2014 Lessons Learned: The Negative

[Libby K]

Originally Posted by Brandon_L

I think you're missing the 6 hour unbag time in the week leading up to the event which is supposed to replaces the practice day. The first day is supposed to just be a load-ing/unbag/inspect and at some events practice is thrown in. I've been to events where we were allowed to practice Day 1 (Bridgewater) and events where we weren't, and practice was a couple hours at the beginning of day 2 (Chestnut Hill, Lenape 2013).

Of course, the 6 hour unbag time can't really replace true on-field with other team practice time. The issue with having a full practice day, at least in MAR, is probably the fact that the MAR events run Friday-Sunday in a highschool gym which would involve invading a high school during school hours.

We didn't miss it - trust me, 1923 used every possible second of their unbag window.

I guess I misworded myself. My suggestions are, either get rid of the load-in-practice-time, or go back to a practice day on a normal schedule. Keeping students (and parents and volunteers) there til almost 11pm just to be able to practice on a full field wasn't really fair to them. And it certainly needs to be consistent across all the events...