The National Senior Women’s Clay Court Championships is a shining example of excellence in tournament organization. This Level 1 tournament is extremely popular with the players for a variety of reasons, most of which trace directly back to how well the tournament is run. Examples of “best practices” for conducting a tennis event are in evidence all over the site.
Today’s contest centers around a photo reflecting three tournament administration “best practices.” The first person to correctly identify all three will receive a Fiend at Court embroidered logo hat. Additionally, if there is another best practice in this photo that I have overlooked, I will award an additional hat to the first person to identify it. Responses should be submitted in the comments section against this post at FiendAtCourt.com. I will also take comments on the Facebook page for this site.
If no one has correctly identified all three best practices by 5:00 AM US Central Time on Sunday, March 10, I will reveal the correct answer and conduct a drawing for the hat that includes everyone who submitted serious responses.
Unlike yesterday’s contest, the photo is essential for the determination of the correct answer. If you don’t see a photo, your email client or web browser is blocking it. The picture can be viewed directly here.
A Hint for Yesterday’s Contest
Yesterday’s contest was to correctly identify the reason I keep a tennis ball in my sewing kit. There were many fabulous guesses with genuinely good ideas. This has shaped up to be an extremely fun exercise for me. However, there isn’t a winner yet.
Consequently, I have decided to provide a hint. The tennis ball in my sewing kit solves a potential issue related to an on-court rule I previously wrote about on this site.
I have also decided to establish a firm closing time for this contest. If no one has correctly identified the reason by 5:00 AM US Central Time on Sunday, March 10, I will reveal the correct answer and conduct a drawing for the hat that includes everyone who submitted serious responses.
In the interim, I confirmed that the Trophy Husband does not know the correct answer either. If you happen to bump into him at the Mabry in San Antonio this weekend, you can ask him for help reasoning it out.
In addition to the white board, they have a bulletin board with plenty of push pins for other announcements.
Yes, totally agree with the White Board
1. displaying information about court assignments – which court players are on
2. The event is shown against the match
3. although not shown, the additional space at the bottom of the white board should be used to indicate which matches are to go on next – the ‘queue’
4. balls have been opened and ball numbers are able to be observed to ensure the same numbered balls are not given to adjacent courts. There is space on the Daily Schedule to record ball numbers used in a match.
5. Balls should be handed to players and tubes kept at the desk for recycling and to prevent the tubes becoming a nuisance during a match (blowing around in the wind etc.)
6. Ball tubes stacked sideways, as shown, are not going to fall over!
7. Keeping pens, highlighters, erasers, white-out in a handy tournament box is the way to go!
8. Using the notice board as a tray to keep all of the items required at a tournament desk is an interesting idea. Means that everything is in place quickly at the start of the day and makes pack-up at the end of the day easy!
8. Tournament phone at hand, ready for messages and to be used
9. Clear sign about which tie-break to be used avoids any doubt – although officials should mention this in the pre-match… when there are not enough officials, this is a good idea and displays any doubts about using Coman in singles events….
10. Box of drawing pins – essential as are a supply of safety pins…. Unusual to see spare dampeners, strings and stencil in on a tournament desk, though!
White board showing which court players are on, age group playing and a sign regarding tie break method.
All great observations above. It appears there are first aid items in the clear tote as well. Always good to have just in case.
The white board tells the courts that matches have been assigned to so that spectators can look it up without bothering the tournament desk directors. The yellow sign clarifies which tiebreaker should be used. The cans of balls are opened and ready to give out to on-going matches so that adjoining courts do not have the same number on the balls.
1. Having the white board with who’s on which court
2. Using Wilson balls
3. Posting the sign “Use the Coman Tiebreak”
1. The white board with court assignments is up where all can see. It helps players know where to go watch. There are so many good things about this board!!
2. The Wilson clay court tennis balls are ready to go. Each court/match gets a specific numbered ball so no 2 courts next to each other have the same numbered ball. Balls are clay balls! Take note there are hard court balls and clay court balls! (Intersectional Disaster).
3. Tournament phone is handy incase of medical emergency on court, need to talk to referee or even find a player, any number of things.
4. Comen Tie break sign- Visible!!
5. Should I go on about how well this tournament is run I would say that Sue and Gloria were always available!! Someone was Always at the desk! That’s the only thing missing in the picture 😊