay people to time? I don’t really think there are that many college students hanging around who want to be paid to time. Also, it’s a little strange to pay timers but expect officials to work for free.

+1,000 from another PVS official

[Anonymous]

Why are parents moved to the outside in excessive heat? Does anyone think that is okay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a pvs official this thread really rubs me the wrong way.
1. Pvs officials are all volunteers
2 meet fees primarily go to facility rental. Pvs typically ‘loses’ money on the championship meets. They budget for this but the meet fees do not cover the cost of the meet as is.
3. As a pvs officlal I always work an entire session. I frequently work sessions that my kids are not swimming in. I have multiple kids and a complicated life, it’s just that I care about the sport and I care about meets being successful. I sometimes arrange carpools for my kids so that they can leave when they are done swimming and don’t have to wait for me. Or my kids hang out and wait for me. If you time your kids can hang out with my kids when they are done swimming. (:
4. Could they have the timers switch out 1/2 way? Yes but it would slow the meet down significantly. It would mean time for them to leave, time to track down missing timers, a second briefing etc.
5. Could you pay people to time? I don’t really think there are that many college students hanging around who want to be paid to time. Also, it’s a little strange to pay timers but expect officials to work for free.

+1,000 from another PVS official

Thank you both for everything you do! Amazed by and grateful for the dedicated officials in PVS, esp at these grueling meets.
Parents with kids in the 200 or 50 back tonight (last events), please plan to time unless you literally can’t. I timed finals the night my kid was in the last event, even though I’d already done 2 prelims. There’s really no excuse not to if you’re there spectating and don’t have a younger child to watch. Why should another parent do it for you that doesn’t have a swimmer in the last events?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Note to PVS and UMD event staff. There is a saying “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”.

I’m less inclined to help out with timing multiple sessions when I’m a paying customer (meet fees - where does that money go?) and your staff is flat out rude and yelling.

Maybe UMD has more issues getting timers because of how they treat volunteers? As someone pointed out meets at GMU, PWCS, Fairfax Co, don’t seem to have these issues. They might be looking for a few volunteers at the start but it hasn’t been the catastrophe of UMD.

It’s got absolutely nothing to do with UMD staff or the security contractors/CSC.

The decision to not let parents into the stands and or to kick parents out of the building is coming from PVS deck officials. This is a PVS induced problem that needs a real solution.

The real solution is parents step up and time.

And I’m not going to step up any extra when I being treated disrespectfully.

If you had volunteered to time when your coach sent out the notice in the first place, none of it would have happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea why people find the responses sad and aeem to think it’s a selfish-parents issue only. Officials who volunteer know upfront they are staying a whole session and have planned for it. Have all distance swimmers need timers at prelims and finals. This makes far more sense and cuts off 45 min from the timing requirement for non distancing swimming families AND ensures distance swimmers start on time with timers.

Other teams who host ensure they have timers. This is a repeat issue at Epply Ctr meets. Knowing you have had an issue in the past getting timers and knowing you already have insufficient timers for this meet beforehand - fix it.

How can anyone think it’s okay that John timed at prelims and was unable to get into finals. Or Mary and Louise each had kids in finals but Louise saw her kids swim bc it was the third event of the night and Mary didn’t bc her kid was in the first event…and neither volunteered. Or that they are announcing an issue getting timers as the meet is starting so parents could have planned ahead of time (so their kids aren’t waiting around).

95% of PVS meets do not have this repeated issue - this needs to be solved.

When my kid was a distance swimmer we were told that he needed to bring his own timer or he couldn't swim the event. We always timed every meet anyway, but that policy made particular sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea why people find the responses sad and aeem to think it’s a selfish-parents issue only. Officials who volunteer know upfront they are staying a whole session and have planned for it. Have all distance swimmers need timers at prelims and finals. This makes far more sense and cuts off 45 min from the timing requirement for non distancing swimming families AND ensures distance swimmers start on time with timers.

Other teams who host ensure they have timers. This is a repeat issue at Epply Ctr meets. Knowing you have had an issue in the past getting timers and knowing you already have insufficient timers for this meet beforehand - fix it.

How can anyone think it’s okay that John timed at prelims and was unable to get into finals. Or Mary and Louise each had kids in finals but Louise saw her kids swim bc it was the third event of the night and Mary didn’t bc her kid was in the first event…and neither volunteered. Or that they are announcing an issue getting timers as the meet is starting so parents could have planned ahead of time (so their kids aren’t waiting around).

95% of PVS meets do not have this repeated issue - this needs to be solved.

