There are few things about sports karate that annoys me more than poor tournament management. So many competition promoters are so eager for large turnouts that they tend to overlook the most important aspects of the tournament - the management of the competition and maintenance of time standards. This past weekend, I attended a tournament which, while really a local event, has really taken off and has begun to include many competitors from overseas. The gentleman that organizes this annual event is heavily involved with the WKF (World Karate Federation) and the PKF (Pan-American Karate Federation), and has become very involved with the karate programs in several Central American countries. Due to these contacts, he has begun to host competitors from all over the Pan-American region for his annual tournament, which is fantastic. This year alone he had well over 400 competitors for the entire event, which is nearly double from last year's number.
This event is, without a doubt, the largest such event in the area short of any national championships that might occur in this part of the country. The men's black belt division had well over 30 competitors, which you will only see in the national championships, and each kumite division ran 3 rounds of eliminations, at the very least. The numbers were fantastic for this tournament, and I couldn't have been more excited for the organizer as he is a great guy that put in a ton of time and effort into providing such an outstanding event.
The problem is that he is incapable of managing the time for his event. Sadly, this is an issue most tournament organizers face. This is in large part due to the fact that competitors and judges (who are usually volunteers) rarely ever show up to the tournament on time. This all leads to the event being pushed back as the event organizers wait for competitors to arrive - this unfortunately, sets a very depressing precedent. I can accept a tournament that is supposed to start at 9am, starting at 10am, what I can't accept is a tournament that is supposed to start at 9am, starting at 11am and that's only for the opening ceremonies.
The organizers put so much store into putting on a show that they forget who the customers are in all this - i.e. the competitors! Competitors are made to sit around waiting, and expecting an event to run on the schedule that has been posted, but sadly it never happens. This is due to several problems, all stemming from the precedent established above. The precedent says that the event organizers will hold the tournament back to the detriment of competitors are there to the benefit of those that are arriving late.
Setting a schedule is the key to running a successful tournament, but the real key is sticking to the schedule. If you want opening ceremonies, then account for that in your schedule. If you want the competition to start at 9am, then let competitors and coaches know that the opening ceremonies are starting at 8am, no exceptions. Stick to your guns and let those that arrive late deal with the consequences - i.e. loss of registration fees, missing events.
Karate organizations and tournaments are often run in a seat-of-the-pants, lackadaisical manner. This is wrong, let me repeat that: this is WRONG! Tournaments are businesses as much as karate organizations are, and the customers are the karate-ka that participate. Officials, referees and judges are employees, if you need officials to arrive on time, then make sure you're paying them for the time they put in, or compensate them in some other way. Even volunteers at not-for-profit organizations are expected to work the hours they promise, and expected to arrive to work on time, not on their own schedules. If they don't arrive on time, they are penalized (same as any late employee). Businesses cater to the customers, but the don't make huge exceptions for them. Generally if a customer misses out an a sale at a department store, they are out of luck. Why shouldn't this apply to a tournament?
Running a business is a simple matter as long as you have plan. The complexities arise in the execution, but even those can be mitigated. You just need to stick to the plan. Tournaments are much the same matter, but the trick is sticking to your plan. Without proper planning then all we are is a bunch of weirdos dancing around in white pajamas.
This event is, without a doubt, the largest such event in the area short of any national championships that might occur in this part of the country. The men's black belt division had well over 30 competitors, which you will only see in the national championships, and each kumite division ran 3 rounds of eliminations, at the very least. The numbers were fantastic for this tournament, and I couldn't have been more excited for the organizer as he is a great guy that put in a ton of time and effort into providing such an outstanding event.
The problem is that he is incapable of managing the time for his event. Sadly, this is an issue most tournament organizers face. This is in large part due to the fact that competitors and judges (who are usually volunteers) rarely ever show up to the tournament on time. This all leads to the event being pushed back as the event organizers wait for competitors to arrive - this unfortunately, sets a very depressing precedent. I can accept a tournament that is supposed to start at 9am, starting at 10am, what I can't accept is a tournament that is supposed to start at 9am, starting at 11am and that's only for the opening ceremonies.
The organizers put so much store into putting on a show that they forget who the customers are in all this - i.e. the competitors! Competitors are made to sit around waiting, and expecting an event to run on the schedule that has been posted, but sadly it never happens. This is due to several problems, all stemming from the precedent established above. The precedent says that the event organizers will hold the tournament back to the detriment of competitors are there to the benefit of those that are arriving late.
Setting a schedule is the key to running a successful tournament, but the real key is sticking to the schedule. If you want opening ceremonies, then account for that in your schedule. If you want the competition to start at 9am, then let competitors and coaches know that the opening ceremonies are starting at 8am, no exceptions. Stick to your guns and let those that arrive late deal with the consequences - i.e. loss of registration fees, missing events.
Karate organizations and tournaments are often run in a seat-of-the-pants, lackadaisical manner. This is wrong, let me repeat that: this is WRONG! Tournaments are businesses as much as karate organizations are, and the customers are the karate-ka that participate. Officials, referees and judges are employees, if you need officials to arrive on time, then make sure you're paying them for the time they put in, or compensate them in some other way. Even volunteers at not-for-profit organizations are expected to work the hours they promise, and expected to arrive to work on time, not on their own schedules. If they don't arrive on time, they are penalized (same as any late employee). Businesses cater to the customers, but the don't make huge exceptions for them. Generally if a customer misses out an a sale at a department store, they are out of luck. Why shouldn't this apply to a tournament?
Running a business is a simple matter as long as you have plan. The complexities arise in the execution, but even those can be mitigated. You just need to stick to the plan. Tournaments are much the same matter, but the trick is sticking to your plan. Without proper planning then all we are is a bunch of weirdos dancing around in white pajamas.
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