Swab says she’s the type of user who makes lists for everything and gets too organized, which comes in handy as the logistics coordinator for the NCAA’s Albany Super Regional.
Their task was to make sure everything went smoothly in Albany during the second year of the format in which the regionals were grouped into just two venues.
In Friday’s semifinals, he coordinated 4 penalty shootouts, 4 practices and two games, all on the same field. There are 8 entrances and exits of the MVP Arena between 6 a. m. and 6 p. m. m. and 9 p. m. approximately, sharing 4 dressing rooms. I had about 18 hours of painting a day before I started on Saturday.
“I like to call myself methodical organized and logistic,” said Swab, who is also senior associate commissioner and chief operating officer of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. “I’ll have a to-do list. And we have smart volunteers who are there to help us and make sure everything runs smoothly and looks smart to groups when they first arrive, even if we’re pressed for time. So my words today have been speed and precision.
This means that rooms under conversion need to be returned in about 30 minutes: clean and with new signs and nameplates. Staff will need to ensure that they are replenished with towels and drinks, and players and coaches will be mindful of their obligations to the media and others. .
Get an expert in this sort of thing by coordinating the MAAC tournaments, where all 11 schools brought together men and women playing in the same venue.
“We’ve learned that communication with the team’s director of basketball operations is very vital to make sure they can stay in the hotel or on the bus if their locker room is ready,” he said. “Because student-athletes want to rest. I don’t want them waiting at the front of the team or outside a locker room waiting to get in. So, any communication we can provide to the teams to make sure they know ahead of time before they even get here is really vital. “.
In Albany, locker rooms were reserved for groups with educational sessions and games. Those who came here for the shots came dressed and stretched out in the aisles waiting for the box to be available.
On Friday, everything went well. The first two shoots, which had started at 6 a. m. , were canceled when sleeping groups were most important. The 4 morning training sessions ended in time for everything to be in condition for the two afternoon matches.
But while things were going well in the box and in the arena, some are training other facets of the format, adding groups from the West Coast (Oregon State and UCLA) and scheduling the first press meetings and practices.
LSU’s Kim Mulkey is also involved in the equity factor when it comes to 8 teams.
“When you put 8 groups together, do you have 8 hotels that have the same value, that are all the same?Probably not. I don’t know how many villages they do it in,” he said. “One challenge is that when you get to a Sweet 16, some other people will never get past that Sweet 16. It’s a big deal. “
And Lisa Bluder of Iowa said the fact that everyone travels to only two venues has made it harder for enthusiasts from certain groups to get to the games, especially when those venues are on opposite sides, as they were in the early years. This year’s venue is Portland, Oregon, and last year the games were held in Seattle and Greenville, South Carolina.
“We also play smart basketball in the Midwest, and we’d love the opportunity to showcase women’s basketball in its most productive form in the Midwest as well,” Bluder said.
That’s not to say the coaches thought things had gone well in Albany.
“I think this domain did a wonderful job of housing all the teams, the hotels and gym were very welcoming to us; I can only talk to us,” said Dawn Staley of South Carolina. “So I really appreciate it and I hope that if you make a new offer, you’ll get my vote. “
Adjustments are expected to be discussed in 2025, there are some efforts to get the issue discussed this offseason.
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AP March Madness Support: https://apnews. com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket/ & Coverage: https://apnews. com/hub/march-madness
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