a. Finance. Finance is usually required ( 250 permit fee to RAFBA), where is it coming from sponsorship, sports fund or other?

Transcription

1 A934F1C0_5056_A318_A8E0E6A3AA73C07D.doc 28 Mar 10 All Promoters* ORGANIZING RAF BOXING TOURNAMENTS 1. Due to the involved nature of organising a boxing tournament, it is a team exercise. Your first point of contact should be the RAF Boxing Association (RAFBA)! 2. Can a tournament be held? Usually the answer is yes; however, there are 2 important elements: a. The agreement of the Stn Cdr. b. The permission of the RAFBA 1, the governing body of amateur boxing in the RAF. A legal permit is required that provides in the ring insurance. The permit application allows the RAFBA to help you ensure that all the relevant procedures and arrangements have been catered for. A permit will cost 250, irrespective of charity funds to be raised (most shows are charity fundraisers). This fee is normally paid for through your sports fund or sponsorship. 3. Timing and Date. The date needs to be agreed with the RAFBA 2 in order not to conflict with other tournaments and ensure you can get the required support of officials and boxers. The fixture list is agreed every June at the RAFBA AGM. 4. Issues to be Addressed. After receiving authorisation (permit) from the RAFBA, there are several issues to consider and so arranging a team of volunteers or a committee is advised. Whilst the list below appears daunting, remember that the RAFBA organise many of these shows and are there to assist and become part of your team: 5. General Administration. a. Finance. Finance is usually required ( 250 permit fee to RAFBA), where is it coming from sponsorship, sports fund or other? b. Training. Will your boxers be ready in time? It takes a long time to get someone trained for a bout and registered with the RAFBA etc. c. Weight. As it is easy to have a bout cancelled due to weight differences on the evening, service commitments or other issues, arranging 25% more bouts than required is advisable, ie for 8 bouts arrange 10. Allow 15 mins per 4 round bout and 10mins per 3 round bout. d. Documentation. Record and document all your organising on the stn. Boxing File held with the PEdO; as it s an official sport every stn should have a boxing file. e. Roles. Have you got a volunteer team or committee to cater for all the elements in this list below spread the workload with people who have the 1 RAFBA Executive Secretary 2 RAFBA Team Manager/Competition Secretary 1

2 right knowledge, a boxing knowledge is not required for all organisations. Some of the roles needed, NOT provided for by the RAFBA, are listed below. (1) 2x whips one for each corner, who collect the boxing gloves, headguard and sash from the boxers when they get out of the ring and return them to the gloving up table. (2) Someone specifically appointed to glove-up the boxers in turn. (3) Extra whip if possible to ensure that the boxers know when they re due, by keeping track of the programme and keeping the flow of the tournament. (4) The Master of Ceremonies (MC) is provided by the RAFBA but an alternate SNCO at the stn s request may do so after a protocol brief. (5) Music/PA tech/operator. (6) A committee or point of contact will be needed: (7) PEdO is the most important committee member. (8) NCO or above from Admin Wg HQ, as liaison to OC Admin/Stn Cdr and for other assistance, if not the PEdO. (9) Accommodation cell, for booking the visitors who travel from afar. (10) Health & Safety Officer for ring, seating, lighting etc. (11) Fire Safety Officer for venue - usually through PEdO. (12) Med Centre representative. (13) Catering section. (14) Support team - for setting up and clearing the venue the bigger the team the easier the workload! (15) Police Flt and/or guardroom person for security, esp. if civilians are participating and for passes and permits etc. (16) Officers and SNCOs Mess committee member, they may wish to more formally support such a function. (17) Someone looking after the advertising and promotion. (18) MT if necessary. 6. Venue. The following questions need to be asked about your venue. a. Is the venue big enough for a boxing ring and the required audience? b. Is the ceiling high enough for boxing ring lights and is there an appropriate attachment and power socket available? c. How big a crowd are you realistically aiming for? 2

