Bo'ness Amateur Swimming Club

So why do it? There are a few reasons:

1. We do this for our children – swimming as a sport relies on people like you giving up some of your time
2. The swimmers love it – this is particularly true of the younger ones who are proud when their parents support them in this way. It’s a great way of encouraging them.
3. Volunteering is fun and rewarding – if you look closely and you’ll also see that these people are getting a lot out of the experience.
4. There is the opportunity to learn new skills and acquire qualifications.

For some it provides an interest that lasts beyond the point where their child is swimming competitively.

What sort of people get involved? These are people just like you.

• Just like you – they lead busy lives and juggle work and other commitments.
• Just like you – they understand the fitness and mental benefits all our children get from training and competing for BASC.
• What you may not know is that our volunteers don’t need to come from a swimming background. There’s no barrier to you taking a more active role.

When’s the right time to get involved? Obviously, you do it when it is right for you and you do what you can. Just as the Club is constantly taking in new swimmers, the support teams need constant renewal as well. For that reason BASC encourages parents from all squads to get involved and do what they can.

Away from the pool the committee is responsible for the mechanics of keeping the Club running. There are a wide range of roles and for the most part they do not take up a significant amount of time. If you are interested in learning more about the committee roles then you will find descriptions of all the key roles here.

If you’re interested but perhaps unsure, then contact the Club President and come along to one of the committee meetings (which are on the last Thursday of every month). Options also exist to shadow roles and become familiar with them.

The club has successfully introduced options to allow parents to assist during training sessions. If you are interested in learning more please contact the Club Secretary. This is a great starting point if you are interested in developing an interest in coaching.

As part of the natural development of the coaching pathway Bo’ness ASC are also arranging Level 1 Coaching Courses. BASC will cover the cost. To run each course requires a minimum of 6 volunteers and will be held at the Bo’ness Recreation Centre over two consecutive weekends.

The course leads to a qualification that is endorsed by the UKCC (UK Coaches Certificate) and the course will be run by a Scottish Swimming (SASA) qualified tutor. Once qualified we’ll ask you to help out poolside at least one or two sessions a week. If you find that you then want to do more that’s great!

You do not need to have coaching or competitive swimming experience to take part in what is a rewarding way to engage with sport. If you are interested in learning more please contact the Club Secretary. Further material about coaching can be found here.

Time keeping and Judges are often regarded as having the best seat in the house! It represents the opportunity to be at the heart of the action. It’s less well known that clubs entering meets are expected to provide a minimum number of technical officials.

Your club is committed to helping parents and guardians qualify in a range of technical roles. The Swimming Technical Officer arranges courses and once you are qualified we’ll ask you to time keep at some BASC Time Trials and some Meets.

Your club also aims to strike a sensible balance. This means we seek to have more time-keepers and officials than BASC actually needs. This way you’re only asked for a subset of those meets where your child is swimming. Of course, if you want to do more (and many do) that’s great.

If time-keeping or judging interests you then you’ll find more information here. Alternatively you and contact the club’s Swimming Technical Officer

BASC has opportunities for some of the older swimmers to qualify as coaches and as lifeguards. Swimmers interested in these roles should talk to their coaches.

It represents a great opportunity for young adults to develop new skills.

SNAGS Volunteer Role Descriptions for 2018:

Results Runner

The results runner at National Events makes sure that the results are distributed to any highlighted people and that they are also displayed in the results areas on Field of Play and also Front of House.

Their main responsibilities are:

• Collect results from the Results & Technology Box and distribute as instructed

The skills and attributes a results runner needs are:

• High energy to make sure the results are distributed in a timely manner

 

Event Stewarding at National Events

The Event Stewards at our National Events are there to ensure that the appropriate individuals have access to designated areas.

Their main responsibilities are:

• To report to the Stewards Manager
• Check accreditation passes of event staff, coaches and athletes at entrance to designated areas
• Check spectator tickets
• Show spectators designated seating
• Assist spectators during their time at the venue

 

The skills & attributes our Stewards need are:

• Good Communication skills
• Patience, good humour
• Friendly, welcoming manner