Marshals & volunteers — frequently asked questions

Go to Me → Your roles and toggle on Marshal. You can hold the Marshal role alongside Runner, Pacer, Crewer and Coach at the same time. Once it is on, you can browse races looking for volunteers and organizers can find you.

Browse the Races screen and look for events flagged as seeking volunteers. You can filter by Inside my zones to focus on races near your declared coverage areas. Some organisers post a specific call for marshals that appears on the race page — look for a Volunteer for this event prompt.

Open the race page and tap Offer to volunteer or Apply to marshal. Your application goes to the organiser. They will either assign you to a post or contact you for more detail. You will receive an in-app notification when they respond.

Yes. An organiser can search for marshals in their area and send you a direct invitation. You will receive an in-app notification with the invitation details — accept or decline from there.

A coverage zone is a geographic area you are willing to travel to for marshalling or other support roles. Set your zones from Me → Profile → Coverage areas. Races within your zones appear in search results when you filter by Inside my zones, and organisers in those areas are more likely to find you.

Bield does not require a DBS or equivalent to register as a marshal. However, individual organisers may require one for their event — particularly if the role involves working with vulnerable people or children. Check the organiser's briefing when you apply. Uploading a verified background check to your Bield trust score makes you a more attractive volunteer.

Bield allows you to hold both a Runner engagement and a Marshal engagement for the same race. In practice, a person is unlikely to do both roles on the same day — but you may, for example, run the race one year and marshal it the next, and both engagements would appear on your profile.

A Marshal engagement is created on your Me → My races list with status Assigned. You will receive an in-app notification. The engagement shows the race details, your checkpoint or post assignment, and any briefing notes the organiser has added.

Your marshal engagement shows: the race name and date, your assigned checkpoint or location on the course, your role at that post (e.g. timing, directional, welfare), any kit or clothing guidance from the organiser, and arrival / departure times for your post. Contact the organiser if anything is unclear.

Organiser broadcasts are delivered as in-app notifications. Make sure Organiser announcements is enabled in Me → Notifications. Check your engagement for pinned updates and any attached documents (briefing packs, maps, emergency contacts).

• Applied — you have offered to volunteer; awaiting the organiser's response.
• Assigned — the organiser has confirmed you for a post.
• Active — race day has begun.
• Completed — the event has finished and your engagement is recorded.
• Declined / Withdrawn — either party cancelled.

Follow the organiser's briefing instructions — typically you check in with the race director or a lead marshal at a central point before heading to your post. Some events use a digital check-in via the Bield app. Have your marshal engagement open on your phone to confirm your role and assignment if asked.

Your exact duties depend on the organiser's brief, but typical marshal responsibilities include: directing runners at junctions, recording bib numbers and times as runners pass (split timing), monitoring runner welfare, calling for help if someone is in distress, and closing the course when the last runner has passed. Always follow the organiser's specific brief — it overrides any general guidance.

Use the organiser's emergency protocol — this should be in your briefing pack and include a specific contact number for the race director or safety officer. In an immediate medical emergency always call 999 first, then notify the race director. On Bield, you can send a message to the organiser from the race page or your engagement. Marshal posts can also see organiser call-for-help pings in their area from the race dashboard.

Note the runner's bib number and the time. Record it as a DNF (Did Not Finish) if your post has split timing enabled on Bield. Follow the organiser's sweep or retirement protocol — some events have a sweep vehicle; others require the runner to be collected by their crew. Notify the race director immediately when a runner retires.

For timing posts, note the bib number and time as they pass. You do not need to stop every runner. If a runner passes who appears to be in distress or is clearly lost, flag it — but don't impede a runner who is moving well unless instructed to do so by the organiser.

Split timing is an organiser-enabled feature where the time a runner passes your checkpoint is recorded in Bield. Not all marshals do split timing — only those at checkpoints the organiser has designated as timing points. Your assignment brief will tell you whether timing is part of your role.

If your post is a split timing point, your marshal engagement will show a Record timing interface. Enter the runner's bib number and tap to record — Bield timestamps the entry automatically. You can correct a mis-entry before the race window closes. Contact the organiser if you need to make a correction after the event.

Record bib numbers and times manually on paper as a backup. The Bield split timing interface caches entries locally and syncs when signal is restored. Always keep a paper record — signal is not guaranteed on remote courses.

