At Most Invitational Tournaments

1. Registration
   
   1. Avoid student drops. It is difficult to rewrite schematics on the fly at most tournaments. If someone drops early, try to get a replacement. If you can't, let the tournament director know as soon as possible. Don't even think about dropping a judge.
   2. Don't bring students to the registration table. Send them to the general collection area, usually the cafeteria.
   3. Get your registration packet with student codes, judge ballots, schedules, etc.
   4. Give your students their codes. Give your judges their juding packets. Be sure all students know their codes and you accurately record who gets what number.
2. Tournament responsibilities
   
   1. Judging - you will be expected to judge or work in the tab or prep areas.
   2. Helping with the tournament - even new coaches are sometimes asked to assist with tournament operations. It could be as simple as providing directions or something more demanding. Our community survives because everyone has a job to do.
   3. Supervise your students. Kids make poor choices sometimes. It's your job to stop them. No one has the same credibility with your students that you have. Get out of the coaches' lounge.
3. Judging
   
   1. Be prompt to rounds. Offer to fill in for others if you can.
   2. Every ballot or critique sheet is a teaching tool. The more you teach on the critique, the more the students will learn.
   3. Support tournament officials. If you have a complaint, address it professionally.
4. Awards and critiques
   
   1. Trophies and other awards are presented at the end of the day.
   2. If your students don't get to a final round, have them watch those who did. It is another teaching moment and supportive of those in our community.
   3. Your students learn from you how to deal with critiques. Teach by example.
5. Other Coaches / Schools
   
   1. Teach your students respect for their judges. If there are disagreements, those should be subject to a discussion with you, their coach, only.
   2. Let them know those who would be willing to help in case of an emergency and the location of the tab room.
   3. Learn to live in our community. Build rapport and comraderie with other teams.
   4. Always ask if you have questions.
   5. If you want to learn more about tournament operations, ask those who run tournaments. But do it AFTER their tournament has concluded. (Like next week!) Volunteer to work in tab rooms.

Aftermath

1. Publicity
   
   1. Make sure administration knows about your events. Write up brief and enthusiastic school announcements.
   2. Make sure school papers and local papers have access to you and your students. Take pictures and write stories for them. Journalists love it when they can simply revise a story and print it.
   3. Make use of local radio and television stations (cable, too). Public Access often is looking for content that your students can offer.
2. Critiques
   
   1. Read them before handing them out if possible. Some find it useful to keep critiques away from students until they are on the bus.
   2. Be sure you read critiques. Judges often speak directly to coaches about suggestions they have or things which are unclear. Work with your students on those suggestions.

Adapted from other sources.