Last updated on February 26th, 2024 at 10:51 am
Coaches at a recent swim meet received the following email at the end of one session:
There was an incident that happened in the women’s locker room during the morning session. The purpose of this email is to:
- Disseminate accurate information, and
- Reinforce the good things that were done.
This morning a couple of meet swimmers were in the women’s locker room and noticed a cell phone on a stick poking out of a space between the wall and the ceiling. The girls immediately went out and told a meet marshal. The marshal, who had been well-trained, got the information to both the meet and facility leadership. The facility called the police and moved a staff member to the locker room. They also ascertained where the access point would have been, checked the area, which was by then clear, and ensured it was locked. The police came, reviewed the surveillance video, and were able to take a suspect into custody. We want to praise the swimmers for being aware of their surroundings and for quickly reporting when something was amiss, the volunteer meet marshal for her efficient, effective response, and the facility’s quick and thorough response to a challenging situation.
Meet leaders cannot control everything that may happen at a meet. But they can make sure meet workers, including marshals, are well-trained. They can also check in with the facility management prior to the meet about safety procedures and the best way for marshals, officials, or other meet leaders to “plugin” to that system if needed.
USA Swimming Meet Marshal Standards
Preparing for a swim meet? Check out The Ultimate Swim Meet To-Do List. Then, get a bird’s eye view of Who does What at Swim Meets. Both include easy-to-follow links to related information. Doing a smaller, simpler meet? Host a High School or Developmental Swim Meet will help.
Need more help? See 20+ Ways to Get Swim Meet Timers and Officials: 20+ Ways to Get them for Swim Meets.
Also, discover a few things you can do to Increase Safety at Swim Meets. Find ideas to implement before your meet as well as last-minute quick and easy tips!