MSSA COMPETITION AND OFFICIALS’ SYMPOSIUM

MSSA COMPETITION AND OFFICIALS’ SYMPOSIUM Sandra Chénard Sharon Zorman

Identify and review the components of running a successful competition. PURPOSE OF THE SYMPOSIUM

WHO ARE THE PARTNERS IN A COMPETITION?i.e. WHO IS “THE TEAM” • Branch Association and Speed Skating Canada • Branch / Club Competitions • The Branch sets the framework for what we do and supports us in achieving it • National Competitions • SSC sets the framework for what we do and supports us in achieving it

WHO ARE THE PARTNERS IN A COMPETITION?i.e. WHO IS “THE TEAM” • Club(s) • Become the hosts and have the responsibilities that go along with that • Organizing Committee • Members of the Club or Branch working on a specific competition

WHO ARE THE PARTNERS IN A COMPETITION?i.e. WHO IS “THE TEAM” • Sponsors • Need to know what support we need, what we expect from them and what we will provide them with • City / Facility Staff • Need the city and their staff to have a good understanding of the sport while ensuring they know how important they are to us

WHO ARE THE PARTNERS IN A COMPETITION?i.e. WHO IS “THE TEAM” • Skaters, Coaches and Parents • Need to know what to expect when they arrive • The earlier they know the better for setting the yearly plan • Officials • Participate at various stages of the competition

WHAT IS A SUCCESSFUL COMPETITION? • All partners go away with a smile. • Skaters have meaningful races while having fun with their peers • Coaches are satisfied that the competition met the needs of their skaters • Officials feel that they were contributing members of the successful team and had the opportunity to learn

WHAT IS A SUCCESSFUL COMPETITION? • All partners go away with a smile. • The organizing committee is proud of the job they did in providing a meaningful competition • Parents were spectators for a reasonable amount of time each day • Facility staff were made to feel part of the team and learned about our needs in Speed Skating • Sponsors felt validated and appreciated

WHAT IS A SUCCESSFUL COMPETITION? • Sound financial management • Income and expenses are tracked, recorded and reported • The budget is balanced or a reasonable profit made • THE TEAM wants to do another competition next season • Your Provincial and or National Association asks you to do other competitions for them

COMPETITION PLANNING • Branch Bulletin Preparation • Prepared by your Branch, for your Branch • Meets the developmental and competition needs of your skaters • SSC and other Branch Bulletins can be used for discussion and as resources for developing your Bulletin

BRANCH COMPETITION BULLETIN • What is included? • Annual competition schedule • Sanction Requirements • Rules that the competition runs under • Safety requirements (padding, equipment, facility) • Eligibility for each event

BRANCH COMPETITION BULLETINContinued • What is included? • Format of the competition and events to be included • Seeding and qualification • Seed times and/or ranking are very important • Provincial tracking of skaters, coaches and officials

BRANCH COMPETITION BULLETINContinued • Where is MSSA in the process? • Competition schedule • Identification of the events held at each competition • Team Manitoba criteria • Other?

BREAK OUT SESSION Given where is MSSA in the process, we will break into groups and brainstorm on next steps.

HOSTING MANUAL • How can the Hosting Manual be used in planning? • Organizing Committee (Build THE TEAM) – downsized for local meets • Checklists are simple and valuable • Budget • Hospitality • Technical

HOSTING MANUALContinued • How can the Hosting Manual be used in planning? • Protocol • Athletes Oath / Flag Order / Media and sponsorship if required • Best Practices • Sharing ideas • Don’t be afraid to do things differently if it meets your needs. • Use of a progression matrix

OFFICIALS • What is the role of the Official pre-competition? • You are members of THE TEAM • Understand what the Branch wants for the competition and plan with that as a template • Meet Coordinator • Competitors Steward / Recorder • Chief Referee • Other officials • Don’t be afraid to ask questions!

BREAK OUT SESSION How do you gather the other officials you need to support THE TEAM and what is their role?

OFFICIALSContinued • Development • Provide opportunities for officials to try different disciplines • Provide support and mentorship for developing officials • Succession Planning • Talent identification • Specific training opportunities

COMPETITION REPORTING AND EVALUATION • Key to successful planning • Important to know what went right and what went wrong • Need to tell the Organizing Committee, Branch and SSC (if SSC sanctioned) • Make notes in the existing Bulletin on suggested improvements • Share your ideas with other Organizing Committees or Hosts • Maintain communication (Skype, email etc.)

COMPETITION REPORTING AND EVALUATIONEnd of Season End of Season reports should go to a Branch representative Ensure there is an opportunity to discuss the current and next season via an in person meeting or conference call

QUESTION PERIOD Open for discussion!

MSSA COMPETITION AND OFFICIALS’ SYMPOSIUM