Sport Facilities Recommendation Summary Report 2010-2000

2010 Arctic Winter Games

Technical Package Recommendations:

Badminton:

- A decision needs to be made on following all IBF rules, ex. Matching clothing for doubles and mixed teams. As well clothing lengths and restrictions. - As well, a clear ruling on what happens if a player is not able to continue in an event. According to IBF rules they are done for the tournament and the Games that were played in that event are no longer relevant.

Dene Games:

- Head Official needs to oversee the calculation of points. - Technical package needs to be rewritten to include all event results for calculation of Team Event Ulus. - In Hand Games, instead of “Diya”, a previoiusly agreed upon, appropriate sound should be called out. - In Stick Pull, under the “Movement” section, a statement should be included to indicate that jerking of the stick should not be permitted. - Order of events should be standardized in the Dene Community. - Maximum age for female category should be 23 years. - Get officials from all Dene groups. - Females should make up half of the Officials.

Arctic Sports:

- For the kicking games, the Tech Package should state the height that the object should be at when the competition commences.

Dog Mushing:

- Clarify the rules for the team event. - Specifies for the team race. Juvenile and junior divisions may be combined to create one team to participate. - The combination of a Junior and Juvenile participant to make up one team. Which race do they participate in? Is it in fact supposed to be ONE race where all Juniors and Juveniles compete against one another or are there two separate divisions for competition to the team event and should the teams not be allowed to mix and match participants from the two categories? What happens in the instance that there is only one participant from a contingent in the team event? Are they disqualified from participating in the team event?

Basketball:

- Add another age group. Either U16 or U17 - Coaches would like to have an assistant coach on the bench.

Gymnastics:

- Ensure it is clear who is providing which volunteers. Have all volunteer schedules, with contact information, at the venue so that the Venue Team Leader can follow up when gaps are noticed or people fail to show up for a scheduled time.

Speed Skating:

- It should be stated in the Tech Package that the Arctic Winter Games Speed Skating Competition cannot be sanctioned by SSC or USASS because of AWGIC modifications to ISU rules. - Do not change format of the relay. The rules have already been modified from ISU rules and no further modifications should be allowed. - All Speed Skating participants should be housed in the same school and classrooms wherever possible.

Hockey:

- Strongly encourage at least 4 co-chairs with 1 assistant for each co-chair to handle 15 teams and 6 straight days of being at the arena for 14 hours a day. - The “trainer” was an issue from the get go to the end. I think each contingent needs to bring their trainers. This was very problematic to cover from a volunteer recruiting perspective. As well, there was too much confusion from the teams as to what to do with them. Some wanted them, some didn’t. This needs to be made clearer. - Give the chairs the “Fair Play Pins”. - Revisions to the Technical Package with respect to equipment to ensure consistency. Specifically with regards to mouth guards and neck protection. - Chefs for each contingent should be at the Coaches Meeting. They should also meet with each Sport Chair every morning for a few minutes without coaches to go over any changes or important news the coaches should have.

Soccer:

- Playoff and tiebreaker rules need to be clarified. - Should have an accumulation rule for yellow cards. - If there were set facility requirements it would be easier to come up with a Technical Package that would be relevant from Games to Games.

- All Officials should be Class II, with a two referee system

Snowshoeing:

- Running the event in the afternoon works successfully. - Running the longer races on a shorter loop (i.e. 2.5km) worked well in that you don’t need as many volunteers on the trail, and made for better spectator involvement as well as allowed team members to cheer on and encourage their team mates.

Volleyball:

- Need to stipulate that only ONE coach be allowed to sit on the bench. Contingents with a male coach and a female chaperone often had their chaperone sit on the bench. This should be amended. - Package should stipulate the format for the competition. This year we ran a single round robin tournament with all matched being best 2 of 3 sets. In previous Games there have been double round robins or best 3 of 5 set matches or playoffs running as best of 5 matches. It would be in the best interests of the next host to have a guideline for setting up their tournament. This would allow for greater consistency from Games to Games and also enable future chairs to “need” additional courts instead of simply “wanting or requesting” them.

Cross Country Skiing:

- Look at Sprint Race configuration. Still seems quite complicated. - Continue to allow 4 Junior Boy, 4 Junior Girls, 4 Juvenile Boys, 4 Juvenile Girls, 4 Midget Boys, and 4 Midget Girls.

