Volunteers
Our club operates though volunteer support, and members help out in a variety of areas including team management, committee positions, administration and officiating. Volunteering gives members the opportunity to make new connections and even develop new skills.
A swimming club like Hemel Hempstead is built on our volunteers; just look around on any training evening and you will see a host of coaches and poolside helpers. And when you attend a gala you will see lots of people giving up their time; this can range from judging, timekeeping to helping with refreshments for the poolside helpers.
The club is virtually entirely run by volunteers; parents, ex-swimmers and current swimmers. If you would like to offer your support we would love to hear from you. Please contact us at secretary@hhsc.org.uk and we will help you identify a position suitable for you
.We also welcome volunteers who would like to progress their teaching or coaching with us and in return for your time as a volunteer we may be able to assist with funding for training to help you develop your qualifications and knowledge.
Young Helpers
We encourage our swimmers to take an active role in teaching and coaching. Often our swimmers first experience of being poolside is through their schools Duke of Edinburgh award scheme, and we have found that many swimmers enjoy being out of the water as much as in.
Our experienced and qualified coaches love having the young swimmer’s poolside and passing on their knowledge and wisdom. Many of our swimmers who started through the Duke of Edinburgh scheme have now become qualified teachers and coaches themselves and give their time back to HHSC where possible.
We also like to introduce our young swimmers to life on poolside by running the “Young Aquatic Helper Workshop”. This is a Swim England certified course run by one of our qualified coaches which consists of both a theory and practical element ~ a really useful addition to a young person CV, application to 6th form or part-time job interview. The “Young Aquatic Helper Workshop” is run for 12-16 year olds.
We also support our young swimmers to play an active role in officiating and welcome anyone interested in starting their officiating journey to begin with a Timekeepers Course. Timekeepers and Officials play a vital role in any swim club. You can become a Timekeeper from 13 years old.
Volunteer Official roles – THE CLUB NEEDS YOU !
As a club we need to provide officials for team galas. We lose points and can be disqualified from galas if these roles aren’t fulfilled.
The club will ensure all the training is free of charge and support you throughout the journey and there is an excellent support network for officials within Hertfordshire.
There are also lots of benefits from being on poolside – no entry fee to pay, time flies by (especially for all day galas), food and drink is usually provided and it is a lot cooler than sitting in the gallery and you are best placed to support your child and learn a new skill whilst doing so.
Timekeeper – the role is to record swimmers times
Chief Timekeeper – the role is to assist the referee in collecting times from the timekeepers
Judge Level 1 – to inspect the start, turn and finish of races
Judge Level 2 – to inspect the start, turn, stroke and place at finish of races.
If you are interested in helping to fill these roles please contact Rachel Cooper on secretary@hhsc.org.uk