Volunteer Policy
Volunteer Policy
Volunteer Requirements
As part of the Firethorne Firefish Swim Team, each family with one or more children swimming in a meet is REQUIRED to provide a volunteer for that meet. If a family has no children swimming in a meet then there is no volunteer requirement for that meet. The Volunteer Job Descriptions Summary section provides general job descriptions.
If a family only has a child(ren) in the 15-18 age group swimming on the swim team, then their volunteer obligations are waived. However, if a family has other children swimming on the swim team who are younger than 15 years old, then the family must fulfill all volunteer obligations set by the Swim Team Board.
The Firefish Volunteer Coordinator will communicate to volunteers assigned to work positions via Swimtopia. It is the parents or assigned volunteer’s responsibility to ensure contact information is updated and correct in order to receive the emails.
Volunteering positions are listed in this section. Please email the Volunteer Coordinator via [email protected] with any questions regarding volunteer duties. The Volunteer Coordinator will assign positions and accommodate position requests as much as possible.
Volunteer Check
Each family is required to submit a volunteer credit card hold in the amount of $250 which is due by Friday of the first week of practice..
If it has not been received by the above date, then their swimmer(s) will no longer be on the swim team for the 2025 season and their spot will go to another family on the waitlist.
The volunteer credit card hold will only be processed if the family has not fulfilled their volunteer obligations. If a family’s volunteer obligations have been fulfilled, then the volunteer deposit will be released at the end of the swim team season.
Volunteer Expectations
Volunteers are required to arrive prior to the start of their shift. Required times vary by shift and start time of the meet. Failure to be present at the time of the start of the shift or fulfill job requirements will result in the forfeiture of the $250 volunteer deposit and the family will be ineligible to participate with Firefish the following season.
Required Volunteer Training
WHALe requires all volunteers over the age of 17 to complete the required Athlete Protection Training. This applies to any adult who will be acting in the capacity of a volunteer for a WHALe team at practice or at meets that will be directly interacting with athletes. Examples of such volunteer roles include but are not limited to: timers, ready bench leaders, meet officials, concession stand workers, practice attendance takers, etc. The link to complete this volunteer training can be found in the training links.
Volunteer Age Requirements
The minimum age to volunteer for Firethorne Swim meets is 18 years old. All team parent volunteers must be a minimum of 25 years old.
Volunteer Shifts will be assigned by the Volunteer Coordinator
Changing Volunteer Positions
If a volunteer arranges to swap volunteer assignments please notify the volunteer coordinator 24 hours in advance of the start of the meet. This needs to be done via group text with both volunteers and Volunteer coordinator.
Volunteer Obligations for Practice Meet, Meet of Champs, & All-Stars Meets
Each family that attends the Practice Meet, Meet of Champs, and All-Stars meet MUST also fulfill one volunteer position for the swimmer(s) to participate.
Withdrawing from the Team
If a family chooses to withdrawal from the swim team after they have completed registration, then they MUST complete and submit the withdrawal request form that can be found on the Firethorne Firefish Swim Team website. Emails and verbal withdrawals will not be accepted.
If a family withdrawals from the Firethorne Firefish for any reason other than a medical issue or moving, then there will be the following consequences:
If a family withdrawals from the swim team within the first two weeks of practice, then there will be no consequences. Registration fees (excluding the cost of the shirt and insurance) will be refunded. The volunteer check will not be cashed.
If a family withdrawals from the swim team after the two-week period but before the practice swim meet, then the volunteer check will NOT be cashed. The family will NOT be refunded any registration fees but will still be able to register the following summer, if they choose to return, as a “new swimmer.”
If a family withdrawals from the swim team after the practice meet but before the first swim meet of the season, then the family will NOT receive their registration fee and their volunteer check in the amount of $250 will be cashed. If the family chooses to return to the swim team the following summer, they will be able to register as a “new swimmer.”
If a family withdrawals from the swim team anytime after the first swim meet [May 30, 2025], then the family will NOT be refunded any registration fees, the volunteer check in the amount of $250 will be cashed, and the family will be unable to return to the swim team for the next two (2) years.
