FUNDRAISING & PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

Annually we have three fundraising and participation requirements for the team.  This is to ensure the equipment is up to date and travel expenses for the coaches are paid.  The cost of running a competitive team is extremely high and we ask all of the parents for a small contribution towards this.  We have two fundraisers and one event requirement.  All of these fundraisers are required by each family.  

LAP-A-THON: generally, takes place during swim practice time.  We ask that each family either donate $150 or gather pledges.  We ask that each swimmer provide a lap counter person during the event or designate someone to do it.  This event takes between one and two hours depending on the child’s age.  This event has no point value towards required team points. Families wishing to not participate will be charged the minimum donation fee following the deadline for funds submission.

TEAM HOSTED MEET: the team will rent a pool and host a USA Swimming official swim meet. This requires an abundant amount of volunteer effort where we have a meet director, lead volunteers, and busy workers. The meet director is in charge of the meet and has numerous responsibilities before, during, and after the meet.  Job sign-ups will be available well in advance of the meet.  Points earned at a team hosted meet do not count towards the required quarterly points. Each family is expected to contribute at least 6 hours of volunteer work.

SUMMER CHAMPIONSHIP MEET: is generally in the middle of the summer season.  It is imperative to arrange any summer plans around this meet.  Each team attending this meet is required to be in charge of numerous aspects of running the meet and volunteering is a requirement.  Each family must volunteer at least six hours. If we host/co-host this meet, the points do not count towards quarterly points.  

The penalty is payable immediately and will be assessed in the next monthly billing cycle, following the month of the meet.  The dates of these volunteer events will be given with ample notice to plan to attend.

There are additional volunteer requirements for each family. Please see below under "Parent Participation Requirements" for more information.  We track volunteer hours electronically.    

PARENT PARTICIPATION 

Parent support and volunteer participation is necessary.  All parents are expected to be a contributor to Hurricane Swimming and supporter of The Hills Swim and Tennis Club.  The fundraising requirements are a small part of what is required.  We are required by Pacific Swimming to provide support at all swim meets.  We also are required by The Hills Swim and Tennis Club to make sure the swimmers are behaving and abiding to the clubs policies at all times.  

LEAD VOLUNTEERS: The Hills relies on parent support to help operate the volunteer efforts.  We offer a few lead roles that are exempt from any volunteer penalties. These lead roles include:

    Volunteer Coordinator: volunteer management and team communication.  This is a compensated position. 

    Event Coordinator: planning quarterly team events.  

    Stroke and Turn (Official) Coordinator: managing required officials’ duties and recruiting new officials.

    Meet Director: responsible for the total organization of our fundraiser meet. This is a compensated position.

    New Parent Liaison: introducing new families to the team.

    Team Canopy Management: organizes, repairs, and manages the team canopies and supplies.

When an opening occurs, the head coach will look to find a new parent to fill the spot.  Each position has a general job description and additional requirements.  

VOLUNTEER AT THE HILLS: Because our facility incorporates members of the club it is important to create a positive environment.  We have developed some volunteer positions to help lessen the impact that our volume of swimmers may have.  One is a locker room monitor which for a few minutes a day makes sure the locker room remains manageable, safe, and the rules are being followed.  Secondly, we have a family hot tub monitor which is primarily for the Junior 1 and Junior 2 groups.  This person monitors the kids in the family hot tub after practice and helps enforce club rules. Thirdly we also reward swimmers in different ways such as hot chocolate Wednesdays in the winter where parents organize hot chocolate after practice for the Junior 1 and Junior 2 swimmers.

VOLUNTEER AT GENERAL SWIM MEETS: we may be required to contribute to timing, officiating, or other duties.  It is very important that the swim meets all run smoothly and we ask that parents step up and help when needed whether required or not.  The two main volunteer positions at swim meets are timing and officiating (not enough officials come with a fine from Pacific Swimming).

