Volunteer Requirement

The Camarillo Cosmos Youth Track & Field Club is run entirely by volunteers.  It takes approximately 170 volunteers (including coaches) to run a track meet.  In order to ensure that meets run safely and efficiently, and to give all parents the opportunity to support their athletes and enjoy some time during each meet as spectators, we divide the workload among all participating families.  We cannot overemphasize the importance of everyone's participation in the volunteer work--we absolutely need your support.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation!

Volunteer registration will be separate from the athlete registration for the upcoming season. Athlete registration will end on December 31; once we have finalized our rosters, parents will be notified and volunteer registration will open in mid-January.  One volunteer per family will be required.

Volunteer positions will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.  Sign-ups will take place on SignUp.com.  We strongly encourage returning families to register for volunteer jobs performed in a previous season.  A volunteer training night will be held during practice on a designated night in March. Please watch for email updates on the exact date (or click the Volunteer Sign Up button below).

Volunteer Commitment

The minimum volunteer commitment for the season will be four shifts.  If you cannot make a meet, please contact us for a makeup shift.

Please note: The Dual Conference Meet, Varsity Meet, and Championship Meet will be handled independently of the regular season requirement.  Each family with an athlete participating in these meets will be required to volunteer; failure to complete this requirement will result in the forfeiture of the volunteer deposit.  Sign-ups for volunteer positions at these meets will be handled separately. 

Volunteer Deposit

One $300.00 volunteer deposit will be required per family. The deposit check can be submitted at Welcome Night, or you can mail the check to

PO Box 96, Camarillo CA 93011-0096

Families that meet or exceed the minimum volunteer commitment will have the deposit shredded or returned at the end of the season.  Families that do not meet the commitment will forfeit their deposit. Unauthorized absences from volunteer shifts lead to volunteer checks being cashed. Make up volunteer shifts are coordinated with the Cosmos Volunteer Coordinator.

Questions?  Send an email to: volunteer@camarillocosmos.org.

Volunteer FAQs

  • A. One member of each participating family in Camarillo Cosmos must sign up for a volunteer position. Please remember that “volunteering” is not optional. If you cannot volunteer, please find someone to fill in for you. The meets are not possible without your help.

    EXEMPTION: If a member of your family has taken a Coaching, Team Parent, board member, or other position, your family obligation is fulfilled for the season.

  • A. Once you have fulfilled your volunteer commitment, your check will be shredded. If you wish to have it returned to you instead, please send an email indicating that to volunteer@cosmostrack.org.If you do not fulfill your commitment due to missed meets, your check will be cashed and the money used to support Camarillo Cosmos. n text goes here

  • A. Unfortunately, we are unable to pro-rate based on partial fulfillment of volunteer obligations. If you miss any of your volunteer commitments, and have not made them up by the end of the season, your check will be cashed.

  • A. As part of the signing up your child for the Camarillo Cosmos, you have agreed to volunteer. Camarillo Cosmos Meets are staffed by volunteers. We need a total of 170 volunteers (including coaches, etc.) to ensure that we are able to host all the events for all the athletes. Please make every attempt to find a family member or friend to take a volunteer position for the Track Season. If you do not volunteer, the $300 volunteer check you turned in at the beginning of the season will be cashed and the money used to support Camarillo Cosmos.

  • Please send it to:Camarillo CosmosPO BOX 96Camarillo, CA 93011-0096Checks should be made out to Camarillo Cosmos and your family’s athlete’s name should be on the check in the memo line.

  • The positions are by job and by shift. The AM shift will be 8 AM to 11:30 AM and the PM shift will be 11:00 AM until the end of the meet.  

    Please note that the JV meet will be counted as a home meet, and Field Event volunteers will be re-assigned to Staging, Finish line, or Finish Tent at that meet. Because the JV meet runs longer than a normal meet, there will be three shifts at that meet. 

    A job setting up or tearing down our team tents at away meets:

    All positions are first come, first served. If you do not see a job, it is likely filled.

    Please Note: In the event that we are overstaffed in some areas and understaffed in others during a meet, we may need to move you to a different position. We ask for your understanding and flexibility as we need to ensure that all areas of the meet are adequately staffed to ensure the safety of the athletes.