Yes. The split timing interface on your engagement shows a running tally of bib numbers recorded at your post. This helps you verify you are not missing anyone and gives you a sense of where the field is.

When your sixth verified marshal engagement is marked as completed by the organiser, Bield automatically activates a Premium period on your account. You will receive an in-app notification. The exact duration of the Premium period is shown on the Me → Billing screen after it unlocks.

The organiser marks engagements as completed when the event closes. You will see your engagement status move to Completed and it will appear in your marshal history on your profile. Check Me → My races → Marshalling to see all your completed engagements and your running total towards the six-marshal milestone.

Yes. Completed marshal engagements are listed on your Bield profile as part of your event history. This is visible to organisers and other users who view your profile, and it contributes to your trust score.

Organisers can leave a note or reference on your profile after a completed engagement. These are visible on your public profile and contribute to your overall trust score. Being reliable, arriving on time and following the brief are the best ways to earn a positive reference.

No. Finisher certificates are for race entrants who complete the course. Some organisers separately acknowledge volunteers — but this is outside of Bield's certificate system.

The trust score (0–200) helps organisers decide whether to assign you to a post. It builds from verified background checks, first-aid certificates, references from past race contacts, and completed engagements. A higher score makes you more attractive for high-responsibility posts such as finish-line marshal or welfare officer.

Go to Me → Trust score → Qualifications and upload a copy of your certificate. A Bield moderator verifies it. The certificate image is not stored after verification — only the verified flag is kept on your profile.

Go to Me → Notifications. Relevant categories for marshals include volunteer invitations, organiser announcements, and engagement status updates. Enable push notifications to receive time-sensitive updates on race day.

Go to Me → Privacy & data. Export my data delivers a JSON file of everything Bield holds on you. Delete account begins a 30-day grace period — cancel by emailing privacy@bield.run within that window.

Yes. Go to Me → Your roles and enable as many roles as apply. Each role gives you access to its own set of features, engagements and filters. You might marshal one event and run another in the same month — both appear in your history.

Check the organiser's briefing — they usually specify a hi-vis vest or specific marshal tabard. Always bring: waterproofs, warm layers, a fully charged phone, a head torch (for early starts or remote posts), and enough food and water to last your full post time. You may be stationary for several hours in exposed conditions.

This depends on the organiser — some offer travel expenses or a meal allowance, others do not. Bield does not handle any expense payments. Ask the organiser directly when you accept the assignment. Any expense arrangement is between you and the organiser.

Do not leave without notifying the organiser first. Contact the race director and arrange for another marshal to cover, or wait for the sweep to pass and confirm the post is clear. Abandoning a post without notice can create a safety risk for late runners.

You need a Bield account with the Marshal role enabled to apply via Bield. If you want to volunteer and are not on Bield yet, sign up at app.bield.run, enable the Marshal role in Me → Your roles, and then apply from the race page.

A marshal is a general volunteer — directing runners, recording timing, managing traffic. A welfare officer is a specific role focused on runner wellbeing: monitoring for hypothermia, injury, distress or disorientation, and co-ordinating medical response. Some organisers use Bield to assign both types of post separately. The briefing for a welfare post typically includes additional medical guidance.

Your assignment details in the marshal engagement will state your post type. If it is a timing point, the engagement will show the split timing interface. If it is a directional post, you are there to guide runners. Read your briefing thoroughly — and ask the organiser if your role is not clear.

Check with the organiser — some welcome additional helpers at a post, especially for busy checkpoints. Additional helpers would not have an official Bield marshal engagement but can assist informally. If the organiser wants them formally registered, they should apply via Bield and receive their own assignment.

Be honest — do not guess race information such as distances to the next checkpoint or cutoff times. Direct the runner to their race page on Bield for accurate course and timing data, or radio/message the race director. Giving incorrect information can cause a runner to make poor decisions on course.

Bield does not set a minimum age — this is the organiser's responsibility. Many race insurers require marshals to be 16 or 18. Check the organiser's volunteer requirements when you apply and declare your age honestly. Under-18s should check whether parental consent is required.

You will receive an in-app notification if the race is cancelled. The organiser should message all volunteers directly. Your marshal engagement will be updated to reflect the cancellation. The engagement still appears in your history — it is not automatically deleted. Contact the organiser if you have out-of-pocket costs from the cancellation.