Biathlon:

- It was suggested that the team captains meeting to change the relay by putting all the competitions in a pool and do a random sort and make up mixed teams of three with members from different contingents. We ran unofficial teams made up of members from contingents who were not on official teams.

Curling:

- Use Last Stone Draw (LSD) in pre-game practice to determine hammer from round robin play in accordance with WCF Rule C8(b). - Age criteria should be updated to have two age groups for curling. Junior Male and Junior Female teams as they currently participate. Add a mixed class for age 14 and under teams who would like to play 8 end games.

- Remove Technical Package 6 (i). The number of ends of play should be per the WCF rules. - Add to Technical Package 6. Spares: o Spare pool will have a minimum of 3 participants of each gender. Spares can be requested from any contingent if not available from the host location. - Replace Technical Package 6.(f) with the following: o Each team will be allowed 10 minutes practice prior to each game. First practice shall be from 30 to 20 minutes prior to game time. The second practice shall start at the conclusion of the first practice team’s Last Stone Draw. - Current playoff format needs to be in the Technical Package. - Add the minimum requirements for officials in the Technical Package.

Alpine Skiing:

- We followed the International Ski Competition Rules with the exception of how we ran the slalom event. - Younger participants were allowed to fill age categories and it is recommended that this practice continues in the future. - If more contingents send participants, the overall team numbers would be fine. If four or less contingents send participants, it would be nice if the participant’s numbers should be increased from 12 to 16 participants. - Medals should be given to the coaches for the team event.

Officials:

Communications:

- GEMs must permit transfer of information between divisions. - Officials, volunteers related to Officials, and tasks related to Officials must be specifically and distinctively identified within the GEMs system options, classifications and other information features.

Officials Development:

- Host Society and International Committee should continue to be pro-active in the promotion of Officials development to the governing sports bodies and their affiliated officials’ associations. - Host Society should continue to include financial support for official’s development.

Officials Recruitment:

- Chair of Officials to source and invite all Officials.

- Develop and implement a detailed recruitment schedule for future games to be included in the Staging Manual.

Hospitality:

- Select a single site for Officials accommodations. - Establish an Officials “Go-To” Room at the Official’s accommodation site. - Host an Officials Reception as it provided an excellent opportunity for the Host Society to express their appreciation to the Officials and for both the senior management and the International Committee to bring greetings. - Provide an Official’s Pin - Where possible, provide Official’s with a distinctive piece of clothing.

Head Officials Meeting:

- Host a Head Officials Meeting prior to any of the sport specific Officials meetings. Include all Head Officials, a representative of the Sport Technical Division and a member of the International Committee.

2008 Arctic Winter Games

Executive:

- Ensure that you have a committee of no more than 6 to 8 people. Preparation will be much easier if you have more members to help plan. - Keep notes of your progress. Put together a Project Plan that has key deliverables and dates and who’s assigned what. Having this will make for a smooth operation during the Games. - Use equipment from last AWG’s when possible. - Contact the Chairperson of the last AWG’s for the sport that you are responsible or. The information you get will be invaluable. - Meet or plan a telephone meeting with the officials of your sport of responsibility.

Sport Manager:

- Split sports into logical groups, and have separate meetings with them every so often.

Sport Technical:

Figure Skating:

- Time the ice allotment for better usage. Three ice surfaces should be available for best possible schedule. - Do NOT hold Opening/Closing Ceremonies in any of the actual sport venues. Doing so puts the sports affected in a bad position with having to forge practices, crunch schedules, rush through events, ECT. Use a big tent whenever possible to avoid disruption. - Some dedicated bussing by SPORT when required. - Make boxed lunches available to all sports for athletes, coaches and officials when they need them. - Hold the athletes dance/social. There is a social aspect to these games, and the athletes do not have any other opportunity to socialize in one place. - A coach lounge needs to be made available at each accommodation site. - The main venues need to have a volunteer/athlete/coaches/officials hospitality room where FOOD and DRINKS are available. - Provide chairs for the athletes and coaches for opening ceremonies. Having to stand for long periods of time resulted in many sore feet, legs and backs immediately prior to competition.

Badminton:

- The sport schedule that is published for badminton by the host society should include the dates and times when the various contingents are playing each other. - It is important that the badminton venue be given adequate courts. In future it would be preferable to have more than four courts for at least the first three days.

