Team Canada Captain Information - World Championships

[Will Sarty]

This is something that was greatly lacking at the Worlds this year. 1st off, the Team Captains should be selected (through volunteer) well before leaving for the Worlds so that each puller knows who this is when we land in the host country. Below is information I feel is the responsibility of the Team Captain and should be taken as a checklist when departing.

Team Canada Captain

This is an extremely important position. This should consist of a minimum of two volunteers; one from Master’s and one from the Open categories so that they can offset each other and provide assistance to the pullers at all times.

Information that Team Captains should gather once arriving at the host country:
Team member’s name;
Contact information;
Room numbers;
Arrival/departure dates and times and if transportation has been booked; and
Location of Venue, Weigh-Ins, Test Scales, Sauna.

Timings Team Captain should organize:
Team photo;
Team member uniforms;
Entry fee payments; and
Team Canada meeting to discuss pullers concerns or questions.

Information Team Captain should provide to all pullers
Weigh-in information including documentation required, timings, and location;
2nd weigh-ins if required, timings and locations, and penalty for missing weight;
Any recent rule changes for current WAF tournaments;
5th and 6th placing matches;
Finals participants require passport for doping control;
Protests, how do you do it, what does it cost, what should I protest; and
What the “Pit” is when your class is called.

Items the team Captain should have in possession:
Team Canada Flag;
Participation Certificates for competing at the Worlds; and
Contact and room information of all pullers.

The Team Captain(s) should be available to the pullers at all times. Pullers should not have to look for the Captain if a Protest is being made or if they have a question about whether they should protest or get clarification on a rule.

The team should support each other while pulling and while preparing to pull. In order to generate a team concept, consider organizing team outings to visit the local area, have meals together and discuss the tournament and motivate each other.

We unfortunately went to Poland as individuals and it was easily noticed. All other countries stuck together and presented a team based presence.

[joey]

I agree with you Will.
 I remember the days when the team did everything together.
Ashley and I are working on our second of 2 corporate sponsors, hoping that this will help bring the team together with sponsored team shirts and meals paid for in the country that the worlds are in.
 The team spirit definitely wasn't there this year and it was very evident.

[tmitts]

From what I was told that went on and didn't go on in Poland for team Canada pisses me off!! Wtf happened to our team?! There was no team spirit .. There was no team help with the first timers attending worlds.. And where were the captains and the team leader of Canada? Attending a world championship is hard enough on a competitor who has the experience already but for someone who is experiencing it for the first time I would have never guessed they wouldn't have been taken under a wing of a fellow Canadian. Not only is there a lot of money put forth by these individuals who compete and their support system of family who attend .. They have been training hard and mentally focusing on what will be expected of them ..But being overwhelmed by a new country a different level of the sport language barriers all hit them right in the face while their adrenaline is fired . And where do they turn to? Hmmm apparently no one. Where is the team picture of Canada ? Who was the captain? Where was Fred Roy who is our president of Canada to make sure his country was ready to take on the world? After this worlds I'm sure a lot of other country's are shaking their heads wondering where team Canada was as well! It doesn't matter if we have 10 members at a worlds or 100.. We have always shown the world we are strong together .. That we supported each other in the stands and at the stages..

[Mr. Espey]

I have been captain in the past and it is definitely a busy job. The thought of no one being around to perform the task sounds like it would have been a nightmare.

Typically we have assigned this job to two people depending on the size of the team. This is a position that we always assign at the last minute and it should be decided weeks out.

[Will Sarty]

Fred and Lise left after Day 2 or 3 I believe. it was before we weighed in. We got our jackets, paid registration if needed and they said bye.

A Team Captain was nominated but was not told to the Team who it was, which left everyone looking for guidance. The Captain also changed between 3 people so that the others could go back to the hotel while the matches were on. I/we had no idea who to call to for protests if needed.

Jeff Penny took 6th place instead of 5th due to not showing up to the table. He was unaware that despite losing 2 matches, he waould have to pull off for 5th. Which he certainly would have won has he easily defeated that person early on.

People had to run back to the hotel from the venue to get the required docs for weigh-ins because they didnt know.

Protests were made for incorrect calls.

I think a lot of this is not knowing the responsibilities of the Team Captain.

Joey stood up on Day 4 of competition and took on this role which was awesome! He was a voice behind the team.

[joey]

Fred and Lise left early and I don't blame them, after what happened at the event I would have left too.

 The job of Team Captain has always been a issue.
Who it should be?
Who wants it?
Who is it?
Who should vote on it?
When should it be voted on?
Quite often it has been 2 people, 1 small person and 1 big person so that they both were not competing at the same time.
We can only have 1 now that the person has to attend a meeting prior to the event.
Which will make it more difficult to find the right person.
 The person has to have a good knowledge of the rules and be available to the team during all 4 days of competition.
This is tough to do when the venue is 20km from the Hotel, and weight ins are on 2 different days.
The next problem we have is that some competitors don't know that they will be attending until one month prior to worlds.

 For next year we should try to vote on this at Nationals, it may not be the best but at least everyone will be able to put name with a face.

 What do you think

[tamara]

So you are saying the "experienced" world competition people left and didn't leave anyone in charge of team Canada and the directions they were to take. Was there a meeting when team Canada got there like we always did when I was in attendance of the worlds? We agreed on captains at that meeting or even on the plane heading to the event. Yes the meeting for the captain can possibly be at nationals and what happens if no one can take that role.. Should maybe an experienced puller/ref or governing body of Canada who is attending step up to help our new pullers out and keep them interested in staying involved rather than what happened. Our team use to be so strong together .. Why is this happening? Are the politics taking over and the pullers being forgotten?

[Brian Kehler]

Sept 16, 2013 17:11:17 GMT -5 joey said:

Fred and Lise left early and I don't blame them, after what happened at the event I would have left too.

What happened?

[joey]

There was some bad politics at this years worlds and all our worst fears came to light.

[matty]

Well that explains everything.