Registration for your race
The single most important part of any road race is the registration of the
competitors. Unfortunately everybody wants to register at the start
line. This is a real problem for the organizers especially if there are
20 age groups for prizes and 3 divisions of runners, walkers, and
wheelers, in the same race. I have developed a form
which corresponds to our data input needs and data order for input.
Forms
like this must be used if you are going to survive the registration
process.
Remember you are able to enter data right up until the last runner
crosses the finish line. Since you do not (you can tho') print out any
results before that time you get an extra hour or so for input.
Preregistration is a lot easier on the organizers. However you
always have a lot of on the spot registrants... especially for "charity"
runs. Another facet of the registration format is age, sex, type of runner.
The use of birthdate [year, month, day is the only way to fly] is
necessary if you have age groups. This brings us to a unique facet of my
software package. In most club operated races there are many runners who
show race after race. I use an ID number system
which allows the organizer to just say assign this person a new bib
number for this race. Hence the data input for repeat runners is a
matter of a 3 second effort. The new runners get an ID number as well as
a bib number for this race and they then join the ranks of the "in the
system" gang. There is an online systen to check who is there and who
needs new ID numbers for the next race. The results are only as good as
the data in the registration process. When a father gives his 6 year old
the wrong bib number (his mothers!) and then the kid who did win does not
because of the
"stupid" computer you will definitely hear about " your" mistake.
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