What Are the Duties of Tournament Chairmen?

The job of a tournament chairman is one with much responsibility. He ensures that the event runs smoothly and displays an impartial attitude towards all referees, teams, players and coaches. He must prepare for the position by thoroughly reading the rules of that particular tournament, and he is to stand ready to enforce them at any time.

  1. Scheduling/Coordination

    • The tournament chairman must be an excellent communicator who is detail-oriented with superior organizing skills. According to the AGA of Oregon website, the tournament chairman must contact the club professionals on every team that is to play. He is to decide the play format, the starting and ending times, among other items.

    Volunteer/Staff Selection

    • According to the FSGA website, one duty of a tournament chair is to call every listed volunteer to confirm his availability for each day of the tournament, and to assign tasks to each of the individuals. He is to decide who is to set up at the beginning and to clean up at the end of a given day's events.

    Site Visits

    • The tournament chairman must visit the site of the tournament in the weeks prior to the event, according to the FSGA website. This is so that he can acquire a feeling for the landscape of the area where the games are to take place. If the game in question is golf, for instance, he must meet the superintendent of the club to determine the course markings and learn the rules of the club.

    Discipline

    • According to the United States Soccer Federation website, the tournament chairman also must preside over disciplinary hearings. He has the task of convening a hearing during a tournament, especially where an assault has taken place. Although the player or coach's home team is responsible for determining the overall punishment for the player or coach, the tournament chairman must make the decision of whether the player may remain in that tournament.

    Performance Review/Awards

    • The chairman must meet with the committee and the head of the league to which the participating teams belong, according to the Advertising Golf Association of Oregon. He must review the scores of the day, or of the tournament overall, to determine trophies or other awards depending on the rules that the participating league has adopted.