  • A. Sign in at the volunteer table 15 minutes before your shift begins. If you are an AM volunteer, please be sure to sign in by 7:45 AM. If you are a PM volunteer, please sign in by 10:45 AM. If you do not sign in, we will not have a record that you fulfilled your commitment for that day.Please be at your volunteer position at least 5 minutes before your shift begins to ensure a smooth transition.Set up and tear down volunteers at HOME MEETS:

    If you have volunteered for set-up at home meets, please be at the meet by 7:00AM.

    There will be a sign-in sheet. Expect set up to take between 30 to 45 minutes. Please Note: The sign-in sheet will close at 7:15 AM—anyone not having signed in by that time will not get credit for their shift.

    If you have volunteered for tear down at home meets, please note that tear down starts as soon as the last group of athletes (Youth and Intermediate) leaves the tent area for the 4x400 relay. This is not time specific. Sign in will coincide with the calls for the 4x400 relays. Expect take down to take 30 minutes.

    Set-Up or Tear-Down at Away Meets

    If you have volunteered for set-up at away meets, please be at the meet by 7:00AM. There will be a sign-in sheet. Expect set up to take between 30 to 45 minutes. Please Note: The sign-in sheet will close at 7:15 AM and late arrivals will be recorded as not having completed their obligation.

    Tear Down for away meets starts as soon as the last group of athletes (Youth and Intermediate) leaves the tent area for the 4x400 relay. This is not time-specific. Sign in will coincide with the Calls for the 4x400 relays. Expect take down to take 30 minutes.

  • A. No, but many of the positions require being in the sun for several hours, so please plan accordingly. Sunscreen, water and a hat are all recommended.

  • A. We all have busy schedules and emergencies do happen. However, as we require volunteers to staff the meets, we ask that you please make every attempt to find a family member or friend to cover your shift. Please check your schedule when signing up for a volunteer position and consider whether the away meets would be a better match for your schedule than the home meets.If you know in advance that you will miss a meet and cannot send a sub, please send an email to volunteer@cosmostrack.org as soon as possible so that we may attempt to fill the position for that day.If it is the day of the meet and you cannot volunteer, please come to the volunteer table at the meet and let us know

  • A. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee make ups. If there are still upcoming meets, please send an email to volunteer@cosmostrack.org to let us know your availability. For instance, if there is an upcoming home meet, you can ask to be put on the volunteer schedule for an additional shift (for a total of 2 shifts). We will make every attempt to fit you in.

Volunteer Position Descriptions

  • Responsible for admitting authorized individuals into the track area when the track is clear and preventing unauthorized individuals from accessing the field. Also responsible for helping to direct the flow of athletes across the track to exit the area when the track is clear. Physical requirements: Standing, opening and closing the gate; full sun.Description text goes here

  • Responsible for retrieving athletes' tags at the finish line and directing athletes off the track. Physical requirements: Standing; full sun.

  • Responsible for accurately entering data on a laptop. Physical requirements: Seated; requires familiarity with computers, data entry/ten key speed and accuracy. Full shade.

  • Responsible for corralling athletes and directing the flow of competition, placing/replacing the high jump bar, raising/leveling the bar, line judging, and recording jumps. Physical requirements: One seated position; others require standing, bending, reaching. Full sun

  • Responsible for setup of team tents and other equipment. Physical requirements: Standing, lifting, bending, carrying, reaching. Early a.m.

  • Responsible for breakdown, removal, and storage of team tents and other equipment. Physical requirements: Standing, lifting, and carrying; no shade. Work begins at the end of the 200m event; ideal for parents of athletes competing in end-of-meet events

  • Responsible for organizing athletes and the flow of competition, watching for faults and other technical issues, measuring jumps, and raking sand. Physical requirements: One seated position; others require standing, bending, stooping, and raking. Full sun

  • Responsible for organizing athletes and the flow of competition, watching for faults and other technical issues, measuring throws, raking sand. Physical requirements: One seated position; others require standing, bending, stooping, and raking. Full sun.

  • Corralling athletes and escorting them to staging and to events. Physical requirements: Standing and walking; full sun.

  • Organizing athletes for track events. Physical requirements: Standing and walking; full sun.

  • Responsible for checking in and assigning duties to volunteers; may be re-assigned to specific volunteer position when necessary. Physical requirements: This is a seated position, but may require re-assignment to different position if needed elsewhere.