Basketball:

- An assistant coach should be added to each team. - The technical meetings between the coaches and the International rep should be at the conclusion of the games and not during. Should be mandatory for the coaches to attend. - Have a microphone set up at the scorer’s table and allow for an announcer. This helps educate the crowd with logistics for the games. - VIP seating is important for sponsors and needs to be clearly identified. - Athlete liaison for every team worked well.

Biathlon:

- Better media training/co-ordination. Training on GEMs for results should be more comprehensive. - Earlier training on GEMs for results with a more robust test system, and more structured training. An instruction booklet would be helpful. - GEMs security access be modified to allow snowshoe and ski biathlon to be treated as one sport. - Provide more flexibility in volunteer scheduling, specifically lengths of shifts. - Examine the possibility of a more streamlined sign-up / accreditation process so that volunteers can be scheduled earlier, still subject to the CRC. - Examine the possibility of a more streamlined sign-up/accreditation process so that volunteers can be scheduled earlier, still subject to the CRC. - Obtain translation services prior to the Games, so that sport specific technical event information can be translated for coaches.

Cross Country Skiing:

- Common waxing area was really appreciated by coaches. - Several adjustments were recommended to the Technical Package: Kids skiing up divisions should be limited to one division up. Certain events should be mandatory and others optional – to a total of 4 competition events. Sprint format should follow FIS rules.

- Electri Timing – The AWG web site under the Kimit System does not allow for this, and they need to stand by the staging manual. Would clear up the potential for errors in data entry - Looking after volunteers – Hot food is important for volunteers who are outside for a long stretch. - Give away bibs as a souvenir to athletes. - Awards at the venues are more meaningful, and it is nice to have medals presented in front of peers. - Interpreters at coaches meeting and on-site all day as needed was excellent and should be continued.

Dene Games:

- Incorporate local protocols into the Games. - Dedicated venue for Dene Games.

Gymnastics:

- Ensure that the requirements are listed in the technical package. - Ensure that you have a large pool of people involved in organizing and planning of the games. - Plan to have your sport technical meeting the day after the competition, not right after it end.

Hockey:

- Officials should be a subcommittee with the larger Hockey Committee and should not be considered an entity onto themselves. - Head Official – it should be a requirement that he/she resides in the area that will be hosting the games or at least that a representative be assigned from the area so that a person be able to meet and report to the organizing committee. - When possible hockey games should be scheduled on ice surface with the largest seating capacity.

Indoor Soccer:

- A Security Firm be hired to organize all the security volunteers necessary for the next big event and that RCMP be required only to provide regular patrols to each venue. - Each volunteer would need to be trained as to requirements, limitations and rules of each venue they would work at, and coordinators would have to work together between venues, to avoid overlap or things falling through proverbial cracks. - Host City should have a regulation indoor soccer facility with spectator seating.

- Solicitation and assignment of Security Volunteers start well before week prior event, with training and planning according to size of event and number/size of venues. - Need to establish motivation for choices of referees: class tournament vs. Northern representation. - Food should be available for volunteers and Officials on long shifts.

Snowboarding:

- Hold medal presentations at venue – Very important for athletes to receive medals in front of their peers. - Ensure there is adequate heated space to allow for results center/senior officials meeting room, medical room, volunteer lounge, athletics/coaches warm up area, warm up area for spectators.

Snowshoeing:

- It is recommended that manual on how to build an oval track be provided for the next Games. - Set a group of volunteers that will only use the stopwatches. - It would be much better to have a larger heater for the warm-up tent. - Have a radio advertisement about snowmobilers staying away from the venue. - Snowshoe measure box should come from the international committee, not the local committee. - Update the weighing device for snowshoes in the manual.

Speed Skating:

- Make use of approved eye protection mandatory for speed skating competition. - Confirm suitability (or not) of high neck Kevlar underwear as appropriate neck protection to determine if neck protectors are required for the competition. - Confirm rules regarding the awarding of medals when less than 4 competitors are involved in a particular race.

Table Tennis:

- Key is to get an excellent Head Official – ensure that you research your options throughly, and the flow of the tournament will be smooth.

Volleyball:

- Medical volunteers should have sport knowledge, not just hospital experience. Needs to be detailed responsibilities outlined such as who and how to deal with blood issues.

