The number of staff members is entirely dependent on the number of facilities a tournament is being played at, and the number of courts at each facility. The ability to effectively run a tournament, manage the players, respond to questions, intervene in conflict, and provide an all around positive experience is largely dependent on having the appropriate number of staff members on hand to help out – you can’t do this alone.
US Squash’s staffing recommendations (roles and numbers) are listed below. Please note that these recommendations are reflective of one facility – therefore, you should multiply the below recommendations by the number of facilities you are using.
- 1 Tournament Desk Worker – responsible for checking players in, ensuring the match results have been recorded, distributing/collecting score sheets (if applicable), and having a general understanding of the status of all courts in the facility.
- 1 Court Monitor for every 3-4 Courts (therefore, a facility with 6 courts would have 2 court monitors) – responsible for monitoring the quality of refereeing, ensuring that matches start on time, enforcing the warm-up and game break times, enforcing the Code of Conduct, and controlling the overall atmosphere at the courts.
Official Referees (for the Semi Finals onward) – can be professional, adult, or experienced juniors who will be responsible for refereeing the main draw semi-final and final matches in each age group.- 1 Athletic Trainer (at each venue) – It is useful to have a trainer on-site for assistance with match preparation (ex: wrapping ankles) and/or injuries. It is important to maintain a working AED near the courts in case of any heart issues. Create a plan for more serious injuries including the nearest hospital and a transportation strategy
Tournament Operations Training
What if I don’t have enough staff to help me run my event? US Squash has trained tournament operations staff should Tournament Directors wish to hire people who are already knowledgeable and experienced in running events.
The Operations training is similar to that of the Tournament Director training however, it is aimed at staff assisting at an event so that they are knowledgeable in the processes regarding its’ operation.
The Tournament Operations Certification can be found on your club locker profile. By selecting the “My Profile” page, you need to click the small right arrow ‘>’ under the renew membership section, which will allow you to scroll across to find the “Training” section. Once selecting the training tab the correct test can be accessed by clicking on the “Tournament Operations Training” option.
