Setting up your facility ahead of the event requires a little bit of time and attention to detail. A facility may be laid out in such a way that no furniture adjustments may be needed, but some clubs need extra chairs and to move couches to allow for extra viewing space for spectators. When you are looking at the lay out consider where the referee’s will sit to referee, and have chairs or a space marked off, this will make it easier for the referee’s to know where they should go as well as help crowd control when it gets busier.
There are a number of things that should be considered when setting up your facility and they are listed below:
WiFi
In the world that we live in technology and WiFi are necessary tools for events. If you are using live scoring on your devices it is important that you check your WiFi can support multiple devices. It may be worth having two separate WiFi networks; one for tournament software and then an open network for the participants and spectators.
If you are live streaming, having these networks on separate access points will help prevent your streaming set up from becoming overloaded. When ever possible, doing video streaming over a wired network is advised.
Using club locker software
Club locker software is used for the administrative management of your tournament. It gives you access and lets you utilize the software to run your event and live score it. Click here if you need step by step
Device set up for Live Scoring
The scoring app is available on any internet enabled device by going to www.ussquash.com/referee in the device’s browser. US Squash recommends bookmarking and/or creating a shortcut on your device for easy access.
Once on the home page of the scoring app, log in as the tournament director (using the TD’s Club Locker login credentials). Matches that are scheduled to be played on that day will appear to be scored. Please note that only matches that have been scheduled with both a time and a court number will appear on the list of matches to be scored.
If you are not live scoring and using devices for your event, clipboards and pens are recommended behind every court for scoring purposes. It is beneficial to attach pens to clipboards so that pens don’t go missing. Using an expo or dry erase marker on the glass on the back of each court allows players and parents to see who is currently on the court, as well and the rest of the court schedule throughout the day.
Tournament Desk
It is important to have an assigned tournament desk so that players can access information throughout the weekend. Your tournament desk should be presented neatly with a table cloth and clear signage. It will be equipped with a computer and all charging cables for the necessary devices, so organizing and taping down cables is necessary so that when anyone moves around the desk they do not trip. A printer is useful if you are printing out court martix’s and score sheets though the duration of the event.
It is useful to have some form of pen and paper handy even if you are running a digital only event. For a Tournament Director who wishes to still print score sheets and record scores on paper clipboards and pens are needed for the referees and should be available for each court.
The tournament desk is also used as the check in desk, is where the players would come to check in for each match. Encourage players to check in before each match so that you know they have arrived and can track them down for their court when it opens up if necessary.
Registration desk
The Registration desk is where players will come at the beginning of the event to sign in, and let you know they have arrived. This desk is where a player gift should be available to be given out, and other information can be explained such as planned social events for the weekend, and any information about the facility that is necessary.