Just some thoughts on how the KCI location compared to Omaha/Lincoln the past 2 years. However, it is hard to compare because adding the grade school divisions was probably more overwhelming than the organizers expected. Plus if you figure in the number of extra fans (and the younger kids always bring in a crowd) it's hard to compare. But I am looking at the organization of the tournament in general.

I didn't help with registration and weigh ins in Omaha so I can't compare but some suggestions:

Registration which I volunteered to help with. The bags needed to be stuffed prior to starting it...at least 2 people per age group checking kids in and maybe having it in a more open area, like a table set up in the arena. That little conference room was just too little for the number of people. If there was a fire we would have all been in trouble!

Weigh ins - set up the number of scales to correlate with the number of kids i.e. not many 1st and 2nd graders - put them together on 1 scale and give an extra scale to 10th or 11th. Or even maybe spacing out weigh in times i.e. 1st - 3rd grade weigh in from this to that time etc...a longer time for volunteers but happier parents and wrestlers as the process is quicker - which means they come back!!!! Also, maybe combine registration at the scale - just one line!

In Omaha they had a system of having a runner for each table. When that table got down to 2 or 3 wrestlers on deck that runner went to the head table and got another bout that was announced overhead. Those kids had 2 or 3 matches to warm up and the parents had time to get situated. It looks like they needed more head table workers updating brackets and making up new bout cards. That runner should also have been responsible for taking the completed bout cards to the head table - don't leave it up to the wrestlers! KC did assign particular mats to particular grades which is fine but they need to stick to it.

Need more seating! Omaha compared to KC - you still had to get up and move around to see your kid as he was not always on the same mat and you could not see every mat from the bleachers in Omaha. I think this was another problem that was not expected with adding the grade schoolers - they just have more people that come and watch! Adding more seating will hopefully prevent people from standing between the mats and if there is somewhere to sit and view the mat, you can enforce the rules of staying behind the barriers.

Admissions cost - same as in Omaha! The only other national tournament I can compare cost to is Fargo and it is pricey to get in up there as well. How does this compare to other kids national tournaments? I volunteered and got a pass to get in free all weekend! Definitely need more people willing to volunteer - every tournament can benefit with more people helping out! Parking - in Omaha I think there was less parking on site, I had to walk to a nearby parking garage but a little exercise is needed for me!

Pictures - same problem in Omaha. I don't think we even waited for podium pictures last year as it was just too slow of a process. Suggestion: maybe 1 or 2 more podiums. High schools don't always place to 8th place but maybe having a local person who can build an additional podium???

Just one other thing...some table workers left prior to the end of the last session...some of our parents sat down, got some bout sheets and started getting some of the matches done. We thought that the clubs that brought the mat were to work those tables until it was done. There was a problem getting new bout cards but as I suggested earlier, more head table workers and that runner getting bout cards, I bet we could have gotten out of there by 9:00 on Friday. Once we told the head table later that we needed bout cards, things got moving. There were way too many open mats at the end.

Positive - Saturday seemed to be much more organized! I was pleasantly surprised as I thought we were in for another really long day (and night).

Anyway, I'm e-mailing the above suggestions to the organizers of this tournament. And I hope that many others do as well. We have been to this tournament the past 3 years and enjoy the format. Having it local was a definite plus!