Volunteer Opportunities From: Special Olympics Southern California - Southern Counties

Volunteer Responsibilities:

Support Awards Ceremony  Prepare awards and medals to match correct team placement.  Ensure success and efficiency in award distribution. 

Volunteer Responsibilities:

You will be assigned a lane to supervise. As the athletes arrive at your lane, greet them and assist them in getting shoes and balls, if necessary (many bowlers have their own shoes and balls).  Remind the athletes that food and drink is not allowed down on the lanes. The names of the athletes assigned to your lane will be entered into the computer. Match the names on the computer screens to the names on the athlete’s name badge. If there are any discrepancies (misspelling or missing athlete), please inform your Lane Supervisor. After opening ceremonies, there will be a 10 minute warm up period. Once competition begins, the volunteer should stand in a place where all athletes assigned to their lane can be monitored.  The computer monitors will display arrows next to the athlete’s names, this indicates the lane that athlete is to bowl on.  Follow this closely While supervising a lane, the volunteer may assist the athletes by helping them to the lane, helping them up should they fall, and helping them retrieve their ball. For those working with ramp bowlers, you may place the ball on the ramp, but the volunteer is not allowed to assist an athlete in the delivery of the bowling ball (aiming the ramp). It is important for the volunteer to properly manage their lane. Athletes have a tendency to wander over the course of a tournament (going to the bathroom, visiting a parent or coach). The volunteer should know where the athletes are, and have the athletes who are next up on the lanes nearby and ready to bowl.  These competitions are for the Athletes. If a parent or coach is infringing on your lane and you are uncomfortable; please contact your Lane Supervisor.  The exception to this rule is if an athlete is having significant physical or emotional problems.  If a coach or parent tells you it is okay to __________ (and this can mean anything) please contact your Lane Supervisor. There will be ball return and scoring errors during the course of the tournament. Know where the lane reset button is as this will solve most ball return problems.  For any scoring errors, contact your Lane Supervisor.  Most scoring errors occur when an athlete bowls out of turn or on the wrong lane. Following each game, record the athlete’s scores on the paperwork provided and have a Lane Supervisor or Runner check and confirm the scores. After the third game scores have been confirmed, bring the scorecard to the Scorer’s Room adjacent to the front desk near the entrance. You will be given the score sheet back, along with a bag of awards. Return to your lane and award the athletes accordingly. After which, please return any unused awards and the official score sheet to the Scorer’s Room.

Remember to cheer the athletes on during the competition, no matter the results, and most importantly HAVE FUN!!!!!   

Volunteer Responsibilities:

Lane Supervisors will have the responsibility to oversee multiple lanes and will be the direct lead to the Lane Monitors. 

You will be called upon by your lane monitors for the following:

If there are any discrepancies with athletes

If any parents or coaches are infringing on the Lane Monitor's lane

If there are any scoring errors (which will more than likely be due to bowlers bowling out of order)

To check and confirm scores after each game is completed

For any issues, you will contact the on-site Venue Manager or a Special Olympics Staff Member

Below is the description of what a Lane Monitor will be doing. Please read their description to understand what they may need help with if they come to you with questions. 

Lane Monitor Volunteer Description

You will be assigned a lane to supervise. As the athletes arrive at your lane, greet them and assist them in getting shoes and balls, if necessary (many bowlers have their own shoes and balls).  Remind the athletes that food and drink is not allowed down on the lanes. The names of the athletes assigned to your lane will be entered into the computer. Match the names on the computer screens to the names on the athlete’s name badge.  If there are any discrepancies (misspelling or missing athlete), please inform your Lane Supervisor. After opening ceremonies, there will be a 10 minute warm up period. Once competition begins, the volunteer should stand in a place where all athletes assigned to their lane can be monitored.  The computer monitors will display arrows next to the athlete’s names, this indicates the lane that athlete is to bowl on.  Follow this closely While supervising a lane, the volunteer may assist the athletes by helping them to the lane, helping them up should they fall, and helping them retrieve their ball. For those working with ramp bowlers, you may place the ball on the ramp, but the volunteer is not allowed to assist an athlete in the delivery of the bowling ball (aiming the ramp). It is important for the volunteer to properly manage their lane. Athletes have a tendency to wander over the course of a tournament (going to the bathroom, visiting a parent or coach). The volunteer should know where the athletes are, and have the athletes who are next up on the lanes nearby and ready to bowl.  These competitions are for the Athletes. If a parent or coach is infringing on your lane and you are uncomfortable; please contact your Lane Supervisor.  The exception to this rule is if an athlete is having significant physical or emotional problems.  If a coach or parent tells you it is okay to __________ (and this can mean anything) please contact your Lane Supervisor. There will be ball return and scoring errors during the course of the tournament. Know where the lane reset button is as this will solve most ball return problems.  For any scoring errors, contact your Lane Supervisor.  Most scoring errors occur when an athlete bowls out of turn or on the wrong lane. Following each game, record the athlete’s scores on the paperwork provided and have a Lane Supervisor or Runner check and confirm the scores. After the third game scores have been confirmed, bring the scorecard to the Scorer’s Room adjacent to the front desk near the entrance. You will be given the score sheet back, along with a bag of awards. Return to your lane and award the athletes accordingly. After which, please return any unused awards and the official score sheet to the Scorer’s Room.

Volunteer Responsibilities:

Assigned to oversee medical needs for bowling. 

QUALIFICATIONS: CPR & First Aid Certified. Experience in heat related issues and seizures

 Remember to cheer the athletes on during the competition, no matter the results, and most importantly HAVE FUN!!!!!   

Volunteer Responsibilities:

Capture photos of athletes, coaches, volunteers during event. Will shoot during Opening Ceremony, Bowling and Awards.

MUST HAVE OWN PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT. Ideal to have equipment suited for action photography in various lighting situations, including low-light areas. 

Upon completing your registration, an SOSC staff member will reach out to have two additional forms signed: Photo Release and In-Kind