A majority of the 800 parents showed up
To time their own kids and the get the meet started. We were told we had to time our kids by front desk/UMD staff, while also telling us it was strongly preferred we work/time the entire session. That messaging alone indicated the session was going to go south real fast and many of the 800 parents started to push back, feeling set-up and forced to time when several of us had already timed multiple session on Thursday and Friday. Many said they were only timing their own kids and leaving. All this was communicated during timers briefing yet they moved forward with starting the meet and then started telling 800 parents halfway through their child’s race parents couldn’t leave the deck and had to stay in place for the full duration. Total breakdown of communication at every angle and a lot of angry people on all sides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Note to PVS and UMD event staff. There is a saying “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”.

I’m less inclined to help out with timing multiple sessions when I’m a paying customer (meet fees - where does that money go?) and your staff is flat out rude and yelling.

Maybe UMD has more issues getting timers because of how they treat volunteers? As someone pointed out meets at GMU, PWCS, Fairfax Co, don’t seem to have these issues. They might be looking for a few volunteers at the start but it hasn’t been the catastrophe of UMD.

It’s got absolutely nothing to do with UMD staff or the security contractors/CSC.

The decision to not let parents into the stands and or to kick parents out of the building is coming from PVS deck officials. This is a PVS induced problem that needs a real solution.

The real solution is parents step up and time.

And I’m not going to step up any extra when I being treated disrespectfully.

If you had volunteered to time when your coach sent out the notice in the first place, none of it would have happened.

Our coach said maybe a week before: if you want to time, here is the doc to sign up. No further follow up, no notice that spots were unfilled. Waiting until people show up is not the answer when it is continually a problem for meets there. Send out notices well in advance which shows all spots taken and all needed. Require timers to be supplied pro rata based on number of swimmers participating from each team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea why people find the responses sad and aeem to think it’s a selfish-parents issue only. Officials who volunteer know upfront they are staying a whole session and have planned for it. Have all distance swimmers need timers at prelims and finals. This makes far more sense and cuts off 45 min from the timing requirement for non distancing swimming families AND ensures distance swimmers start on time with timers.

Other teams who host ensure they have timers. This is a repeat issue at Epply Ctr meets. Knowing you have had an issue in the past getting timers and knowing you already have insufficient timers for this meet beforehand - fix it.

How can anyone think it’s okay that John timed at prelims and was unable to get into finals. Or Mary and Louise each had kids in finals but Louise saw her kids swim bc it was the third event of the night and Mary didn’t bc her kid was in the first event…and neither volunteered. Or that they are announcing an issue getting timers as the meet is starting so parents could have planned ahead of time (so their kids aren’t waiting around).

95% of PVS meets do not have this repeated issue - this needs to be solved.

A majority of the 800 parents showed up
To time their own kids and the get the meet started. We were told we had to time our kids by front desk/UMD staff, while also telling us it was strongly preferred we work/time the entire session. That messaging alone indicated the session was going to go south real fast and many of the 800 parents started to push back, feeling set-up and forced to time when several of us had already timed multiple session on Thursday and Friday. Many said they were only timing their own kids and leaving. All this was communicated during timers briefing yet they moved forward with starting the meet and then started telling 800 parents halfway through their child’s race parents couldn’t leave the deck and had to stay in place for the full duration. Total breakdown of communication at every angle and a lot of angry people on all sides.

What’s the meet host, TOLL, take on all of this? Communications on volunteering expectations should’ve come from the meet host to the participating teams and so forth…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Note to PVS and UMD event staff. There is a saying “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”.

I’m less inclined to help out with timing multiple sessions when I’m a paying customer (meet fees - where does that money go?) and your staff is flat out rude and yelling.

Maybe UMD has more issues getting timers because of how they treat volunteers? As someone pointed out meets at GMU, PWCS, Fairfax Co, don’t seem to have these issues. They might be looking for a few volunteers at the start but it hasn’t been the catastrophe of UMD.

It’s got absolutely nothing to do with UMD staff or the security contractors/CSC.

The decision to not let parents into the stands and or to kick parents out of the building is coming from PVS deck officials. This is a PVS induced problem that needs a real solution.

The real solution is parents step up and time.

And I’m not going to step up any extra when I being treated disrespectfully.

If you had volunteered to time when your coach sent out the notice in the first place, none of it would have happened.

Our coach said maybe a week before: if you want to time, here is the doc to sign up. No further follow up, no notice that spots were unfilled. Waiting until people show up is not the answer when it is continually a problem for meets there. Send out notices well in advance which shows all spots taken and all needed. Require timers to be supplied pro rata based on number of swimmers participating from each team.

Um, that is what they did. There was a sign up genius assigning spots based on team participation and it was very easy to see how many open spots remained for prelims.

[Anonymous]

It’s not really the coaches’ responsibility to monitor volunteer signups or to send reminders about volunteering.