- Officials comfort needs to be addressed – issues such as transportation and meals. - Awards – if the awards ceremony is at the sport venue, it must be set up well in advance of the ceremony, not just an hour prior. - Keep the double round robin format. - Schedule more matches in the evening to allow host community members to be involved. - Try to coordinate medal matches between sports if possible so they don’t conflict in timing. - Volunteers should be allowed access to their venues as recognition of their efforts and be offered reduced ticket prices for medal rounds. - There has to be an opportunity to purchase a ticket at the venue otherwise people will be turned away. - Better communications between committees and sport chairs during and before the Games.

Wrestling:

- Let the TSO’s run their own event, and be responsible for the necessary equipment for their venues. They are fully capable of organizing large events such as these Games. - Ensure that critical pieces of the planning are not left in the hands of individuals who are not connected to the sport, or unfamiliar with the sport.

2006 Arctic Winter Games

Executive Committee:

- The IC should provide a template for a standard schedule and not allow changes so late in the preparation of the Games. - IC and Chef’s should continue to update and upgrade the staging manual. - Test each venue with a host team. - Invite a coach that has participated in the games to assist/sit in on particular sports committee meetings.

Sport Technical:

Alpine Ski/Snowboard:

- We recommend getting rid of the Snowboard GS and use the USASA standards instead of FIS. - Have a knowledgeable AWG representative present at events held at outside venues to help with public relations and media, awards, results, etc. -Write press releases to increase media exposure for skiing and snowboarding events.

Badminton:

- Shorten length of tournament by perhaps limiting number of categories (from 3 to 2) athletes can participate in. - Incorporate one “free day” athletes can enjoy doing other things. I.e. sightseeing and attending other sports, act. - Absolute minimum number of courts should be six. - Minimum number of officials per court should be two. Contingents need to be highly encouraged or even required to send officials. - Score charts should be used during all games so spectators and coaches can easily track score of game. - Player rosters should be submitted to badminton venue organizers early enough so data can be entered into computer system in advance of scheduled play.

Curling:

- Ensure that all contingents receive detailed rules of play. - Dress code sent out early enough that contingents have enough time to comply. - All games should be timed; other statistics are not important at this age and level.

Dene Games:

- All sports chairs need to be brought three days prior to the event to ensure that everything needed to run the event is in place and ready to go. - Have judges review the technical package prior to the beginning of the Games. - If Dene and Inuit could be in the same area for venue, food and sleeping, that would allow us to watch each other’s cultural games.

Inuit Games:

- More judges and scorekeepers are required to be efficient. - Scorekeepers should be considered officials and have room and board taken care of.

Snowshoe:

- A schedule that is set for the week would be helpful. Having to determine the order of the races, start time, etc. was time consuming. And it was changed in the end to better accommodate the coaches and athletes. They had great input and should be utilized to create a standard timeline to reduce unnecessary work. - The track portion of this event was the hardest and most complicated. It is recommended that the technical package needs to be updated and clearly defined in it how the track should be marked with distance between lands as well as the distance between flags. - The host society should make it a point to try and locate previous committee chairs and get them in touch with the new chairs.

Speed skating:

- Other clubs that more regularly hold meets should be able to avoid the expense of purchasing helmet covers by borrowing them. - Accommodate all of the speed skaters in the dorms together again. - Make sure the medics have a separate room to work in at the rink. - Officials would have liked information about meals, the cultural events and the official’s lounge at the Elks in their package when they first arrived. - Schedule one day of speed skating in the evening. This will draw in a larger spectator base, and increase ticket sales.

Wrestling:

- Do Round-Robin individual tournament on one day with a day to recover before the Inuit Tournament.

- Work out how many officials are really needed. The Pre-Games document says 15. Too high. Eight were just right as long as the officials run the clock and do the scoring.

2002 Arctic Winter Games:

Sport Technical:

Cross-Country Skiing:

- Recommend an update to the Technical Package. The specific rules for the sprint competition need quite a lot of interpretation, and have not been changed for quite some time.

Alpine:

- The technical package states more clearly if dual slalom is a part of the team-event, we had some discussion on this area and did not receive a clear answer. - Recommend that the medal ceremony is held on location. - The assistant official should be an “outside person”. - Contingents should be permitted to send a larger group or old juvenile skiers; it should be no more work to host more number of skiers, once the organization is ready.

Badminton:

- It is necessary that the facilities are able to hold 5 courts of badminton. The players need some spare time to rest. It is not possible if we only have 3 courts.

