Our meets can't run without volunteers! You are an extremely important part of each meet. Here is an explanation of volunteer roles to make them less scary-sounding. Home Meets are divided into 2 shifts for volunteering: Shift 1 occurs during events 1-40; Shift 2 occurs during events 41-80. Volunteers are needed for home AND away meets (fewer are required for away meets).

Quantity needed per meet (for the home team):

• uncertified - timers - 2 per lane per shift = 12 per meet
• uncertified - head timer - 1 per shift = 2 per meet
• uncertified - runner - 1 per shift = 2 per meet
• uncertified - ready bench - 4 per shift = 8 per meet
• certified - Clerk of Course 
• certified - Computer - 1 per shift = 2 per meet
• certified - Meet Manager - 2026 Amber Allen
• uncertified - awards - 1 per meet (2nd shift)
• uncertified - Volunteer Coordinator - 2025 Kristina Pierce
• certified - Referee - 2026 Noah Dyer (& David Jantzi)
• certified - SNT - 2 per shift = 4 per meet
• certified - STR - 1 per shift = 2 per meet
• certified - Team Rep - 2026 Amber Allen

Timers / Scribes (need 6 per shift = 2 per lane; away team provides 1 per lane): Attend the timer's meeting prior to the meet's beginning (@ HOME: in the hallway near the locker rooms @ 8am). Use a stopwatch to time each event. The heat starts when the strobe flashes (not by the buzzer sound); the heat ends when the swimmer touches the wall. Scribes: One timer per lane will also time, but will be responsible for recording all three times on the timer sheet and verifying that the swimmer's name matches that on the timer sheet. Do not clear your stopwatch until the given an "all-clear" by the scribe.

Head timer (need 1 per shift): Attend the timer's meeting prior to the meet's beginning (@ HOME: in the hallway near the locker rooms @ 8am). Use stopwatch to time each event in the case that one of the lane timers' stopwatches fail. If flagged down by a lane timer, go to that lane in order to stop a watch when the swimmer touches the wall.

Ready Bench (need 4 per shift): Assist the Clerk of Course with organizing swimmers in the proper swimming order on the ready benches. Ensure that each swimmer is in their correct lane.

Computer (need 1 per shift/NWAL certified): Assist the Meet Manager in data entry of times. Post results as available. Deliver awards labels as available. Assist Meet Manager.

Runner/Awards (need 1 per shift): Gather timer sheets from the timers of each lane & give to Computer volunteer for data entry. Ribbons are awarded to the 1st six places in each event. This volunteer will receive award labels from Computer volunteer and attach to ribbons. Separate ribbons into Away Team box/envelope and Home Team box. The Home Team box has file folders labeled with the last name of all the Dolphins competitors; file ribbons alphabetically by last name in the Dolphins Ribbon box. When all ribbons are labeled, give Away Team's box/envelope to Meet Manager/Away Team. 

Volunteer Coordinator (2025 Season: Kristina Pierce): These individuals are able to think on their feet and come up with solutions independently. Volunteers will check in with Volunteer Coordinator at each meet. Coordinators will manage absenses & reassign volunteers as needed.

Clerk of Course / Head Ready Bench (NWAL certified): Shall be provided with an updated heat sheet (including all scratches, additions, and relay substitutions). Organize swimmers in the proper swimming order on the ready benches, and allow them on deck when previous swimmers have cleared the deck.

Meet Manager (NWAL certified): 2026 Season Amber Allen. This certified position assists Coaches in changing swimmers (scratched swimmers/lane changes/relay changes) before the meet and coordinating changes with Ready Bench volunteers. Gather timer sheets from each lane and input times from the timer sheets to the computer. Print & display results throughout the meet. Print award labels throughout the meet. Give Away Team's ribbon box/envelope to Away Team's coach at the end of the meet. Confer with Meet Referee at the end of the meet to finalize the results.

Referee (NWAL certified) (need 1 per shift): 2026 Season Noah Dyer. This certified individual runs the entire meet. This person will ensure each event is ready to start; they certify each disqualification; they certify the results from the entire meet.

Stroke & Turn Official (NWAL certified) (need 2 per shift; want 8 total for our team): This certified position works very closely with the Referee. They ensure each meet is run fairly & competitively. They are responsible for identifying infractions and reporting disqualifications on the timer's sheets. They will make every effort to speak with each swimmer to ensure they understand the infraction.

Starter/Announcer (NWAL certified) (need 1 per shift; want 2 total for our team): This certified position works very closely with the Referee and Clerk of Course. They ensure the meet runs smoothly from start to finish. This individual announces each event, calls the swimmers to the starting blocks, and starts each event. They will manage the timer meeting & review the rules for timing prior to the start of each meet.

Team Rep (NWAL certified): 2026 Season Amber Allen This certified individual is willing to represent our team in decisions made by the division. They will need working knowledge of NWAL rules and experience as an age-group parent is desired. They will work as a communication link between the team & the league. They will communicate training dates / times to volunteers willing to train for certified volunteer positions (Clerk of Course, Computer Manager, Referee, SNT & Starter Officials).

2026 Brenham Dolphins Board of Directors:

• President: Noah Dyer (& Team Referee)
• Treasurer: Amber Allen (Team Rep & Division Rep)
• Secretary: Mandy Allen