Volunteering

Volunteering is an important part of having a successful local swim club and a requirement of being a family within Springfield Aquatics (SPA). Each family is responsible for volunteering for the same number of sessions that their swimmer(s) competes in at meets hosted by SPA. If a family member signs up to volunteer for a session and neither they nor their representative show up for the assigned session, it will result in a $100 penalty per missed session.  Any family that also fails to signup for the required number of sessions, then their account will be billed $100 per session per swimmer that is not fulfilled.

Families wishing to opt-out of the volunteer requirement can pay an annual buyout assessment of $600 per swimmer  per year.  No multi-swimmer discount is available. This amount will be charged to the member's account in the September billing cycle. Members who opt-out will have no volunteer requirements for meets hosted by SPA but it does not exempt volunteering for timing in swim meets not being hosted by SPA such as long course swim meets and State Championship meet s.

The SPA President or their designee from the Board is responsible for conducting volunteer hour training at the annual parent meeting. Only the SPA Board may waive a member's volunteer requirements based upon individual circumstances. All volunteers must abide by USA Swimming's Safe Sport Policies.

Donating

During the Fall Classic Invitational in October of each year, Springfield Aquatics sells concessions for spectators and provides hospitality for coaches and officials. Each family is asked to provide one item for concessions or hospitality. Donations do not satisfy the volunteer policy referenced above.

Officiating

USA Registered Officials and apprentices who have met their required hours necessary to maintain their officiating certifications can trade each session they officiate as a replacement session of volunteering. Therefore, if an official has two swimmers swimming two sessions each, their family would be required to officiate and/or volunteer for 4 sessions . Officials are not paid and typically volunteer not just at SPA swim meets but at meets around the state and the Arkansas LSC, so swimmers have the opportunity to compete.