Dene Games:

- The Technical Package should include very specific guidelines and explanations on how the Dene Games are to be played. Pictures or drawings would go a long way at explaining how the Games are to be played. - Also included should be a draft of what the program can look like and how the all-around points are to be calculated. - A specific program should be applied if only three contingents participate in another if more than three contingents participate. - A meeting should be convened with teams and referees before the Games begin to determine what rules and regulations will be applied in which circumstances. - A sound tape or a CD containing drumming sounds should be ready and available in case a drummer cannot be found for the Handgames competitions.

Indoor Soccer:

- It is crucial to keep the same people in the committee from start to finish, in order to upkeep consistency, and strong lines of efficient communication, in order to be able to focus on the work and timeline.

Volleyball:

- Provide full decision making ability to the committee in tournament issues. - Ensure full backup from local city council in due time regarding any plans on new buildings, renovations, etc. - See to that the number of meetings for volunteers is kept up at a reasonable level. Demand that all members have access to an email address in order to be able to make mailing lists. Always send an agenda to participants in advance and always send out minutes from the meetings. - Only use a few, but carefully prepared schedules/lists for your guidance in order to structure your work.

Snowshoeing:

- There was a big disagreement to the point system to the sprint. This must be solved by the next AWG. - Some athletes used leather ribbons under their snowshoes, which resulted in unequal standards for all. - Award ceremonies should be continued to be held at the venue. - Staging manual has been of very little use to this committee, and should be updated for future games.

Basketball:

- An athlete’s lounge would allow for the athletes to socialize without leaving the venue, and allow them to make further connections with each other. - Recommended that the basketball games be video-taped, and copies could be sold to teams or individuals for a nominal fee. - A final recommendation is to add a second and lower age category to the Basketball segment of the Games. With the possibility of additional contingents sending a team and existing contingents adding junior women’s teams, Basketball will only grow at the Games.

Dog Mushing:

- The coaches and athletes need to be kept informed of the progress of the event. Communication must be open and direct, between the coaches and the chair of the event. - Dog mushers are unique among the athletes of the Arctic Games. Much of their time is spent tending to their dogs. As such, it is important that they are all housed together in the same area to share experiences, resources and discuss problems or solutions.

Table Tennis:

- Staging manual is out of date, and hard to interpret. - There were a low number of participants this year, and it is recommended that more participants be encouraged to attend the AWG for Table Tennis in the future. - Interpreters for the various languages represented are necessary.

Gymnastics:

- Read through the AWG Staging Manual and parts that are not explained enough, get information from other sources. - Recruit your own volunteers directly rather than waiting for a Volunteer Committee to send you names. - Organize a 2 hour gymnastics workshop for local youth/adults with the Arctic Winter Games Judges, Coaches and athletes. - Request box lunches be available so gymnasts don’t need to leave venue. - Have vegetable/fruit trays, muffins, and drinks available at venue for Judges, coaches and athletes. - Have someone responsible for music, to have one less responsibility for coaches, with the anthems and theme songs on same CD. - Have athletes check list of athletes to make sure there are no errors in spelling or team lists. - The Gymnastics Technical Package should be more detailed – 2 pages might be fine for some people, but not helpful for those who are new to the sport. Include technical requirements and equipment specs.

Inuit Games:

- Continue with the planning meetings, starting the previous fall. - The technical package shall content drawings as this can minimize understandings. I would suggest including the games’ historical background, as this can be a part of the cultural heritage. - Materials written in the technical package such as one food high kick “warm up” I would remove that. I do not think that warming up is not the responsibility of the organizers.

The Inuit Games schedule says that there should be spent one hour of warming up before games’ begin. This could spare a lot of time for preparation, as done in previous years.

Wrestling:

- The minimum level of Officials recommended for future Games should be at least a National C or Provincial A. - The complete technical package should be on the Games website as soon as possible. - The complete package should also include things such as the scoring of the dual meets. - There should be an all-morning clinic for the Traditional Inuit style of wrestling. - There should be a 42’ x 42’ mat for the competition. - The double elimination draw, with seeding, should be used on days three and four. - It would have been good to have a photographer on site to take pictures of the athletes for sale on a daily basis - Keep the Good Sports Award to reinforce positive behavior.

2000 Arctic Winter Games

Sport Report:

Alpine Skiing:

- Contingents be permitted to send 17 and 18 year old juvenile skiers to form a third category. Organizing and running an alpine ski race is a huge undertaking. It is no more work to put it on for double or triple the number of skiers. - For communication between starter and timer suggest acquiring 9-volt headset system (available from Precision Timing and others). This system is hardwired using same cabling as timer. While expensive, it ensures that there will be no communication difficulties between start and finish. - It is important to have means of thanking those volunteers who have gone the extra mile. The Host Society should make gifts or other perks available to sport chairs to hand out at their discretion to recognize these people.

