IHST Parents/ Guardians

It is with great pleasure to announce the 2025 swim season is quickly approaching. In preparation for another successful season, the IHST Board, committees, coaches, and others with roles designated, have been meeting and working since January to put all required pieces into place before the season.

As we are so close to the season start, we wanted to communicate with you the importance of your role in ensuring your child's ability to develop his/her swimming skills and to be competitive in a league that consistently produces top notch swimmers.

Unlike many sports, swimming, specifically summer clubs such a IHST depend exclusively on parents/guardians to serve in any number of roles and positions, some of which are required to be filled or the team would be put into a position of forfeiting any meet where these are not filled.

Positions that we need your help are:

- Stoke & Turn (S&T) Officials: This position requires the same amount of time at the meet as a "Timekeeper" and places you on the pool deck with the "Timekeeper ". Each team is required to have 2 S&T Officials working at any given time. At a minimum we would have 4 S&T officials from IHST per meet allowing 2 officials to work half the meet (same rotation as Timekeepers). The only addition to the commitment is a required 2-hour training course and the competition of an "open book" test. This training is offered during May. If you've served as a Timekeeper in previous years, this would be a relatively easy position to transition to. Our goal is to have a pool of 8-10 S&T officials which would allow for flexibility in scheduling.

- Timekeeper: This position is one where we need the most people. Again, this is an easy, but required role that puts you physically on the pool deck and simply requires the person to time swimmers in their designated lane. You are 1 of 3 Timekeepers assigned to a lane. There is no required preseason training for this position. For home meets we require a minimum of 16 Timekeepers and away meets, we require a minimum of 8 Timekeepers. Additionally, we require a "head" Timekeeper that ensures all stopwatches are in working order and assists in timekeeping as needed, i.e. allows for restroom breaks, ensures Timekeepers have water and remain hydrated, or otherwise provides breaks as needed.

- There are several other positions that are required each meet such as, "Data Manager" and "Communications Manager", which, as with the "Meet Manager", are designated as permanent roles for the season and committed to by individuals usually at the close of the previous year's season. If you have experience and/or desire to learn more about these roles, please talk to those currently serving or any member of the Board. We will be more than happy to help.

- There is also a need for help with concessions, both to donate items to be sold and to work the booth selling the food/drinks. This is a significant stream of funding for our team which contributes to our ability to keep registration fees at a minimum.

Here is the bottom line: WE NEED YOUR HELP. We cannot function as a team nor participate in meets without you. Please commitment to help in any way you can. Above are our needs and areas that you can contribute. Please let us know as soon as possible where you can help.

Thank you,

Indian Head Swim Team Board