Team Managers

TEAM MANAGERS GUIDE

1. FIRST…register your team
You can always come back and add your team members later.

2. Get your team together
Teams consist of up to 24 people, including up to 20 paddlers, one drummer, and up to three alternates. You must have at least eight female paddlers. The minimum number of team participants allowed to race is 16 paddlers and a drummer. All participants must be at least 13 years of age by your first practice. A steersperson will be provided for you. Full details are included in the official rules. You have until your first practice to confirm your team roster. Each person you recruit for your team will be grateful you did, because they’re going to have a great time!

If your team is short team members, there are interested paddlers that would like to join a team. You can select an individual from the “Enter Team Members” page after you’ve logged in. A message will be sent to that individual letting them know you would like them to be on your team. If they accept that individual will show up the next time you visit that page. Male paddlers are marked (M), female are marked (F).

3. Schedule practice time(s)
Each team is provided up to two practices. One practice is mandatory. The Practice Information section has full details on how to schedule practice(s) for your team.

4. Prepare your team
A big part of the dragon boat fun is being creative with your team’s look, name, space in the Team Village, etc. Each team is expected to participate in the parade and opening ceremonies on Friday evening. There will be an award for the Best Team Appearance and Best Team T-Shirt so you’ll want to make sure your team is lookin’ good! Team shirts, banners, flags, and any other creative ideas you may have to set your team apart are encouraged! Judging for these awards takes place during the parade. Think about a fun and entertaining name for your team too, as the Best Team Name award will be given to the team with the most creative name. We have discontinued the fundraiser for the Best Team T-Shirt public vote award. Thank you for your contribution during previous festivals.

5. Get your team to the practice(s)
The practices are an important part of building your team unity, confidence, and success! Your coach/steersperson provided by the festival for your practice will teach you all about how to be competitive and have fun. Make sure each of your team members arrive early and have signed and returned a waiver to you. You will need to provide the festival registration personnel, who will be onsite for each practice, a signed waiver for each team member and a completed roster before your team can practice. Complete your waiver in advance and bring them with you to your first practice. ONLY ONE TEAM WAIVER FORM IS REQUIRED instead of filling out individual waivers like in years past.See the Practice Information section for more details.

6. Set up your Team Village site
We encourage each team to take part in the Team Village. Each team is provided a space to set up and call home during the festival. The Village is located conveniently next to the team staging and boat loading area and near all the fun of the festival. Your site will be approximately 14 feet by 14 feet and will be located in the shady, grassy area of Library Park overlooking beautiful Lake Bemidji and the dragon boat races. Although no overnight camping is allowed, teams are encouraged to set up tents, tables, chairs, and whatever else you want in your area to make it your team’s headquarters, and show off your team spirit! You can set-up as early as sunrise on Friday! There will be an award for the Best Team Village.

7. Final registration and wrist bands
Before your team can compete, you need to stop by the registration tent, now located next to the Art Center building, just up the hill from the docks. Registration staff will confirm that your team has turned in the required participant waivers and final roster. At that time you will be given one wrist band for each registered team member. Each member of your team will be required to have their wrist bands on before they will be allowed to race. Registration staff will be on hand Friday from noon until 6:00 pm, so that you can get the wrist bands picked up before the opening ceremony and parade activities kick off.

8. Opening Ceremonies / Parade
Each team will be expected to participate in our fun and festive opening ceremonies. Dragon boat races are rich in Chinese heritage. Concordia Language Villages will be helping us keep those traditions alive in Bemidji. We will start with an opening parade of teams led by the staff and students of Concordia’s Sen Lin Hu Chinese language village and their wonderful dragon and drum crew. The parade will start in the Team Village (Library Park). It is a walking parade, many teams dress up in their team apparel, chat and hand out candy or other goodies from their sponsoring business. Other traditional elements will be included to engage each team in the opening ceremony.

• There will be a mandatory SPRINT CUP Team Manager’s meeting on Friday, immediately following the opening ceremonies (approximately 6:30 pm) by the docks. Race officials will provide important race information and last minute details.
• There will be a mandatory ALL TEAM Manager’s meeting on Saturday morning before the races by the docks. Race officials will provide important race information and last minute details. Each Team Manager must attend.

After the opening ceremony concludes, the fun will move to the Dragons Den, where music, beverages, and your fellow racers and festival goers will celebrate into the night!

9. Race Day Scheduling
A complete race schedule will be posted to this site in advance of the festival, so you’ll know your estimated race starting times. Race times may be altered throughout the day, so each team will be expected to monitor the progression of the races so that you can be in the team staging/loading area 45 minutes before the start of your races.

Each team will have two races plus any finals your team may qualify for.

When your team is between races, there will be plenty for everyone to do. Cultural activities, children’s crafts, great food, music, and other entertainment will fill the day.

10. Awards Ceremony
Following the conclusion of the dragon boat races, an awards ceremony for top finishers in the Gold, Silver and Bronze divisions will be held Saturday evening. Challenge Cup winners, as well as the Best Team Name, Best Team Village site and Best Team Appearance will be handed out during the 1st heats. Concordia’s Sen Lin Hu crew will treat us to traditional ceremonial festival features.

11. Festival Fun
The fun doesn’t end there, as a full night of music, food, and beverages is planned in the Dragon’s Den both Friday and Saturday night.

If you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to contact us!