3 d. Have you got the appropriate seating? e. Is your Stn Health & Safety Officer on hand for advice? - Tiered seating and boxing rings usually require H&S safety checks. f. Are rooms available for 2x changing rooms (red and blue corner), and a weigh-in, doctors and officials room (can be changing room if big enough)? g. Are showers and toilets available for the boxers and referees? h. Are toilets adequate for the crowd of spectators too? i. Is there an appropriate PA system available for the MC and if so where is the power socket(s)? j. Can music be available? It is ideal to have a military band but appropriate music on a sound system is adequate. 7. Tournament Administration. The following points represent thoughts that need to b given to the tournament administration. a. Advertising should be tasteful. Whilst tempting to tread into the professional world of bright lights and TV orientated razzmatazz, an evening of good, old fashioned military boxing in an atmosphere of decorum, will bode better within a military environment and, more importantly, with possible sponsors, who, frankly, can get razzmatazz anywhere. b. Poster pictures should be in keeping with the above sentiments and NOT depict a boxer on the floor or un-necessary gore and blood. The most impressive and entertaining boxing is fast, even and closely fought. c. Advertising too early can be as inconvenient as too late. For best results, a campaign a month before, then again a few days before, gets results; perhaps also try getting sections to sponsor bouts (and purchase the trophies) in order to ensure involvement. d. Programmes are an important feature of audience involvement. In order to account for late changes and get accuracy, try to print the programme insert, with the bouts, on as late, but reliably, as possible. Always include the caveat that the programme may change and explain why, weight, medical etc. e. Tournament documentation is the responsibility of the RAFBA, but the boxers Medical Record Cards are the responsibility of their coaches; boxers must be re-registered for the new season every September. Check this on match-making. f. When matching the boxers, do so with proven accuracy not probable information i.e not under the remit he ll probably only be 70 kgs by then. g. RAFBA officials and boxers travel expenses are usually paid for at public cost, which provides a conflict of interest if entrance money is charged as well. It is always best to offer your stn a free evening s entertainment by financing everything through donations and sponsorship. 8. Medical Aspects. This is an import aspect to keep all boxers safe. 3

4 a. Can the medical centre provide a boxing doctor or do the RAFBA need to provide one? b. Can the medical centre provide an assistant to the boxing doctor with medical equipment including Resuscitation Kit, stretcher and general first aid kit? c. Is the local hospital aware of the show and the ambulance service able to provide an ambulance in the worst case? d. Have your stn boxers all been medically examined for the season and certified as being fit to box in their MRCs? e. Have your stn boxers got appropriate well fitted gumshields? 9. Equipment. All the following provisions for equipment need to be made. a. Have you got an approved boxing ring iaw RAFBA rules 3? Sometimes it is easier to hire a ring than obtain a working party, an expert who knows how to erect a ring and transport. If hiring a ring, use a reputable company who provide everything including the erection of ring-lights. b. Neutral corners should have medical waste bags or plastic disposable bags taped to the corner posts, for disposal of contaminated swabs, gloves etc. if needed. c. Trophies or prizes. There should be a winner and a runner-up trophy/prize 4. Clearly, money cannot be a prize for amateurs but vouchers may be. Huge, world-title style trophies are inappropriate for Stn. shows. d. The boxing gloves and headguards will be provided by the RAFBA. e. Corner equipment should come with the ring if hired from a company, but check for 3x sets of steps (red, blue and a neutral corner), stools/seats for boxers, buckets x 2 each corner with water provided, (sponges and towels should be boxers/coaches own). f. Tables and chairs at ringside for the OIC and his officials. Should aim to have most of the ringside length lined with tables and 9x chairs on the side where the red corner is to the left and 2x tables and chairs on the other 3 sides. g. Sports clock or stopwatch x2 available and with a bell if possible. tell the RAFBA if these cannot be provided, they will provide. h. Extension cables should be available if possible to ensure that the RAFBA computer scoring system can access power. i. Gloving up table(s) for the boxers or tables in the changing rooms for same as a focal point for all the boxers equipment. j. Scales for the weigh-in. These should be an accurate set of recently calibrated scales tell the RAFBA if these cannot be provided. k. Is an appropriate version of the National Anthem is available? 3 See or the latest rulebook from any RAFBA official. 4 Boxers who are disqualified do not normally receive a trophy. This is the decision of the OIC. 4

5 10. Catering. Your boxers, coaches and officials, including doctor and medics, will all need to be fed at your cost. This doesn t have to be at the venue but is much easier if there is no after-boxing function. If civilian boxers are used, it is definitely better to feed and water at the venue. Alcohol availability at the venue is a decision for the stn but security measures should be in place for the rare occasion of inappropriate behaviour in the crowd. 11. Final thoughts. Finally, if in doubt about any aspect you must ask rather than guess and risk the tournament. K Whalley Flt Lt RAFBA Executive Secretary x7671 5