Components of Running a Successful Competition | Symposium Overview

1. MSSA COMPETITION AND OFFICIALS’ SYMPOSIUM Sandra Chénard Sharon Zorman

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

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

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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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!

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

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

20. 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.)

21. 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

22. QUESTION PERIOD Open for discussion!