You can recruit the perfect team and still have a rough event if nobody knows what they’re doing when the gates open. Training is the step between having staff and having a team that runs the day smoothly — and it’s the one most organizers shortchange. As the founder of Colorado Under Par, I’ve learned that an hour of preparation beforehand prevents most of the chaos that otherwise erupts at check-in. Here’s how to get your staff and volunteers ready so the day runs itself. (For defining the roles and recruiting the people in the first place, see our guides to staffing your event and recruiting volunteers.)
A team that’s been briefed acts; a team that hasn’t asks. The difference shows up exactly when you can least afford it — the arrival rush, a sudden problem, a participant with a question. Well-prepared staff handle those moments confidently because they already know the schedule, their role, and what to do when something goes sideways. Unprepared staff freeze, ask you, or guess — and every one of those moments slows the day and shows. Training isn’t about distrust in your team; it’s about giving good people the information they need to be great. The investment is small and the payoff is a day that feels effortless from the outside.
Hold a team briefing — the morning of, or the evening before — and walk everyone through the big picture together:
Even ten or fifteen minutes of shared context turns a group of individuals into a coordinated team. Everyone leaves knowing not just their job, but how it fits with everyone else’s.
Beyond the group briefing, confirm each person understands their specific responsibilities. A one-page assignment — what they own, where to be, who to call — eliminates the “wait, was I supposed to do that?” gaps that cause day-of confusion. Pair newer people with experienced ones where you can, and make sure whoever’s on the trickier roles (check-in, scoring, anything participant-facing) feels genuinely ready, not just assigned. Clarity here is what creates accountability: when everyone knows exactly what’s theirs, nothing falls through the cracks.
Decide before the day how the team stays in touch across the venue — radios, a group text, designated runners — and make sure everyone knows who to contact for what. Establish that staff should flag problems early rather than trying to quietly fix them solo, and that questions are welcome. A team that communicates openly catches small issues before they become big ones; a team that doesn’t lets problems compound in silence. Set that expectation upfront and reinforce it in the briefing.
A quick word on professionalism, because it’s part of preparation: make sure staff and volunteers know the dress standard (matching shirts, or whatever fits your event’s tone) and understand they’re the face of the event. Identifiable, friendly, well-presented staff make participants feel taken care of and make the whole event look buttoned-up — even a small event feels professional when the team clearly knows what it’s doing. It’s a low-effort detail that shapes the entire impression.
Great staff aren’t just recruited — they’re prepared. Brief the whole team on the day’s flow, make sure each person owns their specific role, set clear communication rules, and define the professional standard. Do that, and your team walks in ready, handles the unexpected with confidence, and delivers the kind of seamless experience participants remember. The hour you spend training is the hour that makes everything else run.
When you’re ready to run your next one, you can list your event free on Colorado Under Par and reach participants across the state.
Best regards,
Andrew Mueller, Founder, Colorado Under Par
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