6 Things We Forget to Thank Volunteers For

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

By Emma Foster, Swimming World College Intern

As any swimmer knows, a swim meet relies on volunteers to make things run, well, swimmingly. Without the hardworking people behind the scenes, all that work you do in preparation for the big meet would be wasted. From hardworking parents who got up at the crack of dawn to make their own swimmer breakfast, before staying late to help get the pool torn down at the end of the meet, to the official whose swimmers have long since become swammers but who continues to show up to help at local meets, to the community groups who are just witnessing a swim meet for the first time, these volunteers are essential to the swimming community.

As athletes we don’t always take the opportunity to thank these people for the work they do to make sure that we get to do what we love. Beyond the gratitude we have for them simply showing up and being there, there are many things that volunteers do that goes above and beyond the call of duty and that ensures that our meet will go off without us having to worry about anything but swimming fast. We definitely don’t say it enough, but for now, thanks to all of those who do these things for us. You are an integral part of what makes this sport so great!

1. Getting our times accurately.

Photo Courtesy: Taylor Brien

Nothing is worse than getting to the end of a hard fought race, looking up at the scoreboard and realizing that your time didn’t register. Luckily, you know that the timers sitting behind your lane have got your back…and your accurate time. You might be too out of breath to thank them in the moment, but there is a serious relief in being able to look up from the blank scoreboard to have someone triumphantly tell you that you went a best time.

2. Checking that we’re in the right lane.

Photo Courtesy: Heidi Torregroza

As a college athlete who’s been swimming for a good 14 years and really should know what she’s doing by now, there’s something incredibly reassuring about a timer looking up at me as I get behind my block for a race and checking that I’m in the right lane about to swim the right race. Not only are you double-checking that I know what I’m doing, but you let me break out of my nerves and get back into the moment.

What’s a matter of comfort for the college athlete is a matter of necessity for timers handling an age group meet. Corralling a bunch of rowdy 8-year-olds and ensuring that they don’t miss their race is no easy task, yet at every swim meet volunteer timers rise to the challenge and make sure every kid gets to the right race in the right lane.

3. Moderating warmup.

Photo Courtesy: Heidi Torregroza

It’s no secret that meet warmups are the best place to challenge a non-swimmer’s idea that swimming is a no-contact sport. While I have been personally guilty of trying to sneak paddles into a crowded warmup pool, I’m secretly really grateful for the official who called me out on it, and for every other one who has stepped in to make the insanity of warmup a little safer. Even though you are forced to remind people for the trillionth time to jump in feet first, and find yourself dragging swimmers out of the water to get the meet started on time every single meet, you still manage to do it in good humor and with a concentration on our safety.

4. Working the snack bar.

Photo Courtesy: Rain, flickr

If you’ve ever been around swimmers and food you know just how essential the snack bar volunteers are. Even though they are forced to spend hours in what is most likely a very hot, very sweaty area of the pool with sugar-hungry kids begging them for one more popsicle, these volunteers always have a smile to offer and food to fill your belly. Your mouth may be too full to give them a proper thank you, but they should be sure to know just how grateful you are.

5. Processing results quickly.

Photo Courtesy: Candace Cooper

The people behind the scenes processing results are one of the most unsung heroes of swim meets. Every swimmer knows the nervous panic that comes from waiting to see if you made it back for finals. These volunteers somehow get results out faster than they should, and handle all of the technical problems that swimmers never even become aware of.

6. Cheering us on.

hospitality-room-volunteers-at-2016-easterns

Photo Courtesy: Taylor Brien

One of my favorite memories related to swim volunteers comes from my early club swimming days. I swam in a very small state, where everyone knew everyone, and after a couple of meets across the state I recognized a timer that had covered my lane many times. He was always awesome about wishing me good luck and congratulating me after I swam. Eventually, I started referring to him as my “friend” and although I don’t think I ever really found out what his name was, knowing he was behind my lane cheering for me always gave me a little extra confidence.

That story is a great reflection of how integral volunteers are to the sport. The greatest thing about the swimming community of volunteers is just how much they love the sport. Every single one of them have a tie to the pool, and pour their love for the water into everything they do to make sure the athletes can have the best meet of their lives. We are so lucky to have them supporting us and cheering us on!

USA Swimming has launched a campaign to recognize our terrific volunteers all month long! Honor all of the volunteers in your life this March by snapping their photo and posting with #1VolunTeam on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Tag @usaswimming and @swimmingworldmag too!

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