Steiner Stars

Thank you for volunteering for the Steiner Stars Team. It takes over 90 volunteers to run an away meet, and over 160 to run a home meet. We could not be the best and most organized team that we are without our wonderful volunteers.

Volunteer Shifts and Sign-Up

To see a general description of the volunteer positions, click here. 

Our volunteer sign ups through Swimtopia will open on Sundays, as scheduled below, at 9:00pm and will remain open for six days or until completely filled.

How to Sign Up:

Log in to Swimtopia, click on the Next Meet, “View All” link on the right hand side where you will find the meet schedule with sign up links.

Please DO NOT front load all of your shifts at the beginning of the season, as there are many parents who need to volunteer. Everyone needs equal opportunities for getting their volunteer credits, so please be mindful of that when signing up.

If at any time positions are not filled voluntarily, the Coordinators will assign people to the available positions. You should check the shift schedule every meet even if you did not sign up for a shift, as the Volunteer Coordinators have the authority to assign/un-assign parents to specific shifts or positions if necessary. If you have an unusual circumstance (e.g., single parent, gone for several meets, etc.), please get in touch with the Volunteer Coordinators via email: 

Blue Team:  [email protected].

Red Team:  [email protected].

Volunteer Requirements:

- Each family must accumulate 8 volunteer points this year

- It is your responsibility to find a replacement should you not be able to fulfill your duties, AND notify the Volunteer Coordinators of that change to ensure adequate coverage and proper assignment of credit.

- Meet set up & take down positions: to receive FULL credit, you must check out with the Head of Transport/Setup/Takedown at the end of your shift. This change was made to ensure that the set up and take down volunteers fulfill their duties, which has been an issue in the past.

If you have incorrect information in your profile, please contact the Volunteer Coordinators to get it corrected!

Finally, any family who fails to fulfill their 8 point volunteer requirement this season will not be eligible to return and swim on either Steiner Stars team, Blue or Red, for one year, next season.

Meet Absences

Please go to the Stars Website and report you or your swimmer's absence. If you know you will be gone, please let us know. The coaching staff, volunteer coordinators, and computer volunteers all depend on knowing that you and/or your swimmer will be in attendance at the meets .

Volunteer Do's at the Swim Meet

The first thing you need to do when you arrive at a meet is check-in your swimmer at their age group tent.

The second thing you need to do is check-in with the volunteer coordinators, right next to swimmer check-in.

Provide your name and assigned volunteer job. We want to ensure that you get your shift credits.

Stay until your shift is over and you have done what is required of you.

The Stars swim team strives to provide a positive swimming environment for young people, combining an emphasis on the technical, psychological, and social aspects of swimming, while supporting the broad range of individual goals and abilities of our members.

Letter from the Board

In order to facilitate our program goals it is imperative each family contribute through volunteer service. We offer numerous opportunities allowing for families to match their skills and talents with the needs of the program. Our Team Coordinators and Volunteer Coordinators will work with each family to ensure access to volunteer opportunities.

It is the responsibility of each family to obtain eight (8) volunteer points by the conclusion of the swim season. Many of our families miss a meet due to a planned or unplanned event. We encourage you to keep this in mind and to proactively communicate with your respective Volunteer Coordinator to mitigate any potential issue with fulfilling your family’s obligation to the team you are a part of.

At the conclusion of the Swim Season if your family has not met the eight (8) point minimum your family will not be granted returning swimmer status nor will you be eligible for new swimmer registration for the next year swim season.

The Executive Board of the Steiner Stars Swim Team would like to thank you all for your commitment to providing our children with the premiere youth sports program in Steiner Ranch

CONCESSIONS: The Concessions volunteers prepare and sell food to attendees at home meets only. 

● First Shift Concessions (1 point per shift) includes set up and prep. Concessions volunteers must be available early on the date of the home meet and stay until the second shift is ready to take over as determined by the head of concessions. The head of concessions releases all concessions volunteers. 

● Second Shift Concessions (1 point per shift) includes staying after the meet to clean up and place all equipment back in the shed. The head of concessions releases all concessions volunteers. 

● Concessions Prep (1 point per shift) The concessions prep volunteer will be available the day before a home meet to move and set up all equipment for the home meet concessions as determined by the head of concessions. The head of concessions will set up a time the day before.

CONCESSIONS WATER CARRIER: (1 point per shift) The water carrier delivers water to stroke judges, ready bench, timers, and other volunteers that are unable to leave their posts. 

CONCESSIONS DELIVERY DRIVER: (1 point per shift) The Concessions Delivery Driver will utilize their own vehicle for various needs of concessions during the meet. Typically this includes items such as ice or picking up food from establishments. 

DATA VERIFICATION/SCORING: (1 point per shift) Data Verification is the last step in the race results posting process. Verifiers check the results of each race after the computer volunteers prepare them to ensure that the final results accurately reflect the data gathered by the Lane Timers or the Dolphin timing system. Verifiers also ensure that any disqualifications (DQs) are properly reflected in the results. 

EVENT TRACKER: (1 point per shift) The Event Tracker is responsible for keeping the event board accurate and up to date during home meets only. This requires being within view of the event tracker during the shift and updating after each heat. Event Tracker will have a remote to digitally do this. 

EXCHANGE JUDGE: (1 point per shift) An Exchange Judge’s responsibility is to observe exchanges during relays to determine compliance with league requirements. Exchange judges must have attended the Stroke and Exchange Training that is provided by the Steiner Stars Swim Program. This training is available prior to the swim season starting. Stroke and Exchange judges must have a “refresher” training each new season. 

