If I could describe working for a sports commission in one word It would have to be, AWESOME.  Working in this industry I have been exposed to different and unique sports that I would have never even watched, let alone worked.  From diving trials to BMX race tracks, to paddle boarding, I have gained first hand experience in a variety of sporting events.

My favorite event that I got to work at, besides the Rainier LAX Cup, was the triathlon.  There was so much that had went into planning and organizing the 130 participant race that I am glad I wasn't in charge of doing anything major for it other than show up.  The triathlon basically encompassed three sporting events into one, swimming, cycling and long distance running.  Since this event was hosted by the city it allowed us to block off major roads for our course, with the help of the police department.  During the cycling portion of the race I was in charge of directing the cyclists, going at high speeds on a busy road, onto the next leg of the race.  It was crazy to see these participants switch from their wet-suits to bike gear, then to running shoes.  Working this event I have defianantly gained an appreciation for people/athletes who partake in tries. They look excruciatingly exhausting, but very rewarding after accomplishing I am sure.

Though being out of the office and working on event days is a lot of fun, the work that takes place in the office starts to get tedious, but determines the success of the event.  Before we can put on any tournament or competition, there is always a pre-event meeting where our staff comes together and brainstorms the main purpose of the event we are hosting, along with other logistical measures such as budget & marketing.  Once the duties are delegated, its go time.  I can't even begin to count how many emails I sent and phone calls I made over the course of my internship.  It makes me wonder how anything was ever accomplished before the internet and technology.  Staring at a computer for 7 hours at a time some days does get really dry, but once you finally get to see all the hard work you put in on the event day, it is well worth it.  

It is hard to believe that my internship is coming to an end, but I am looking forward to continuing my journey in the sports world through coaching while I finish my last semester of school.  Working for Tacoma Sports I have gained a better understanding of the impact that sports have on communities, along with how much work it takes to coordinate major sporting events.  I feel confidant in what I have learned at TSSS to coordinate and execute my own sporting event from start to finish.  And hopefully in the future, I will be able to do just that =).    

The Rainer LAX Cup was finally here and my stress level couldn't have been any higher.  All of the long hours in the office making phone calls and emails to coaches, drafting and organizing event details, had finally boiled down to this weekend.  Overall I was not too nervous about the event being a success; we had met all of our deadlines and goals. The thing that I was most nervous and anxious about, was getting to spend all day with Hilary Bowmen, four-time NCAA DI lacrosse champion & U.S Team Member; and Regan Bosch, former goalie all-star at Duke.  Mind you, these two ladies are celebrities in the lacrosse world and I got to spend all day with them!

 

Hilary and Regan weren’t at all what I had expected in my mind.  Though I was socially awkward at first, they were both very sociable and made me feel comfortable. They were only three years older than I was and much like me, they both have a deep rooted passion for lacrosse.  We all hit it off really well and I learned a lot about college athletics and coaching (they both coach at USC now).  In fact they have convinced me to try and land a coaching position once I finish my degree.  The sport is expanding at a very rapid pace and the demand for coaches is substantial. I am hoping the odds are in my favor when it comes time for job hunting.

Saturday had rolled around and we were at the fields bright and early.  My advisor was in overdrive directing and yelling at people where to put stuff and set up things.  She looked like she had at least two Redbulls (overly stressed).  Luckily for her, we had both met earlier in the week and I was able to eliminate some of her stress by checking in the volunteers and direct the vendors.  Set up was probably the most important part of the day and once that was over with, everything ran off a master timer.  The coaches already had their schedules, the U19 players were assigned their VIP coach, and it was smooth sailing until the event was over at 5:00pm. 

As I sat with Emily at the check in table watching the teams play, she had told me that everything was looking great and coaches/parents/players were all very pleased with the way the tournament was going.  She then told me, she prayed and hoped no one got injured.  Apparently, one of the staff members who were in charge of finding an EMT for on site did not follow through with their duties.  So if someone were to get severely injured, we could be in deep s*it.  Luckily no one got hurt other than a couple of scrapes and bruises.  Something I have learned from this, what could have been a terrible disaster, is not everyone can be as reliable as you would like them to be.  In a business setting I will be working with multiple people on any given assignment and often times a lot of people don’t do their part.  It is important to do follow ups and set deadlines, that way as the director you can check the work and progress to ensure it is done correctly.

All in all, the entire event was a huge success and will certainly be held again next year.  There were only a couple of things that would have been done differently. By having gained experience in helping create an entirely new event from scratch, it will make planning other events more efficient.