Dickinson Dolphins Swim Team

SERVICE POLICY

Last updated: September 2025

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Purpose

The success of our swim team requires an enormous amount of volunteer effort to ensure a meaningful team experience and a fun season. We rely heavily on our volunteers to keep our swimming program running smoothly. Families are required to volunteer for various duties and roles which are critical to the execution of events and activities that make up the swim season. DIBs fulfillment is not about fundraising for the team; without our volunteers serving the team, we will not be able to host swim meets regardless of how much money we have in our account.

This is not a fundraiser, we just need all hands on deck!

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Policy

To ensure adequate staffing of all jobs, all non-exempt swim team families must complete the following seasonal service requirements (DIBs) as a condition of their children’s participation on the swim team:

• Short Course: 1 Timing Dib + 1 Additional Dib (Charge to account will run on May 1)
• $400 charge will run May 1st

• Long Course: 1 Dib (Charge to account will run on Sept 1) - $200 charge will run September 1st

DIBs must be completed regardless of swimmers participation in swim meets. If service points are not completed by the end of each season, your account will be charged the 1st of the month following that season. 

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Job Descriptions

We provide a variety of volunteer opportunities so that swim team families have choices and flexibility over the course of the swim team season. There are also paid incentives for certain positions. See Job Descriptions for a more detailed explanation of the various opportunities.

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Accounting

DIBs fulfillment will be tracked via the DDST online platform. Volunteers must sign up for jobs through this system to allow DDST to track and confirm completion of DIBs requirements. Volunteers will verify that they did their job(s) by initialing the printed job signup sheets available at each event. Unverified DIBs will not be credited; it is each volunteer’s responsibility to ensure their hours are verified. 

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Exemptions

Some families are exempt from the DIBs commitment because they serve the club and team in other ways that require a substantial commitment of unpaid time. Exempt families include:

• Swim team coaches: While they are paid for their services during the season, they volunteer significant time outside of the season to organize and prepare the team.

• Swim meet officials: There are several swim meet jobs that are pre-assigned for the entire season because they require special training and time commitment outside of swim team events. These include meet Starter, Stroke & Turn Judge, Timing System & Computer Operator, Computer Data Entry, and Admin Official (AO).

• Board members: Board members volunteer a significant time to the club and the team throughout the year to ensure a successful season.

• Sponsorships: Must be a dollar amount equivalent to the season service fee you are participating in.
• Families with only Pre-Minnow and Minnow swimmers: Our development groups run on 7 week cycles, not completely in alignment with our short course and long course seasons. We do not require DIBs for these families, but we appreciate and encourage them to help fill in open spots, especially those that choose to participate in the swim meets.

Exceptions to this policy in extraordinary circumstances will be determined by the DDST Board of Directors on a case-by-case basis. Families requesting an exception must submit their request in writing via email to dickinsondolphinswim@gmail.com.

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Age Requirement

 Parents are not alone in their ability to fulfill family volunteer obligations. Swimmers and siblings are encouraged to participate in many of the jobs required to run meets. Due to Department of Health regulations, children under the age of 14 cannot touch food or handle money in Concessions. Other jobs are available for younger children such as being a runner and posting results.

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Acknowledgment

Swim team families will be required to acknowledge the service policy and requirements at the time of registration.