Communication is your main job

Communication is hugely important. There are many decisions which you will make which will affect the registrants, volunteers, and other directors. It is critical that you communicate these clearly and consistently. It is critical that you can be reached during the day before, during, and after your competition(s) in case anyone has questions.

How and when will people (competitors, volunteers, directors, spectators, family members) know what they need to know?

All directors must read the following guides

• Director Guide
• Generic Event Guide
• Generic Event Checklist
• Overall Convention Questions

Trials

• Trials is often done in multiple groups of riders

  • If there are multiple groups, will you be separating them in advance?
  • Can riders ask to change groups?

• Rider Briefing

  • When are riders being briefed?
  • What about late-arrivals?
  • Remind the riders about any special rules (e.g. about changing from Beginner to Advanced, or about the “1/2 point hand rule” (NAUCC rule))

• There need to be many judges, in order to judge all of the stations

  • Do you have water available for the judges?
  • Are you ensuring that the judges have a break for the bathroom?
  • Shade/sunscreen?
  • Note: The judging must be consistent, so don’t replace a judge at random.
  • Each judge should have a pen

• Trials is usually scored with a scorecard

  • This is “cardstock” (hard paper) printed with a space for each obstacle
  • Each scorecard MUST have the competitor’s ID number on it
  • The judge signs each one on completion
  • Where will the competitors give their scorecards when they are done?

• Scoring

  • Someone to add up the results
  • Someone to double-check the addition
  • Someone to enter the results
  • Someone to double-check the entry

• Tie Breaking

  • Tie breaking needs to be on the schedule as a separate item, so that there is sufficient time to tabulate the scores, and determine who needs to tie-break.