Code of Conduct: Parents

PURPOSE

The purpose of a code of conduct for parents is to establish consistent expectations for behavior by parents. All OPST families must understand the important growth and developmental support that your swimmer’s participation fosters.  Families must also understand that it is essential to provide the coaching staff and directors with respect and the authority to coach the team and run the program.  All parents/guardians must agree with the following statements upon swimmer enrollment:

  • I will set the right example for our children by demonstrating sportsmanship and always showing respect and common courtesy to the team members, coaches, directors, competitors, officials, parents, and all facilities.
  • I will get involved by volunteering, cheering at meets, and talking with my child and their coach about their progress.
  • I will refrain from coaching my child from the stands during meets.
  • I understand the Safe Sport Rules and will follow them. For example, I will not go behind the blocks except when timing and I will not take photographs from behind the blocks.
  • I understand that criticizing, name-calling, use of abusive language or gestures directed toward coaches, directors, officials, volunteers, and/or any participating swimmer will not be tolerated.
  • I will respect the integrity of the officials.
  • I will respect the directives of coaches, understanding that any requests are in the best interest of swimmers.
  • I will respect the directives of the Board of Directors, understanding that any requests are in the best interests of the swimmers and the organization as a whole.
  • I will follow the OPST Grievance Policy to address inappropriate conduct or conduct that violates the OPST Code of Conduct.
  • I will direct any other general coaching related questions first to the Head Coach; then, if not satisfied, to the Board of Directors in writing.
 

Volunteer Requirement Policy 

OPST is a nonprofit organization and requires parent engagement and involvement to carry out its mission. OPST has a reputation for being a model team when it comes to volunteering and parent participation has been instrumental in creating and maintaining our team culture. Working together as parents provides our swimmers with examples of teamwork, commitment, and dedication that are the characteristics and traits that our team strives to instill in our swimmers.

Short Course and Long Course Seasons 

It is expected that parents volunteer. Although volunteer needs are less than during the DSA Summer Season, the team may request help from time to time. Volunteer needs may include assisting at meets, helping with family/team social events, lobby door coverage, serving as a member on the board of directors and other needs as may be communicated throughout the season.

For away meets where we are assigned volunteer slots by the host team:

  • Slots may be assigned.
  • If you sign up or are assigned, but can’t fulfill the role, it is your responsibility to find a replacement and notify the volunteer coordinator.
  • There will be a $40 fee for no-shows or late arrivals.
  • Please note – there may be slots that require you to be volunteering when your swimmer is not swimming, especially if there is a prelims/finals meet.

 

DSA Summer Season Specific ONLY 

The dedicated efforts of our parents are vital. For every summer home meet we need about 60 people (not including coaches!). At away meets we need about 30 volunteers, most of them timers and age group parents.

To ensure that the consistent and full participation necessary to host/attend a well-run meet is evenly shared across the team:

  • Each family will be required to volunteer a minimum of 5 service hours over the course of the summer at various meets & events. This number is the minimum regardless as to number of meets attended or not attended.
  • Hammerhead families are expected to volunteer at EVERY meet your swimmer attends, so it would likely be more than 5 hours.
  • At the conclusion of the season, families who have not met their 5-hour minimum will be auto-billed a $30/hour fee for the hours missed.
  • If you sign up or are assigned, but can’t fulfill the role, it is your responsibility to find a replacement. There will be a $40 fee for no-shows or late arrivals.
  • If OPST is short volunteers at a meet, jobs will be assigned and communicated prior to the meet.

There are multiple ways that families may fulfill their service hours requirement at OPST:

  • Swim meets (majority of opportunities)
  • Team functions (i.e. Swim-A-Thon, Team Breakfast, End of Season Celebration, etc.)
  • Ad hoc (i.e. help with food, donations, etc.)

Please refer to the Volunteer Job Descriptions to find a job that will fit your family's schedule and talents. 

Volunteer opportunities will be posted on TeamUnify for each event as needed and listed under the "Job Sign-Up" button. Most of the opportunities will come via the summer DSA season.

 

Volunteer Job Descriptions (DSA Summer Season)

If you have an interest in serving on the OPST Board of Directors, contact the current President.The positions below are filled on a first come first served basis at the beginning of the season. Number of people needed is in parentheses. 

  1. DSA Officials (4-6) – 1 starter, 1 referee, and 2-4 stroke/turn judges per meet. 
  2. Clerk of Course (4) – Checks in swimmers before their races and arranges them so that they can get to the right lane in the right heat in the right event.  
  3. Age Group Parent (22) – 1-2 parents per age/gender group for meets. Assures event information is written on arms, assisting swimmers to clerk of course and starting blocks. Provides general supervision of the group during the meet. 
  4. Scoring Table (1) – Assists Dolphin Timing system checks after each heat and data input as needed. Organizes timing sheets. 
  5. Ribbon Writers (2) – Works at scoring table and places labels on ribbons and files in swimmer folders. 
  6. Meet Runner (1) – Collects timer records and delivers to scoring table. 
  7. Announcer (1) – Voice of the meet; announces each event and heat number. 
  8. Shark Shack (2-3) – Staffs concessions and apparel for sale. 
  9. Volunteer Check-in (1) – Checks volunteers in and out to ensure service hours are credited correctly.

 
The positions below will be filled by signing up online (TeamUnify) for each meet. Number of people needed is in parentheses. 

  1. Timers (13 @ home meets and 6-8 @ away meets) – 21 timers + 2 backup timers are needed for every home meet. We fill 7-10 of those slots with the visiting team.  We do offer split sessions to limit the commitment to half the meet. 
  2. Deck Set-Up (4) – Helps to arrange and set up deck prior to meet. 
  3. Deck Take-Down (2) – Helps put deck back to original state at end of meet. 
  4. Water Runner (1) – Ensures officials, timers and other helpers are supplied with water during the meet. 

There may also be volunteer opportunities for team functions such as the Swim-A-Thon, Team Breakfast, End of Season Celebration. Help may be needed with food, donations, or organizing/ running the event. These needs will be communicated via email and/or sign up on TeamUnify. 

 

FUNDRAISING/SPONSORSHIP

Each family asked to participate in fundraising for the team. The team provides several fundraising events throughout the year. 

Click here for more details on Fundraising and Sponsorship.