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New Match Director Certification

Writer's picture: Andy PfenningerAndy Pfenninger

Updated: Dec 3, 2024

We are excited to introduce the new match director certification. A good MD needs specialized skills, knowledge and tools in order to realize successful competitions. The MD role has been planned for some time and now it is implemented and ready!

The Match Director (MD)

An experienced CMA safety officer can advance to become a CMA match director. His or her main responsibilities around competitions are:


  • Planning and setting up a competition event

  • Designing and building of stages

  • Recruiting and leading the staff team

  • Leading the event from the shooters briefing through the shooting action to the award ceremony and clean up activities


Depending on the number of stages, number of shooters, duration and level of the event, the scope and complexity of these tasks can become quite large. However, the basic success criteria remain similar. The overall goal always is to provide a safe and entertaining event allowing all participants to fully enjoy the sport and camaraderie.

CMA Certification Framework
CMA Certification Framework

Usually, most of the staff work is done on a voluntary basis. The passion for the sport and the satisfaction to be on the team of a successful event are the main drivers here. Depending on the local circumstances, there's often very few to no money making involved in organizing and working for matches. If you want to make a fast and easy buck, you should probably go elsewhere.

The new certification will also show on the digital CMA ID of course. The ID can be generated on the dashboard and is always up to date.

CMA Digital ID Example
CMA Digital ID Example

MD Certification Course

The match director course will be a 1.5-day class consisting of theoretical and practical parts. The participants will be thoroughly introduced to the topics around their future responsibilities. They will be given and trained in the use of a set of tools and best practices.


As CMA is still young, we will admit selected safety officers to the course based on their experience working as staff team members in the recent past. In the future, there will be an objective set of criteria involving the number and level of matches done as a safety officer.


For new countries, there will be some pragmatic initial shortcuts possible in order to get the sport going.


MD Certification Renewal

The match director certification will have to be renewed every 2 years. The criteria for the renewal are based on the practical competition work done in the renewal period:


  • Minimum 2 matches done as MD

  • Minimum 4 matches done as either MD or SO


The certification status, relevant dates and the current number of matches done in an MD or SO role can always be seen on the personal dashboard under 'Advanced Certifications'. The renewal itself is done by each MD in a self-service manner and it will be executed if the above criteria are met. The time window to renew is plus or minus one month around the renewal due date.


Match Staff Upload

There is a new functionality available to MDs to upload a file containing the match staff list for a given competition. The competition must have been stored in the system beforehand as a CMA event. The staff list will be linked to that event and it can only be uploaded once.

CMA Staff Team Upload
Staff team upload for a competition

Match Staff History

The staff list is stored in the database and the personal entries can be checked under 'Match Staff History' on the dashboard. The number of matches done in a renewal period is used to perform certification renewals.

CMA Match Staff History
Match Staff History

It is the duty of the match director to upload the staff team, in particular the MD and SO roles.


Safety Officer (SO) Certification Renewal

The match staff upload also allows for a simple, self-service renewal of SO certifications. Again, it is based on practical work during the renewal period, with the criteria:


  • Minimum 4 matches done as SO


If you are an MD, you need a valid SO certification of course. It will be automatically renewed along with your MD certification. There is no need to separately renew both.

CMA Safety Officer information
Safety Officer information

I am convinced that we have a well founded certification framework and renewal process for shooters, safety officers and match directors. It is based on standardized education packages, objective tests and practical experience.

Take contact if you are interested in CMA certifications or if you have any questions or remarks.


Sincerely


Andy



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