You guys and gals like matches, right? We know you do!
Our last match of the year sold out in 2.5 hours and by the end of the night, there were 200+ entries PER DAY, that is flattering and amazing! But here’s the reality, there are only a few Match Directors out there and they are burning out.
It takes a lot of work to:
- Plan stages that are challenging for veterans yet inviting to new shooters, safe and fun, flow smoothly, etc.,
- Organize range time,
- Coordinate registration/EMT’s, squadding,
- Setup stages, vet them (check for shoot-throughs, bad angles, flow/stage intention), stake down props, make sure they are reliable, etc.,
- Source out/order trophies,
- Run the match,
- Compile stats,
- Tear down,
- Write a post match breakdown (like this),
- and many, many other things.
To do this once in a while is not that bad but when MD’s are doing this match after match with very little help from YOU, the 200+ shooters who attend/want to attend, it gets frustrating and tiring. We don’t get paid to do this, this is all volunteer work because we love the sport.
At the end of the Poco match while waiting for the results to get finalized, many of you pitched in to help tear down the stages. I don’t think you know how much that 30 minutes of your time helps us out. Not only does it show that you appreciate the match and want to help out, it means that, while you may be an extra 30 minutes later to get home to your family, the handful of dedicated volunteers (Adam Brawn, Lance Smith, Rebecca Wortman, Omar Alzubaidy and Neil Samuel to name a few) can ALSO get home to their families 30 minutes sooner instead of 3–5 hours later. SO FOR THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!
“So, how can I help? After all, what do I know about making stages or registration?” you may ask.
We need:
- On setup day (usually the day before the first match day) we need hands. You don’t have to have ANY experience, just a pair of gloves and a willingness to help, even if it’s for an hour or two.
- More veteran shooters are helpful to oversee the assembly of a stage who understand the intention of the stage, array layouts, safe angles, RO considerations, etc.
If you are interested in learning about stage designing, match directing, registration, RO’ing, we need volunteers. We can have you shadow others to learn how to perform these duties, participate at club matches. The more we can spread out these duties and not burn the few volunteers out, the more likely the chance for more matches. More matches means more shooting for YOU.
Please think about how YOU can do just ONE thing to help out at the next match. Based on the numbers, that would be 200+ one things and if that’s the case, that’s a lot less of a burden on the few members who do it now.
Thank you again for all of those that come out now and help, you know how much we appreciate it! Let’s make next year even better and let’s all do our part to get involved in this sport that we love so much!