HEAT RIBBON DISTRIBUTION: (1 point per shift) The Heat Ribbon Distribution Volunteer is responsible for handing out a black Heat Ribbon to the swimmer(s) who finish(es) first in each heat at home meets only. In addition to the black Heat Ribbons, there will be a list of “Hot Heat Winners” which will be listed by event/heat prior to the start of the meet. The Heat Ribbon Distributor will be responsible for the Hot Heat goodie bags at all times and distribute the Hot Heat Winners’ goodie bag(s) to the swimmer(s) who finish(es) first at the predetermined event/heat. 

LANE TIMER: (1 point per shift) The Lane Timer keeps accurate time of the swimmers in the lane to which they are assigned. Lane Timers also verify that the event card/sheet is correct for their lane, swimmer and event. All Lane Timers (first and second shift) must attend a brief lane timer meeting given by the Head Lane Timer. 

MEET CLEAN-UP: - Home Meets Only (0.5 points per shift) The Meet Clean-Up(Trash Duty) volunteer empties trash cans around the Bella Mar pool, pavilion and clubhouse areas and takes trash bags to the dumpster as needed throughout the meet. The Meet Clean Up monitors throughout the meet to ensure trash bins that are full are replaced with a new trash bag, so there is no overflow of trash at the bin. At the end of the meet, Meet Clean-Up ensures new trash liners are in place and cleans up all trash at the end of the meet. 

MEET SET-UP/TAKE DOWN: - Home Meets Only (0.5 points per shift) This volunteer position requires you to arrive at the meet early to set up and stay after the meet ends to clean up. Home meet set up consists of setting up tents and ready benches and getting the pool and deck ready for the meet. Away meet set up includes setting up the tents only. 

PARKING: - Home Meets Only (1 point) The Parking volunteers arrive before 5am, before other volunteers. Parking volunteers set up parking cones and direct cars to available parking for home meets only. A flashlight will be needed. The Head Parking Volunteer will give instructions on volunteer placement and specific questions. 

PHOTOGRAPHER: (3 points per meet) The meet Photographer documents the swim meet by taking photos (approximately 400) of swimmers, coaches, volunteers and parents before and during the meet. The photographer must have their own camera and lens - no cell phones. The point allocation includes taking photographs, editing, and posting/uploading on the team Smug Mug account. After uploading the photos, the photographer should alert the team coordinator. The photos should be uploaded within 48 hours of the meet. 

READY BENCH (1 point per shift) Ready Bench volunteers organize the swimmers into the proper heat and lane as they are ready to swim their event. There is a ready bench meeting prior to the start of the meet, which first and second shift ready bench volunteers must attend. 

RIBBONS: (1.5 points for entire meet) Ribbons volunteers are responsible for attaching race results stickers to place ribbons and filing the ribbons in the family folders. The head of ribbons will work with you and give specific instructions. 

RUNNER: (1 point per shift) The Runner is responsible for obtaining the completed event cards, sheets and disqualification (DQ) slips for each race from the lane timers and judges, and then delivering the cards, sheets and DQ slips to the scoring volunteers for home meets only. Runner is a fast-paced job and requires the volunteer to move quickly around the pool deck for several hours. 

STROKE JUDGE: (1 point per shift) A Stroke Judge’s responsibility is to observe strokes, turns, touches and finishes to determine their compliance with league requirements. Stroke judges must have attended the Stroke and Exchange Training that is provided by the Steiner Stars Swim Program. This training is available prior to the swim season starting. Stroke and Exchange judges must have a “refresher” training each new season. 

HEAD STROKE JUDGE: (1 point per shift) The Head Stroke Judge’s responsibility is to conduct the Stroke and Exchange Judge meeting at the beginning of the meet to give instructions to the judges. The Head Stroke Judge also serves in the same capacity of a regular Stroke Judge during the meet, observing strokes, turns, touches and finishes to determine compliance with league requirements. 

TENT PARENT: (1.5 points per meet) The Tent Parent is responsible for lining up swimmers for their events and escorting them to the Ready Bench; ensuring swimmers return to the tent after they swim their event; escorting swimmers to the bathroom; tracking swimmers as they leave and enter the tent; and ensuring swimmers’ safety while in the tent. The Tent Parent should coordinate with the Head Tent Parent to ensure supervision of the swimmers. The Head Tent Parent will give instructions and training for this position. 

HEAD TENT PARENT: (2 points per meet) The Head Tent Parent is responsible for lining up swimmers for their events and escorting them to the Ready Bench; ensuring swimmers return to the tent after they swim their event; escorting swimmers to the bathroom; tracking swimmers as they leave and enter the tent; and ensuring swimmers’ safety while in the tent. The Head Tent Parent will also train the other tent parents to do this. Head Tent Parents are responsible for making phone calls to late arrivals and ensuring that all swimmers are picked up by parents/caregivers. The Head Tent Parent is responsible for checking in/out swimmers, calling parents if any meet changes occur (i.e. swimmers are not checked in by the call time) 

TENT TRANSPORT :(1.5 points per meet) The Tent Transport volunteers are responsible for picking up the tents and supply bins from the Bella Mar shed the day before an away meet and transporting them to the meet the next day. This requires a large vehicle. Tent Transport volunteers also assist the Meet Set Up/Take Down volunteers with tent assembly. After the meet, the Tent Transport volunteers assist the Meet Set Up/Take Down volunteers with taking down the tents, and then transport the tents and supply bins back to the Bella Mar shed. Note: This position requires a large vehicle such as a truck, minivan or a 3-row SUV with seats folded down. 

AUDIO SETUP (.5 per shift) 

AUDIO TAKE DOWN (.5 per shift)

Detailed "how-to" instructions can be found here.