Why so many emails?
Between January 31 and May 1, I send four emails to the primary contact person for every team coming to the Amherst Invitational. At the beginning of each email I (firmly) request that every contact reply immediately to acknowledge receipt of the email.
Question: Are all of the emails necessary?
Answer: I think so. Each email contains information that, based on my past experience, the teams need to know. I cannot consolidate into fewer emails because of timing: I need to talk about housing in March, rosters in early April, and seedings and schedules within 2 weeks of the tournament.
Question: Why such a fuss over a silly tournament?
Answer: The Amherst Invitational involves over 600 players and coaches, and well over 100 community volunteers. A huge amount of work and time are invested in the tournament, and we want it to be the best possible experience for all involved.
Question: Why is a reply demanded?
Answer: Due to spam filters and incorrect email addresses, sometimes an email does not go through. The only way I know for sure is by requesting a reply.
Question: Big deal, what could happen if a team didn’t receive the emails?
Answer: Here is a partial list of things that have REALLY happened in the past, and that our email communication prevents from happening in the future:
- A team not showing up for the tournament.
- A team expecting housing but none has been arranged.
- A team breaking the rules and claiming to ‘not know’ that they are doing so.
- A team leaving early and not playing all of their games
- A team showing up without a chaperone, and then having a player that needs to go to a hospital.
- A team not posting their scores and then being upset with their seeding..
Question: What if I understand all of this but still find the emails annoying?
Answer: Sorry.
Question: Do you have one last comment?
Answer: Yes! If you have read this far, then you have already spent more time than it takes to reply to all of the emails!
Respectfully yours,
Jim Pistrang, Amherst Invitational TD
comments? send an email to Jim Pistrang