dfD2

WHY ARE DFDS SO DAMN HARD???????

THE FOLLOWING IS A QUESTION i RECEIVED ON WHICH I'M TO BUILD A DFD????

ANY HELP YOU COULD GIVE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED......

Sports Case Studies for DFDs ERDs etc
Fixture Planning and Operations – Get ready for the big match

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The FFA is examining its administration set up with a view to eventually computerising some or all of its operations.
The following is an account of how it manages the organising and running of a game of football.

When a game is to be played the games organiser first of all tries to arrange a venue to host the game and arrange a referee to take charge of the fixture. He looks up a map to identify the best general area to host the game, and then using FFA association handbook (published annually), he identifies the venues that are most suitable for the fixture. The choice of venue is as far as possible a stadium that is half way between the two teams that are due to play. He then looks at the Master Fixture List (MFL) to get an idea of what venues in that area are due to host games that week and tries to identify venues that might be available during the week (During the winter months a venue might be only able to host one game per week, and lighting is also an issue). He phones club officials to enquiring about pitch availability, and keeps contacting other clubs in the area until he finds a club with a pitch that can accommodate the game.

He then examines the Approved Referees List (ARL) to try and find a suitably qualified referee for the fixture. (There are different grades of referee – those who can officiate at underage club level, those who can officiate at adult club level, those who can officiate at underage county level, those who can officiate at adult county level). On identifying eligible referees (ideally those who live close to the venue), he again checks the MFL to ensure that the referee isn’t already on duty on that day. Having clarified this, he nominates a referee to take charge of the fixture. The games organiser then records the details of newly arranged fixture (match) on the Master Fixture List.

The games organiser then notifies all of the relevant parties about the fixture. A letter is drafted and sent outlining the venue, date, referee, and competing teams. He consults his various documents and files to clarify that the details on the letter are 100% accurate. This letter is sent to the two teams and to the referee. A copy is also sent to the club (or other unit of the association) that is hosting the game so that arrangements can be made for match day. The contact details for the two teams and the referee are obtained from the FFA association handbook.

In order that the two teams and their management personnel can get access to the stadium and the dressing room and sideline areas, the match organiser sends both squads a batch of match day passes (the number of passes depends on the type, grade, and level of competition – usually a minimum of 20 and rarely above 40).

The games organiser then contacts the media (papers, radio, tv, photographers etc) by either a phone call or a short letter to make them aware of the fixture. He has the contact details for the main local and national media organisations noted in his FFA diary. Those media personnel that notify the games organiser of their plans to cover the fixture are issued with an appropriate media pass (noted on it are the date, time, venue, the stile they enter at etc) as well as a special code that indicates what level of access the individual gets. For instance, some media people are admitted to the press box only, while others (eg photographers) can get to the sideline only. Media personnel may not enter the grounds on match day unless they have the appropriate pass.

At this stage, the games organiser keeps in regular contact with the host club in the lead up to the game. The host club in consultation with the games organiser devises a plan for the day of the game. The bigger the fixture, the more comprehensive this plan needs to be. He notifies the stewards (who volunteer their services free of charge to the FFA) and other support personnel (health and safety, groundsmen) about the fixture and confirms their availability. All of those are briefed (either in writing or at a meeting) about the forthcoming fixture, the anticipated crowd, parking and other challenges that they need to be ready for on match day. An essential part of the pre match plan is the communication between the games organiser, local gardai and the emergency services. Depending on the anticipated attendance, and other logistical issues, a special traffic plan may need to be drawn up (detailing diversions, special parking arrangements etc) for match day. The games organiser, the host club, the local gardai and the emergency services all contribute to this plan. When it completed, it is forwarded to the two teams, match referee, as well as the media. A copy of the finalised match plan is held in the Match Plan Folder (and stored in the filing cabinet located in the meeting room) of the club staging the game.

In the couple of hours leading up to the game, the teams, mentors, media, and match officials (referee, umpires etc) start to arrive. The teams and match officials enter at a designated stile at one section of the ground and the media are admitted at another. The stewards on duty at those styles collect the special “PASSES” that admit those people, and note the number of people in each of the two competing teams (ie the total number of players, mentors etc). Likewise, as each media person arrives, a senior steward at the designated style checks their pass, and notes who has turned up on his Match Media Check list (which he gets on the morning of the match). There are always more media personnel wishing to cover the game than the FFA can accommodate – so anyone from the media (who received a pass) who doesn’t show up is noted and may not receive a pass the next time they request one! The games organiser takes the Match Media Check list after the games, and files it in his Media Contacts folder.

During the match day, the senior steward is in regular contact with all volunteers. Any incidents that occurred between the time the stadium was opened to allow spectators enter and the time they left after the game is over, are recorded, as are the details of how it was dealt with. Particular note is taken of injuries to spectators while in the stadium, as well as any illnesses etc that required intervention by medical personnel. Shortly after the game, all of the personnel who volunteered as stewards on match day as well as representatives of the gardai and the emergency services meet for a post match review. From this review a Match Operations Report is compiled and is stored in the Match Day Review List file, where it can be referenced for future planning.

After the match is over, the games organiser drafts a letter thanking the host club for accommodating the game, and likewise sends a letter to the referee who covered the game.