Everyone associated with Yarra Ranges Athletics are volunteers.

There are no paid staff to either run the club or competition days. It is up to all members to collectively contribute to all aspects of our club and sport.

Duty on competition days has forwever been an essential part of making it possible for our sport to function. For the longest time, Yarra Ranges Athletics have had a largely informal approach to this, relying on the willingness of parents and carers to step in and help. 
As our club has grown, and our competition days have become more hectic, the need to formalise our Helper Duty has become vital to the continued enjoyment for both athletes and parents/carers.

We also need to do our best to ensure the workload is shared, and all families are doing their part in making competition days function.

NEW IN SUMMER 2025/26 TRACK & FIELD SEASON

• Sign-up for key Helper Duties prior to each round. See below for descriptions of roles and tasks. SIGNUP GENIUS HELPER DUTY
• Each athlete will be required to have a parent/carer complete a minimum of 6hrs of formal duty during the season (this is approx 3 or 4 weeks).
• Yes, this means families with multiple athletes have more duty. Please see your Age Group leaders for advice if this causes a concern.
• Yes, this is duty in addition to the regular helping with scoring, raking, measuring, marshalling at the field events. The formal duties are in the areas often unseen, but essential for competition to function.
• Yes, helpers will be given the training and assistance needed to fill the role. Most things are quick to learn, and mistakes are forgiven and solved. It is junior sport - not the Olympics!!

HOW DOES IT WORK?

1. Go to Signup Genius to nominate for Helper Duty before competition day.
   • You can select dates that suit you in advance for better planning.
   • If there is an available slot in a particular duty, it is available and you can nominate yourself.
2. On Competition Day
   • Go to the location for the duty, at the time it is nominated.
   • Check in with the Competition Director, or the task Leader.
   • Scan the QR code to record your attendance.
3. Complete the Duty until either the time slot is ended, or the duty is no longer needed (event specific duty)
4. Keep an eye on how many Duty slots you have completed, aim to complete the 6hrs (minimum) before the end of the season, to ensure your athlete qualifies for Awards and Trophies.
   • If completing Helper/Parent/Carer Duty is likely to cause undue stress or concern, please reach out to your Age Group Leaders or the Committee for advice, there are always opportunities to complete your fair share of volunteer time for the club.

WHAT ARE THE FORMAL DUTY ROLES? WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?

1. CLUB COMMITTEE - Pre-nominated roles responsible for the administration and operations of the club. Always looking for extra volunteers to join/assist the committee. Across 12 months of the year, in a range of "behind the scenes" and more visible roles. E-mail committee@yarrarangesathletics.org.au if you would like to be involved at committee level.
2. AGE GROUP LEADERS - Become the face & leader for each Age Group, often more experienced members who have spent time understanding the events, the rules & how to navigate competition days. Age Group Leaders are the backbone of competition day. Age Group Leaders are filling their Duty in this role (minimum 8 rounds).
3. COMPETITION DAY PARENT/CARER DUTY - Minimum 6hrs (approx 3 or 4 weeks) PER ATHLETE.
   1. Set-up (1.5hrs) 7.30am to 9am
      • Assisting with getting equipment and event sites ready for competition.
      • Set-up Long Jump, Shot Put, Discus, High Jump, Hurdles (if needed). Timing equipment, Marquees etc.
   2. Pack-up (1.5hrs) 10.30am to 12pm
      • Assisting with getting event sites packed down and equipment returned to shed & stored.
   3. Canteen - Start (1.5hrs) 8am to 9.30am
      • Assisting with the set-up and opening of the canteen
      • Food preparation & selling
   4. Canteen - Middle (1.5hrs) 9.30 to 11am
      • Assisting with food & drink sales
   5. Canteen - Close (1.5hrs) 10.30am to 12pm
      • Assisting with Food & drink sales
      • Assisting with the pack-up and cleaning of the canteen
      • Often helping to finish off the "leftovers"!! (kids love this bit!)
   6. Start Line Marshal - required for all Sprint Races (3hrs)
      • Full training and troubleshooting assistance provided.
      • Entering athlete names into lanes in preparation for races.
      • Data entry/scanning into tablet device
      • Radio communication with Finish Line
   7. Sprint Track Timing - required for all Sprint Races (3hrs)
      • Assisting Sprint Track Timing Leader.
      • Training Role, with a view to being capable of Leading if required
   8. Circular Track Timing - required for all Circular Races (2hrs)
      • Assisting &/or Leading Circular Track Timing
      • Full Training and Troubleshooting assistance provided. Most people are comfortable with the full process after 2 or 3 races!! (ALL errors can be fixed!)
      • Main Timing via Laptop timing device.
      • Coordinating with Age Group Leaders for manual back-up timing, place tokens & recording of athlete positions.
   9. Starters - Qualified - required for the duration of all races (3hrs)
      • Marshalling & Starting Sprint and Circular races.
      • This is a role that requires some technical expertise. If not trained - but interested - select the "Starter In-Training" duty role.
   10. Starter - In Training - required for the duration of all races (3hrs)
       • Learn to become a starter!! Kind of like a Try before you buy experience to see if you enjoy it.
       • With a view to Committing to fill the Qualified Starter role on rotation with other starters (will take you well past the minimum duty) & be a vital part of competition.