3-Step Volunteers
These are Volunteers that have a current USATF membership, have a current Background Screen, and have current SafeSport training.
- Can be in a leadership position
- Can work independently
- Receive a stipend when working a full day at a meet
- Generally expected to work a full day
- Receive a shirt
- Receive a meal.
- Sign-up in advance and receive assignments in advance
- Are well-positioned to take the next step and become a certified USATF Official
Becoming a USATF 3-Step Volunteer* involves 3 easy steps:
The Background Screen is currently $22. Did you write a bad check 15 years ago? Do you have unpaid parking tickets? Fear not! The background screen does not look at things like that. The check is focused on sex related crimes, assault, or other acts of violence.
As a USATF member, there is no cost for this. But it does take approximately 90 minutes to complete the on-line training.
* NOTE: Must be 18 years old to become a 3-Step Volunteer, as the Background Screen requires applicants to be at least 18 years of age.
Waiver Volunteers
These are Volunteers that are not 3-Step Volunteers. USATF generally requires Volunteers to be 3-Step certified. However, there is also a Waiver process that allows a Volunteer to work two (2) meets per year without going through the 3-Step certification process.
- Cannot be in a leadership position
- Must be in line of sight of at least two USATF Officials if working on the Track or at Field Events, or at least two 3-Step certified Volunteers if working other positions such as Awards, Entry Gate, or Hospitality
- Do not receive a stipend
- Generally expected to work a half day (though full-day help is always appreciated)
- Receive a shirt
- Receive a meal
- Sign-up at the meet by completing the waiver, and are assigned where needed
The following are descriptions of the various volunteer opportunities for 3-Step and Waiver Volunteers. These are filled on a first-come-first-served basis.
Track and Field Volunteer Positions
- Clerking Tent: Volunteers help officials check athletes in, and walk with the athletes to the hipping area. NOTE: Walking long distances is a requirement of this position.
- Hipping tent: This is where the athletes receive their numbers for the race. Volunteers help store athletes gear for pick up after the completion of the race. Volunteers also help seat the athletes in rows to get ready to go to the starting line for competition. NOTE: This position involves standing for periods of time, up to 15 minutes at a time.
- Warm-Up Areas: Helping in the warm up areas involves assisting athletes, monitoring the warm up area, and helping maintain the area for debris and cleanliness. NOTE: This position involves walking short distances (about 25 yards at a time).
- Starting Line: This involves helping officials begin each race. Volunteers assist in lining up athletes for the beginning of the race and getting the next group ready to go.
- Finish line: This involves assisting athletes with beverages and ice packs upon completion of each race.
- Hurdle Crew: This position helps put hurdles on the track prior to a hurdle race, remove hurdles from the track after the races, and possibly move (roll) carts of hurdles from one location to another. NOTE: This position lifting 10-15 lbs, mobility, the ability to work quickly, working outside (usually in the sun and high temperatures) if an outdoor meet.
- Steeplechase: This position helps officials with the steeplechase competition and involves moving (rolling) barriers into position, and raising and lower barriers to the proper height. NOTE: This position requires mobility.
- Pole Vault: This involves assisting officials with the pole vault competition, and usually requires lifting the bar into position. NOTE: This position requires the ability to stand, and to raise arms over the head while looking up.
- High Jump: This requires assisting officials with the high jump competition, which generally requires lifting the bar and placing it into position typically at heights between about 3ft and 6ft (0.91m and 1.85m). NOTE: This position requires the ability to bend down to pick up a bar from ground level, and the ability to rase the bar to approximately 6ft high.
- Hammer/Discus: This involves helping officials with the Hammer and Discus competitions, which means either pulling tape or retrieving implements (either the Hammer or the Discus). Mobility is required. NOTE: Hammers may weigh up to 12 lbs, and a Discus may weight up to 3.53 lbs (1.6kg).
- Shot-Put: This involves helping officials with the Shot Put competition, which means either pulling tape or retrieving implements (Shots). Mobility is required. NOTE: Shots may weight up to 12lbs.
- Javelin: This requires helping officials with the javelin competition, which means either pulling tape or retrieving implements (Javelins). Mobility is required.
- Long-Jump/ Triple-Jump: This involves helping officials with the long jump and triple jump competition. This often (though not always) involves raking. NOTE: This position requires standing for long period of time.
- Combined Events: This involves helping officials with the combined events. Combined events are just that: a combination of Field Events (listed above) and select running events.
General Event Volunteer Positions
- Meet Administrative Assistant: The Volunteer helps Meet Administrators in various tasks. NOTE: This requires a day long commitment, requires mobility, and provides few opportunities for sitting.
- Ticket Sellers: This involves selling tickets, and involves interacting with people. NOTE: Requires patience, customer/guest services skills, the ability to use a credit/debit card reader, and the ability to handle money and make change. Generally only 3-Step Volunteers are assigned to financial transactions. However, Waiver Volunteers assist with the administration, as well as handing out the proper wrist bands, and even affixing wrist bands to Customer’s wrists.
- Wrist Band Monitors: Wrist band monitors ensure each Guest entering the facility is wearing a wrist band, and the wrist band is the correct one.
- Coaches Credentials: The Volunteer assists with ensuring only eligible coaches receive Coaches Credentials.
- Hospitality Assistants: Hospitality assistants will refill and stock the hospitality room as well as serve beverages and maintain cleanliness of the facility. These Volunteers are also responsible for delivering meals, snacks, and beverages to Officials and Volunteers assigned to Track & Field positions.
- Event Set-Up/Tear-Down: The Volunteers help set-up the venue prior to the event, or tear-down the venue at the conclusion of the event. NOTE: Requires mobility, and a lot of work. Definitely involves lifting and caring. May also involve helping load or unload a truck.
- Awards Area: Volunteers help distribute awards after competition once the final results are posted. NOTE: Requires the ability to interact cordially with Athletes and Coaches that may be hot, tired, and on rare occasions impatient.
- Packet Pick up: This position involves helping distribute packets to Teams and to unattached Athletes.
Leadership
USATF South Carolina Officers are elected by current South Carolina Association members. Elected leaders are not compensated; they are indeed Volunteers. Elections are held every other year. Anyone is welcome to run for any of these elected positions. The process is simple. A person running for office must be a current member in good standing in the USATF South Carolina Association, must be nominated (yes, you can even nominate yourself), and there must be a person to provide a second nomination. By the way, these elected positions require 3-Step verification, which is required to be completed within 30-days of being elected.
That is all there is to it. Well, except for a few other small details. A person running for an elected position should have a desire to move the Association forward, work in the best interest of the Association, and understand there is indeed no compensation for these positions. Currently, elections are in odd years (2023, 2025, 2027, etc.). If you are interested in running for elected office, please send an email to: [email protected].
Committees and Committee Chairs
There are a variety of Committees that help the USATF South Carolina achieve its goal of promoting athletics in South Carolina. Some of these are Sports Committees, while others are Administrative Committees.
The Chair of each Committee is appointed by the President, while the Committee Chair is responsible for the selecting Committee Members.
You can express interest in a Committee position here: Committee Consideration
NOTE: Please be aware the President appoints Committee Chairs. If the current President is re-elected, they may ask Committee Chairs to remain. And, if the Chair remains, sometimes many (if not most) of the Committee Members remain as well. Regardless, there are always opportunities to help.
