RAAC Parent Participation Policy (UPDATED 10/18/2024)

Roadrunners of Albuquerque Aquatic Club host 2-3 swim meets each year along with several team events throughout the year. In order to facilitate the operation of club hosted swim meets and to keep the cost low for our families, we adopted a Family Participation Policy. The intent of the Family Participation Policy is to promote full participation by Roadrunner families as we assist our athletes and coaches as well as build a great aquatic club.  While monthly dues you pay the coaches’ salaries and facility fees, the money generated from swim meets help cover additional operational expenses such as the team website, bookkeeping fees, continuing education i.e.  

All Roadrunners are expected to attend home hosted meets they are eligible for. Our goal is to have 100% volunteer participation, motivated by an appreciation of the #roadrunnerway. Due to the importance of successful meet hosting and to be fair to those who willfully volunteer, parents are expected to fulfill our parent participation policy requirements or pay. Volunteers have the opportunity to choose their assignment/job or donation. If you are not able to volunteer time working at a swim meet, sign-up for food donation, or purchase a gift card to help with the hospitality/concession items needed for the meet, there are other ways through our parent booster club activities you can participate in to earn points as well.

The number of swimmers from a family on the team and what group they swim in will determine the number of points each family is required to work or fee assessment due.

** Please note – all families will be capped at 6 points regardless of group or number of siblings on the team.

  • Short Course Season: Sept 1st – March 31st
    • Senior 3 points, Pre Senior & Gold 4 points, Silver 3 & Bronze 2 points
  • Long Course Season: April 1st – Aug. 30th
    • Senior 3 points, Pre Senior & Gold 4 points, Silver 3 points, Bronze 2 point

At the conclusion of each season, if your point requirement wasn’t met, your account will be assessed the work commitment fee (1 point = $50).  For families who elect not to participate, you can choose to “buy out” your points for $300 per season. This “buy out” fee must be paid within 14 days of the end of each season.

Points are awarded as follows for completing a volunteer task for one (1) competition session.

  • Lane timer or head timer = 1 point  
  • Meet Marshall = 1 point
  • Results Runner = 1 point
  • Hospitality = 1 point
  • Volunteer for Concessions and/or Program Sales = 1 point
  • Stroke and turn judge = 4 points
  • Starter = 6 points

If you can’t attend a Roadrunners hosted meet, donations are another way to earn points toward our participation policy.

  • Gift Cards $40 = 1 point  
  • Gift Cards $100 = 3 points

If you are willing to make an annual commitment, you can find the job and rewards for helping Roadrunners of Albuquerque Aquatic Club host the best possible meets in the state of New Mexico. This is for parents who would like to be involved in the competition management side of swim meets. There are some great options and meet fees are waived. They include:

  • Meet Referee: All points and meet fees waived. 
  • Administrative Officer (A.O.): All points and meet fees waived
    • In-training: All points waived.
  • Console and/or computer operator: All points and meet fees waived.
    • In-training: All points waived.

Please note the waived fees exclude the $5 RAAC entry surcharge, swimmer surcharges, facility fees and team travel fees.

*** Exception for NMS (New Mexico Swimming) Championship Meets:

New Mexico Swimming requires all participating teams to provide workers in proportion to the number of swimmers entered in a meet each session. Families who have swimmers in these meets are expected to help cover the required positions. NO points are given for helping fill our NMS meet requirements. Your help is always appreciated!

Friends & Fans Parent Booster Club:

Booster club participation is a two-year commitment. All parent participation policy points are waved for both years while serving on the board.

  • President
  • Vice – President
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer
  • Member at large – Head Coach Matt Benedict

*** Families that are offered financial assistance MUST volunteer to work at all Roadrunners of Albuquerque Aquatic Club meets, a minimum of 1 job per session for the fiscal year, regardless of if your swimmer takes a break from swimming.