Security at tournaments.

[JoseDominguez]

For once a completely serious post from me.
No, really.

We've all seen the posts about kit going walkabout at tournaments OK?
Well it's going to get worse, currently the majority of attendees at a tournament are us, our friends and people from the industry.
As a rule, kit is safe..for various reasons. Respect, fear whatever.... even down to.....how do you haul an extra bag? someone would notice.
But as our sport grows, we are attracting the public's attention, as a result certain elements are attending and now there is a market for nicked kit. (damn you e-bay).
I'm worried about my kit, I'm more worried about some local twoccer getting hold of an E-blade and half a tank of air.

What are we going to do about it? we have to do something, either each team appoints a bouncer for their table or something needs to be organised.
It's going to cost, either time or money.....but we have to do it.
Paintball is growing, we can no longer leave £7000+ of kit per team in a tent, in a field and trust to luck.

Would you park a £500 rusted out sh!tbox of a car in a field with the doors unlocked?
How about just leaving your laptop on a park bench?
Thought not.....it's opportunists at the moment, but give it time, the scum will see us for the trusting bunch we are and we'll get targetted.
How many teams could take the loss of a couple of kit bags?

We've got to do something, any ideas? How about a rota similar to a self marshalling event? have a single entrance/exit to the staging area policed by a couple of players? when your time is up you hand over your "security" jersey to your relief....that way it's not left unmanned?
Other ideas?

 

[Dazdread]

Hmmmm, this goes back to all players having passes and who is going to run that?

Is there any money in it?

 

[elrikos]

theres always money in selling players passes if you have to have them.
seriously though. many tourney sites require you to go through the staging area to get to the fields so everone needsto walk right through. thats half the problem
agree with you guys though. something needs to be done

 

[Agent Smith]

Security

Hi All,

I have seen a few comments about this, and have kept out of it so far.

Sunday was my first tourney which I really enjoyed, but I was suprised how trusting everyone is when leaving their kit around, but accepted it as it seemed to be the norm.

There were a few kids around who caught my attention, but I kept an eye on them, as I am a naturally suspicious person.

Many things could be done to improve the situation, and I would be happy to discuss this with anybody promoting an event.

Unfortunatly to stop all theft is not very practical, and could add a significant cost to an event. Some simple steps could however be put in place to quickly improve the situation.

We cannot let it get to the stage where theft of equipment is a major concern at tournements.

 

[Philip]

If you arrange transport, i'll happily guard the tent, im a security guard in work most of the time

 

[Tony - Stupid Troopers]

PA cup already doing it...

Guess you guys missed the PA cup. at that event access to the players tent was guarded at all times, the only way in was to show your players pass, or to get a visitors pass and the only way you got one of them was for a player to vouch for you.

even then only players were allowed to carrying any bags/equipment out of the secure area.

seems like if we want to attract more spectators from outside the sport this is the way things need to be done, basically keep the spectators and players separate.

 

[Agent Smith]

Been thinking!

It seems that one of the problems is unattended kit.

A simple solution is to cycle lock your team kit bags together so they cannot be easily carried away!

There are many other things that can be done.

Already one Security Guard volunteer which is good, but (no offence to anybody at all) I would warn that anyone considering security staff should think about vetting! I'm sure Philip would agree with me- there is a whole lot of new legislation going through regarding the securty industry and persons being accountable.

Not everyone is necessarily trustworthy- or we wouldn't be discussing this!

 

[Agent Smith]

PA cup already doing it...

Originally posted by Tony - Stupid Troopers
Guess you guys missed the PA cup. at that event access to the players tent was guarded at all times, the only way in was to show your players pass, or to get a visitors pass and the only way you got one of them was for a player to vouch for you.

even then only players were allowed to carrying any bags/equipment out of the secure area.

seems like if we want to attract more spectators from outside the sport this is the way things need to be done, basically keep the spectators and players separate.

Exactly! You don't let customers behind your bar, or in the dressing rooms at Wembley!

This as I said earlier will add costs to an event though!

The thefts from Reading were after the tournement though I believe?

 

[JoseDominguez]

Every player signs a waiver at the beggining of every tournament......... team captain signs it too........... how about we do that BEFORE you get into the tent? not a lot of extra work is it? it means only the players on the waiver get to go into the tent. THEY ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE WITH ANY BUSINESS IN THERE ANYWAY!!!!!!!!!!!
the only extra expense is some passes (one per player signed in unique pass to each tournament) and a rota of "security"..............how about it? worth trying once innit?
It's like rec-ball........what guarantee to you have that the players won't climb a fence and bugger off with the kit? they signed a waiver and their group organiser is responsible....... how about team captains are issued as many passes as the team form shows? Every team then has to provide "staff" for the entrance
Say each team provides 2 "doormen" for 30 mins........say 30 teams..60 players provided, that's 30 hours of cover!!!! that would cover the door all day with 3 players on duty and leave enough "overlap" to cover late showing teams and have someone wandering around the outside.
Possible? any thoughts? I think most teams would give up an hour between them to secure everyones kit, I know we would.
If you have extra bodies with you (pot bitches etc...) sign them in on the form.........as long as the captain will vouch for them.

 

[JoseDominguez]

As for the cost..........think about self-marshall events.........we manage that don't we? costs nowt and it's a damn sight more complicated than this.

As for any trouble at the door........... bear in mind if someone tries to get in past the "doormen" they only have a tent full of ballers to contend with........or how about situating the organisers tent/stall whatever right next to the entrance to the players area? that way authority is on hand if need be?

(2k3 could set Russel on them)