Element Leads:

Your Element Leads (EL) will be responsible for making sure their search areas get set up per the specs of the official placing the hides.  They will do a walk-thru with this person first thing in the morning to discuss search areas, boundaries, start lines, and any canopies/tarps to block lines of sight.  The ELs will then work with their set-up helpers to get the areas set up.

Element Leads will help make sure all of their volunteers understand their job duties (VC will brief everyone as a group, but ELs will most likely end up answering last minute questions).  The ELs may also relieve their gate stewards so they can watch a few dogs work.  ELs will also make sure their volunteers get restroom breaks and water.  The element volunteers will answer to the ELs and the ELs will answer to the Volunteer Coordinator.

Elements at NACSW trials are Containers, Vehicles, Exteriors and Interiors.  Elements at an SDS trial are: Area Search (could be inside or outside or both), Containers and Game.  A game search could be inside or outside and could include vehicles).

Parking:

One or two volunteers are needed to help with parking, both the volunteer parking and the competitor parking.  This is the first contact that each volunteer and competitor will have when they arrive. Parking volunteers will only need to be assigned in the morning to help get everyone situated in their respective parking spots.

Check-in:

Check-in volunteers will be responsible for checking in both the volunteers and the competitors.  Depending on where your volunteers will be parking in relation to your competitors, you may choose to have a volunteer check-in that is separate from your competitor check-in.  At the time of check-in, all volunteers, spectators, and competitors will be required to sign a liability waiver.

Gate Steward:

Gate Stewards (GS) will work with the competitors to get them to the initial staging area.  The GS will have a running order and will call the dog/handler teams from the parking lot.  One team will be at the initial staging area and the team that is next in can be working the warm up boxes if they choose.  Beyond that, all subsequent teams can be given a head’s up.  Depending on the flow of the elements, there may be 1 or 2 Gate Stewards.

Gate Stewards will also be positioned at the staging areas on the way to the elements to direct the flow of the teams. The Gate Steward will greet the competitor at the staging area and then help direct them to the next one when it’s clear.  The Element Lead will make sure the Gate Stewards get relieved for bathroom breaks and so they can watch some of the dogs work.

Box Setters:

Two box setters will need to be assigned to the Container Search element.

One will be responsible for handling the “hot” box(es)/container(s) – the ones with odor in them.  This person will not be able to touch anything else.

The other box setter will be responsible for handling the non-odor (non-hot) container(s).  “Clean” box setter will be shown where clean boxes are in case one needs to be replaced.

Score Runner:

The Score Runner will take the score sheets from the elements to the score room.  Contrary to the name, this job does not require the person run the scores back to the score room, but they should be mobile and able and willing to walk.  Depending on the flow, they may bring score sheets from several elements at once.

Judge’s Steward:

The Judge’s Steward is responsible for getting the dog/handler team from the last staging area to the element.  They will remind the handler of the time allowed, number of hides (if applicable), whether the search is on- or off-leash, and making sure the judge has the right score sheet.  They will also check the score sheet to make sure the judge filled out all the necessary boxes, wrote down the time, and signed it.  If the judge has any questions about how to score something, the Judge’s Steward should get the hide official who placed the hides.  Depending on the amount of available space, the Judge’s Steward may need to stay outside of the Interior search area.

Timer:

Using a stop watch, the timer will time of each dog/handler team and report that time to the judge.  The timer should stand in the same place for each team so the start for each team will be as consistent as possible.  Timer will also do their best to give the team a 30 second warning.

Photographer:

The Photographer(s) is retained by the Trial Host and should be able to shoot at least one element each day.

Volunteer Coordinator:

The Volunteer Coordinator (VC) is responsible for gathering all of the volunteer sign-ups and assigning people to work each day.  The VC will oversee the Element Leads, set-up and tear-down, and deal with any unforeseen problems, reassigning of jobs, etc. throughout the day.

Hospitality Helper:

Someone assigned by the Trial Host or VC who will be responsible for getting breakfast items, coffee, lunch items, and water for the volunteers.  The Hospitality Helper will assist the main Hospitality person in setting up the food, keeping food/beverage items stocked and cleaning up after lunch.

Score Room:

The Score Room Lead will be assigned but we need several volunteers to help in the Score Room – either all day or ½ day.