We hope EVERYONE is planning to join us this Friday, May 17th for our Gators Cookout from 6-8PM! Please RSVP on the Gators Facebook page if you can. Rachel Sleeth, our Gator Grill QUEEN, never disappoints. There will be concessions style food and drinks for purchase, so bring your cash money. We will also have a 50/50 raffle fundraiser to support the team. BYO chairs and adult beverages. 

Now, onto the good stuff......VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS...MUAH HAHAHAAAA. 

First, if you haven't already, download the Swimtopia app. You don't need to do the paid version unless you want real time updates on your swimmer's times at the meets. Swimtopia is where you will handle your job sign ups and get swim meet information (in addition to the website and emails). If you want help on HOW to do job sign ups, watch this stellar video I made last year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXMUgNLAwVk

Job sign ups will open on Wednesday, May 15th at 8PM for every home and away meet. Each family is required to volunteer for five or six jobs depending on whether they have one or more swimmers. This is not optional - summer swim doesn't happen without parent involvement. A lot of parent involvement. More specifically, 62 volunteer positions per home meet and 35 volunteer positions per away meet. Being totally honest, there may be some weeks where I beg you to step up and do a little more if we are short. It all depends on how our registration pans out. There is NO JOB we cannot train you on. There is NO JOB that is overwhelmingly difficult. If you are interested in scoring, there will be a scoring meeting that will take place prior to our first meet to go over our system and how it is done - so keep that in mind. If you are interested in being a stroke and turn official, please reach out to us via email so we can let you know the process for that training ([email protected]). We need a few more officials! 

For you first timers, swim meets are split into two sessions and when you sign up for jobs you will sign up for either first or second session. 

There are MORE stellar videos on the homepage of our website about the different jobs available. If you have questions prior to the sign ups opening on Wednesday, please feel free to email or text me (If you call me, I won't answer...like the good millennial I am). We can then SCHEDULE a time to talk so I can properly manage my phone anxiety. K? 

READ THESE IMPORTANT THINGS: 

 1. Pay attention to the start times. There are some jobs that require you to be there earlier than the start of the meet (first half concessions, grill master, set up, etc.). If you work until 5....don't sign up for those. 

 2. If you are a parent with OLDER kids (10 and up) please be aware that many parents with YOUNGER kids try to leave the meets when they are done swimming. Please sign up for second session jobs if you know you are going to be there. Be a good person and let them get their exhausted kids out of there and to bed. 

 3. If you are a parent and your swimmer is a coach who ALSO swims on the team and you are ALSO going to the meets to watch your swimmer, we still need you to please volunteer. In fact, we need you the most because you are seasoned and understand the meets and it's so nice to see the pros sign up for jobs...so please...help where you can. 

Finally, and I really hope you are still reading along, job sign ups CLOSE ON FRIDAY JUNE 14th. Once those jobs close, you will not be able to release your shifts - they are now your responsibility. If something comes up in your schedule and you can't make it happen, you need to actively work with our swim community via the Facebook page to get your shift covered and/or swapped. Emergencies happen and we will work with you in that case, but please try to own it as much as you can. I love you all, but day of texts or emails that you can't volunteer makes me short circuit. 

After ALL THAT, please know we appreciate you. Summer swim is so much fun for the kids, but we know it adds to your already hectic schedules. You guys are the best. No cap.