Post by NigelS on Dec 6, 2006 10:31:27 GMT
I thought I would post this announcement before the AGM, so if anyone has any thoughts, they can let me know before Sunday, when I tell the committee of my intentions. I have left it to the end of the current season to write this, but I made this decision 2 months ago, so this is not a reaction to anything that has happened recently.
I intend to step down as TD at the end of next year. I would have preferably stepped down at the end of this season, but, with Dave Barnes and Keith MacDonald standing down at this years AGM, I feel that I should stay for one more year as we already have 2 new committee members to find. Also, it gives us one year to find a new TD.
There are a few reasons that have contributed to me making this decision. Firstly the distance of travel is a nightmare for someone who does not drive, and Sunday trains are not the most reliable or fun. Last Sunday is a good example, I only made my Redhill connection by 1 minute, had I missed it I could have been delayed by an hour, which would not have been good news for the over 50’s due to kick off at 11am. Getting the train (and also a taxi to the station, no busses that early) is also expensive, and if the new rule of not being able to claim travel expenses goes through, it is going to cost me a fair bit of money. Had I been playing only and not running the tournament, I could have had a lift from Chris Reeves, but having to be there early for the over 50s meant I had to get the train. I don’t mind spending the time to run these tournaments, but I do mind being out of pocket, considering I don’t get any honarium at all.
The second reason, is that, I am very unlikely to have to time to do the job properly in future years, some of you know that I recently qualified to be a teacher, and although I am unemployed at the moment, hopefully next year I will have a job and because the tournaments mainly run from September to December (during term time), I would have to juggle both jobs. Running these tournaments takes away your whole weekend, Saturday you have to do all the planning, printing etc and Sunday you are away all day at Reading.
Another factor, and anyone who wishes to take this role should take this into consideration, is that when running any tournament that you are playing in, your standard of play is bound to be affected. I have certainly found this to be the case, it is very difficult to focus on your play whilst there are often issues you have just left behind at the admin desk. Yes, I did make the final of the Alternative Rules, but once the draw is done that tournament runs itself and it is just hitting balls around at the back at the table. However, my county performance was by far my worst in 6 years, I also represented Sussex in the All England Individuals, and I know I did not do myself justice. I still feel I have a good few years of good bar billiards in me, and it has been a little frustrating this year knowing I should have done better when representing my county.
Whoever the TD is in the future, whether it be me next year or someone else beyond that they must be given the right to make whatever choices he/she feels are appropriate for that tournament. The numbers are never really known until the day, and I have often produced numerous schedules in advance. Some will not agree with the decisions made by the TD, but I can assure you in my case I have always made decisions which I have felt are in the best interests of the tournament and the players. I have always tried to give the players as many games as time will allow, for instance in the Ladies CC and CC Div 3 I had a choice of giving them 6 games or 3. I chose 6 because I know it is a long way to travel for just 3 games of bar billiards (especially if you only have 1 break) I found that some disagreed with what I did, and probably the same number agreed with what I did. My point is that the players should understand that the TD can’t keep them all happy, but the TD is doing their best on the day.
I will conclude with I have enjoyed running the tournaments for the players, and it is nice when players thank me at the end of the day for the work I have put in. I will continue to do my best next year, but one of the reasons why I have put this on the web now is that if anyone wants to step in and do the job next year can say so at the AGM on Sunday, or even let me know by message that they want to do it. If this is the case, I will assist in any way I can to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible.
I intend to step down as TD at the end of next year. I would have preferably stepped down at the end of this season, but, with Dave Barnes and Keith MacDonald standing down at this years AGM, I feel that I should stay for one more year as we already have 2 new committee members to find. Also, it gives us one year to find a new TD.
There are a few reasons that have contributed to me making this decision. Firstly the distance of travel is a nightmare for someone who does not drive, and Sunday trains are not the most reliable or fun. Last Sunday is a good example, I only made my Redhill connection by 1 minute, had I missed it I could have been delayed by an hour, which would not have been good news for the over 50’s due to kick off at 11am. Getting the train (and also a taxi to the station, no busses that early) is also expensive, and if the new rule of not being able to claim travel expenses goes through, it is going to cost me a fair bit of money. Had I been playing only and not running the tournament, I could have had a lift from Chris Reeves, but having to be there early for the over 50s meant I had to get the train. I don’t mind spending the time to run these tournaments, but I do mind being out of pocket, considering I don’t get any honarium at all.
The second reason, is that, I am very unlikely to have to time to do the job properly in future years, some of you know that I recently qualified to be a teacher, and although I am unemployed at the moment, hopefully next year I will have a job and because the tournaments mainly run from September to December (during term time), I would have to juggle both jobs. Running these tournaments takes away your whole weekend, Saturday you have to do all the planning, printing etc and Sunday you are away all day at Reading.
Another factor, and anyone who wishes to take this role should take this into consideration, is that when running any tournament that you are playing in, your standard of play is bound to be affected. I have certainly found this to be the case, it is very difficult to focus on your play whilst there are often issues you have just left behind at the admin desk. Yes, I did make the final of the Alternative Rules, but once the draw is done that tournament runs itself and it is just hitting balls around at the back at the table. However, my county performance was by far my worst in 6 years, I also represented Sussex in the All England Individuals, and I know I did not do myself justice. I still feel I have a good few years of good bar billiards in me, and it has been a little frustrating this year knowing I should have done better when representing my county.
Whoever the TD is in the future, whether it be me next year or someone else beyond that they must be given the right to make whatever choices he/she feels are appropriate for that tournament. The numbers are never really known until the day, and I have often produced numerous schedules in advance. Some will not agree with the decisions made by the TD, but I can assure you in my case I have always made decisions which I have felt are in the best interests of the tournament and the players. I have always tried to give the players as many games as time will allow, for instance in the Ladies CC and CC Div 3 I had a choice of giving them 6 games or 3. I chose 6 because I know it is a long way to travel for just 3 games of bar billiards (especially if you only have 1 break) I found that some disagreed with what I did, and probably the same number agreed with what I did. My point is that the players should understand that the TD can’t keep them all happy, but the TD is doing their best on the day.
I will conclude with I have enjoyed running the tournaments for the players, and it is nice when players thank me at the end of the day for the work I have put in. I will continue to do my best next year, but one of the reasons why I have put this on the web now is that if anyone wants to step in and do the job next year can say so at the AGM on Sunday, or even let me know by message that they want to do it. If this is the case, I will assist in any way I can to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible.
