While we charge a registration fee to join the Orcas, these fees do not cover all our expenses to the league, equipment, facilities, and staff. Running meets can add a significant cost to both hosting and visiting teams. Thus, teams in the SHRSL league rely on the valuable efforts of our parents/guardians to fulfill certain tasks and run meets as smoothly and successfully as possible, and SHRSL requires a minimum amount of volunteering per family.
Each family is required to participate in volunteering to be in compliance with SHRSL. Shifts can be filled by any adult 18 or older.
The minimum requirement for volunteering is 7 SHIFTS per family.
Each meet has two (2) shifts:
- First Shift begins at 4:30pm till 6:30pm; and
- Second Shift begins at 6:15pm till end of meet.
*Note: MOC and All-Stars meets have different shifts.
There are eight (8) meets during the SHRSL season:
- Intrasquad Time Trials at Swim Houston Aquatics Center (Monday, May 18, 2026.)
- SHRSL Meet One vs. Opponent TBD @ Location TBD (Tuesday, May 26, 2026.)
- SHRSL Meet Two vs. Opponent TBD @ Location TBD (Monday, June 1, 2026.)
- SHRSL Meet Three vs. Opponent TBD @ Location TBD (Monday, June 8, 2026.)
- SHRSL Meet Four vs. Opponent TBD @ Location TBD (Monday, June 15, 2026.)
- SHRSL Meet Five vs. Opponent TBD @ Location TBD (Monday, June 22, 2026.)
- SHRSL Meet of Champions at Don Cook Natatorium (Thursday, June 25 or Friday, June 26, 2026;) and
- SHRSL All-Stars at Don Cook Natatorium (likely Tuesday, June 30, 2026.)
This means there are a total of 16 shifts for the season. During All-Stars meet, only parents of participating swimmers are required to volunteer.
NOTE: This does NOT apply to Age Group Parents, as Age Group Parents are expected to work every meet for the full duration of the meet with their assigned Age Group. While they are expected to volunteer in all meets, the minimum requirement is 5 meets.
DEADLINE TO SIGN UP
We will let you know when the volunteer sign-ups have been posted. Parents/guardians will have to sign up for their shifts using their Swimtopia accounts. Signing up will be on a first-come-first-served basis, so please stay tuned to when sign-ups are open to get your preferred shift and role.
Swimmers will NOT be allowed to participate in meets until parents have completed the volunteer sign up.
It is also team policy that if the assigned volunteer does not work his/her volunteer shifts at any meet or find a replacement, his/her swimmer/s may not be heated at the next meet. It is NOT the team's responsibility to find a replacement.
Opt-Out Option
Families that would like to opt-out from volunteering can do so by paying an additional opt-out fee of $500 per family.
Opting out will release you from any volunteering obligations for the whole duration of the season.
$500 Hold
Please note that a $500 hold will be placed on your card during check out until volunteering requirements are fulfilled. At the end of the season, a prorated amount will be deducted based on how many volunteering shifts you miss. For example, if you are required to work a minimum of 7 shifts, and you end up only working 6 shifts without providing a replacement, you will be charged ~$70 for the missed shift that will be deducted from the $500 hold. If you provide a replacement, it will be counted as a fulfilled shift, and you will not be charged.