Arctic Sports and Dene Games:

- There should be two chairs for Arctic Sports (one male, one female) and one chair for Dene Games. - Arctic Sports and Dene Games be given a budget to organize a special banquet. Many of the athletes, coaches and officials would have liked to see a special night where all people came together in celebration of the Games. - During the last evening of competition, a clean-up crew should be hired, instead of leaving the responsibility to a small group of volunteers. - Volunteer Appreciation Center needs special attention, with emphasis on more nutritional foods and snacks, with meals given to them as well. - Notify the coaches/athletes that eating is not allowed in the gym. - Arctic Sports and Dene Games draw in a lot of spectators, and the facility needs to make sure they can support and house the number of people that will appear to watch the events. - Ensure that the contract of facility is read properly, and understand what the chairs are responsible for during the rental of the facility. This will tell you exactly what needs special attention in regards to the care of the facility thus giving jobs to volunteers. - Ensure that the public does not have access to athletes, volunteers, official’s rooms. - Dene Games to be scheduled with Arctic Sports, but must be incorporated in the schedule where it does not interfere with the overall time schedule for each day.

Badminton:

- The Sport Chair be someone familiar with the sport and the sport in AWG. - Dress Code for players: Still a decision of the Host Tournament Committee but appropriate dress by the players adds a touch of class to AWG, which it deserves. The 2000 Arctic Winter Games is the first time every contingent has followed the dress code. - A standard of dress for the Officials - All contingents should be urged to comment on early drafts of the draw and other tournament conditions such as dress code. Changes in team composition should be sent in as soon as possible to allow for changes in the draw. - Have both opponents sign the score sheet at the end of all matches as every point can become important in determining who advances to playoffs. - Have a minimum of 14 officials for the event. - Continue to produce a participant’s handbook.

Basketball:

- Get a sponsor on board for half time entertainment and providing prizes to the spectators. - Get strong heads in the volunteer pool in the preparation stage. - Go to sport meetings to ensure knowledge of what is required. - Secure an excellent venue site.

Cross Country Skiing:

- Flexibility – there should be more flexibility on the part of the Host Society, especially with respect to some budget items. - Volunteers Coordinator – Used to deal with the large number of volunteers to carry out the event. This position was helpful in keeping in contact with the volunteers prior to the event as well as during race days. - Timing: Most successful if timers use the co-chair arrangements to organize their group. - Roles: Need a clear understanding of the role that each volunteer has to carry out, easily done through clear, outlined job descriptions. - Communication – crucial to have strong communication across various mediums in order to run a successful AWG

Curling:

- Ensure that no team has a day or days when they play three games – suggest starting the competition with the first draw on the Sunday morning. - Consider a single round robin competition with a “page” playoff system involving all five teams. This would be less demanding for officials and other key volunteers, and give the

competitors time to enjoy observing other sports or participating in other Games related activities. - On-ice seating for the fans was not necessary as it was seldom used. Carpeting the ice however, is useful for the many photographers and TV camera technicians. - Media policy regarding access to the field of play appears to be overly restrictive, and amendments should be considered.

Dog Mushing:

- More detailed trail information must be supplied to all contingents with a time line for acceptance. This would ensure all participants are equally aware and prepared for the trail conditions. - A separate date should be scheduled within the package for all the coaches review firsthand the trail and conditions, a date which should be completely separate from the practice and race days. - Mandatory that box lunches are supplied to the athletes, as athletes are unable to leave the venue during the day, as they must care for their dogs.

Figure Skating:

- Let the sport committee handle sanctioning and officials as they are aware of what is required and how important these are. - Figure Skating Sport Program should have the practice and competition schedules in it, as well as include the category each skater is in. - Awards ceremonies are long and cold at the venue when expected to play the anthem for each gold medal winner. Results in people becoming restless and disrespectful.

Hockey:

- Hockey should have its own arena with ample drying facilities at or near the change rooms. - Create method for coaches/athletes/fans to get results in quickly and efficiently. - Hire venue security for crowd control, with targeted games easily recognizable. - Create a procedure for identifying a medical emergency and who will decide when there is one. - There should be a gag order imposed to present any coaches involved with the AWG communicating their disfavor with officials, however incidentally, to the press/media during games week. Suggested sanctions such as one or two game suspensions and possible suspension from any involvement in future AWG’s would be appropriate to hopefully protect our officials who volunteer their time.