Timing:  Timing: To help the host team run a smooth swim meet, each team participating in the meet may be required a minimum number of timing seats(chairs).  Lane timing is a straightforward and simple to perform task. It typically involves one or a combination of the following: pressing timing plunger button, operating a stopwatch and writing down a swimmer’s time. Volunteer requirements from the host team usually come out the week of the meet. As soon as they’re received, our team’s volunteer coordinator sets up an online volunteer sheet and notifies the team that it’s open for sign-up.

Officials: This position has numerous requirements and may take some practice.  The entry level position to this is to “shadow” a real official.  This will count towards any requirement.  The official requirements according to Zone 2 are providing a stroke and turn judge.  Any official beyond the requirement may not count towards volunteer requirements for Hurricane Swimming.  Officials receive benefits from the team (see registration packet) and from pacific swimming (VIP parking, free snacks and drinks).  All fees associated with being an official are compensated.  Officials receive a quarterly credit if they volunteer at least two shifts per quarter.

SWIMMER PARTICIPATION IN MEETS

This is a competitive swim team and attendance at competition is required.  Each quarter every swimmer must compete at least THREE days(Meet Sessions) of combined swim meets.  Swimmers who fail to do so will be fined $75 per day missed.  In total, $225 fine per quarter will be added to families who fail to abide by the team competitive requirement.

The Senior 1 group high school age swimmers who wish to participate in Upper-Level Senior 2 and above qualifying meets are subject to the additional fees listed below. Senior 2 group swimmers are exempt.    

Swimmers will be required to maintain the attendance and group requirements for those meets to participate in them. 

PARTICIPATION POINT SYSTEM

POINT REQUIREMENT

Families are required to earn 5 participation points per thirteen-week quarter.  New Hurricane families are exempt from participation points during their first quarter, but are encouraged to learn and familiarize themselves with the various volunteering shifts and positions. New families are not exempt from other fundraising requirements.  Points may be earned in various ways.  Points are awarded in the following manner:

In some cases, the volunteer coordinator may adjust and award additional points to families taking on multiple canopy shifts at a meet or taking on a canopy shift that requires handling more than 3 canopies.                                                                                   

Only 4 non-meet points are eligible per quarter

PARTICIPATION IN SWIM MEETS IS REQUIRED TO MEET THE FULL VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS

Families with all participating swimmers age 16 and over: only need to complete THREE participation points due to the fact that swimmers may drive themselves to practice and competitions.  However, swimmers may be asked and are expected to step up and volunteer as team leaders.

POINT PENALTIES

Point penalties are in place to encourage a fair system of volunteering for every family.  We need your help along the way.  Our program can only be successful with the efforts and hard work of its members.  Besides being a gratifying way to spend your time, it's also a great way to get to know other people on the team.

INCOMPLETE VOLUNTEER POINTS

If you fail or choose not to participate in the above-mentioned Point System, a non-participation fee of $50.00 per point short of the required 5-point quarterly minimum will be charged.  Penalties will be assessed quarterly.

NO SHOW PENALTY

A NO-SHOW penalty will be enforced if you don’t show up for a shift you signed up for OR to one that was assigned to you. Not showing up to a shift is considered unsportsmanlike conduct - it is inconsiderate not only to the person who had to cover the shift but also to the other volunteers who could have taken the shift and fulfill their volunteer requirements.   The family fine for a NO-SHOW is negative 5 points. You will NOT be charged if YOU pre-arrange proper coverage for your shift. You still will have the opportunity to sign up to get those points back.

MAXIMUM PENALTY

Families who fail to complete any volunteer or participation events may receive the maximum of $2,000 penalty per year.

POINT EXEMPTION

Volunteering outside of the point exemption is permissible and encouraged.  However, it may not be used towards point exemption.  Please take the time to acquire the required points per quarter.  In situations where medical issues arise, a medical authorization exemption can be made by providing proper documentation in a timely manner during the season, not after.