Cub Scout Swim Carnival
Objective: Cub Scouts swimming carnival, there are no trophies or competition between Packs. The main objective is to have fun!
Where: Use a local swimming complex with an 8 lane 25 meter pool.
Who can participate? All registered Cubs. All participants must be between 7.5 and 11 years of age on the day of the event.
Cost: Will depend on the venue but would be between approx $5. (prize ribbons should be included in the cost)
Prizes: All children entering an event will receive a ribbon: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and competitor.
What to Wear: Group Scarf. Bathers, Track Suit and take your own towel.
Other items:
Each Pack needs 3 Adults, not necessarily leaders:
- one to take Cubs to swimming events ‘marshalling’ point
- one to take Cubs to novelty events ‘marshalling’ point
- one to stay with the other Cubs
Take your pack flag to hang at your group assembly point
Packs can have lifesaver style or rubber swimcaps in group colours.
Age groups to be 8yo, 9yo and 10yo.
eg. 8yo = under 9 on the day of the carnival.
Proposed Program:
Running the Carnival
How do the Organisers do it?
The Staff
A smooth running Swim Carnival requires the following positions;
- 2 x ENTRY OFFICIALS : take payment from participants as the enter the venue; direct parents to the seating
- STARTER : gets Cubs onto the blocks and starts events
- 5 x MARSHALLING OFFICIALS: arrange heats and finals
- ANNOUNCER/MC : keep the Cubs, Officials and parent informed how the events are progressing
- 5+ TOUCH JUDGES : 1st Place, 2nd Place, 3rd Place, 4th Place, other placings.
- 2 x PRIZE TABLE OFFICIALS : run the ribbon table
- Your District Commissioner to award prize ribbons
- LIFEGUARDS : you can use the ‘Poolies’ from your venue, but it helps to have a few of your own even if they are performing other duties (Helps with your risk assessment). We have been known to have 6 lifeguards on the pool deck.
Keep all other Leaders and parents off the pool deck at each end of the pool. Judges decisions are final and should not be negotiable.
Marshalling::
Marshalling takes place up at the deep end of the pool.
Events are announced by the MC and Cubs are requested to report to the Marshalling point one age group at a time for each event.
The Marshalls determine how many competitors there are for each age group, and determine how many heats will be run, or if there will be a straight final.
The Marshalls wear radio head sets so that they can communicate back to the shallow end of the pool. This allows for instant communication, and enhances event co-ordination.
Once marshalled, Cubs sit behind their blocks in order of their heats/finals.
2 Heats — First 4 from each heat go through to Final
3 Heats — First 2 from each heat go through to Final
Placing::
Touch judges watch the finish of the events. Have a touch judge for each placing. Once the position has been judged, a “Placing Token” is handed to the cub. This token is taken up to the “Ribbon Table” where it is exchanged for an “Event Finalist Token” or a competitors ribbon. For Finals the Tokens are exchanged for a 1st, 2nd, 3rd place or competitors ribbon.
Use your District Commissioner to present the ribbons.
Touch Judges::
Touch judges watch the finish of the events. There should be at least 5 touch judges (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, competitors). Once the position has been judged, a “Placing Token” is handed to the cub. This token is then taken up to the “Ribbon Table”.
Have one Marshall at this end with a radio head set, to co-ordinate this end of the pool deck.
Starter::
The starter co-ordinates the start of each event and controls the timing of the program. Using your marshall’s and the wireless communications, you can also co-ordinate between the starter and the MC to ensure that each event is announced.
The starter can use a whistle rather than a starter’s pistol as it is more Cub friendly.
Thanks to Kingston District Cubs (and the old Chelsea District) on whos swimming carnival most of this information is based. Photos are from the Kingston District Cub swim sports 2004, King Club Sandringham.