Soccer:

- Strong communication between different aspects of this committee is crucial for the success of the sport. Most of the issues that came up during this round of the AWG were due to the changing of Indoor Soccer Sport Chair part way through the planning phase, and a lack of communication.

Ski and Snowshoe Biathlon:

- Experience of officials is a key component a successful sporting event. - Having an “Open Category” is not worth the resources, as the only people to register are coaches. - Have a concession on site (run by a different organization) for the spectators and participants to purchase food and souvenirs throughout the event. - Provide trailers/tents that are heated to use as team rooms. Also, provide a warm-up area for Officials and Coaches.

Snowboarding:

- CSF rule book (once published) provided an excellent event staging guide, and outlined the technical requirements for each discipline. This should now be updated and adapted so that the AWG has a Staging Manual for Snowboarding. - Do not underestimate against the grooming requirements, particularly depending on snow-cover and contingency planning in the event of snow melt. - It is beneficial to coordinate the course design and construction phases between the grooming crew and a qualified technical official, alleviating possible safety issues and potential course changes when the Technical Delegate arrives to inspect the course. - Establish a good working relationship with the Alpine Ski Association to work out issues of space, equipment and special requirements.

Snowshoeing:

- Increase the number of teams competing (5 or 6 would be desirable) - Increase the number of categories to at least 4, 19 and under, and 16 and under for both boys and girls. - Increase the number of junior athletes to 4 for all categories. Each category should be able to field a team for the relay. There will be no athletes left out this way. If only three athletes are able to form a relay team, one of them can run twice. - Eliminate the Open Category. The coaches should be available during the races to support their athletes.

- Keep the competition schedule to 3 days, but have the final day of competition on Friday. Do not compete on Saturday. - Reduce the distance of the long distance race for all categories. This is an extremely grueling event, and is one of the reasons that it is difficult to recruit snowshoeing athletes for the games. It is recommended that the longest distance be 12km, and the shortest be 5km. - Keep the sprint combined and relay on the same day. - Provide a point system for the sprint combined. - If possible, have your own venue, - sharing with cross-country skiing and other sports can be very difficult.

Speed skating:

- Sport chairs should be certified to use the cafeteria. - The Provincial Speed Skating Association from which the Technical Delegate is coming from should be contacted early to ensure that they support your decision for Technical Delegate. - Over the years to develop a team of officials representing all contingents to travel to all the games. This team of people would be certified in their area of expertise and be capable of training the local volunteers. - Include your local volunteer in local club time trials and events so that they may gain some confidence in their abilities before the games. This also offers them a training field which is smaller and slower paced. - It is imperative that food (not just snacks) be made available for athletes who are in an evening competition. - In the Juvenile category, the 333m should be replaced with 666 meter. - Include in the budget the cost of Plexiglas, and look into purchasing 10” mats if there is a possibility of a regulation change. - Some system should be put in place where by the sport manager or someone has the authority to be able to deal with the small purchases during the Games. - Volunteers need a better Hospitality area with snacks/meals available to them throughout the day. - The speed skating events should be held at one venue as opposed to multiple.

Volleyball:

- Use separate full stand units for referees. - Work to ensure commitment from local major officials early in the process. - Provide decision-making ability to the local committee for tournament issues. - Provide officials with the option to use transportation other than the buses particularly when schedules are long, or have lengthy breaks.

- Work at innovative ways of communication to reduce the number of meetings required to attend in order for volunteer as committee members.

Wrestling:

- Should have internationally ranked FILA official attend the Games, in order to make sure all contingents are fairly represented. - Revisit female weight classes to add another weight division at the lower end and take one from the top. - Continue to seed the weight divisions for the Individual competition based on the results of the Team event. - If there is six or more in each weight division in the individual competition, then seed and do a double bracket single round robin draw rather than having just one single round robin for everyone. - Ensure the wrestlers all stay together to foster the spirit of the games. Athletes and coaches need a chance to mix together off the wrestling mat. - Make sure they keep the Inuit wrestling, but ensure there is a clinic prior to the competition. - Make sure there is an electronic time clock that can be seen by coaches, athletes and spectators as well as officiating staff. - Make special efforts to improve the box lunches in both quantity and quantity.