Question for Assistant Coaches

[DinwiddieProud]

Dinwiddie has a major stadium renovation in their Capital Improvement Budget in the upcoming years. One item will be a new press booth.

With respect to space for the assistant coaches/film crews, which location is preferred?

Do you prefer an adequate rooftop location?

Or do you prefer an indoor location, most likely as a second floor above the press booth?

I would love to hear from you concerning this. And if you have suggestions for fixed facilityplease by all means, share with me.
It goes without saying that adequate power and internet access would be provided. Also safe and easy access, meaning a stairway with railings. I watched the guys hauling camera equipment to the roof of City Stadium in Lynchburg one time. Wow, what an awkward and dangerous situation.

In the case with an interior accommodation, a solid wall separating the staff of the two teams would be a must. That would not be the case in a rooftop situation.

My personal opinion is biased by my advancing age. I wouldn’t want to be in the elements if there was a choice. But, there may be a compelling reason to be in the open of a rooftop environment that I have never considered.

So please, share your thoughts if you have experience performing press booth task for a team.

LOL, I have told everyone that if I was to ever win the lottery, Dinwiddie would have the only press both in the country with a real wood burning fireplace!! Alas, I guess I should start playing the lottery for that to come true.

Thank you greatly, DP

 

[MaroonDude]

Are you on the planning committee?

 

[Prodigy24]

Dinwiddie has a major stadium renovation in their Capital Improvement Budget in the upcoming years. One item will be a new press booth.

With respect to space for the assistant coaches/film crews, which location is preferred?

Do you prefer an adequate rooftop location?

Or do you prefer an indoor location, most likely as a second floor above the press booth?

I would love to hear from you concerning this. And if you have suggestions for fixed facilityplease by all means, share with me.
It goes without saying that adequate power and internet access would be provided. Also safe and easy access, meaning a stairway with railings. I watched the guys hauling camera equipment to the roof of City Stadium in Lynchburg one time. Wow, what an awkward and dangerous situation.

In the case with an interior accommodation, a solid wall separating the staff of the two teams would be a must. That would not be the case in a rooftop situation.

My personal opinion is biased by my advancing age. I wouldn’t want to be in the elements if there was a choice. But, there may be a compelling reason to be in the open of a rooftop environment that I have never considered.

So please, share your thoughts if you have experience performing press booth task for a team.

LOL, I have told everyone that if I was to ever win the lottery, Dinwiddie would have the only press both in the country with a real wood burning fireplace!! Alas, I guess I should start playing the lottery for that to come true.

Thank you greatly, DP

When I used to coach, I liked being on top of the press box roof. Less obstruction of your views.

 

[rawacopaea]

Hard to beat a good inside setup for coaches. Keeps you warm and dry.

No reason a school can't offer both. Film is always better from a high angle. I'd suggest if funding will allow it an indoor setup for coaches and a film area on top of the press box with covering of some type to at least to a degree protect equipment.

 

[VFL_85]

Dinwiddie has a major stadium renovation in their Capital Improvement Budget in the upcoming years. One item will be a new press booth.

With respect to space for the assistant coaches/film crews, which location is preferred?

Do you prefer an adequate rooftop location?

Or do you prefer an indoor location, most likely as a second floor above the press booth?

I would love to hear from you concerning this. And if you have suggestions for fixed facilityplease by all means, share with me.
It goes without saying that adequate power and internet access would be provided. Also safe and easy access, meaning a stairway with railings. I watched the guys hauling camera equipment to the roof of City Stadium in Lynchburg one time. Wow, what an awkward and dangerous situation.

In the case with an interior accommodation, a solid wall separating the staff of the two teams would be a must. That would not be the case in a rooftop situation.

My personal opinion is biased by my advancing age. I wouldn’t want to be in the elements if there was a choice. But, there may be a compelling reason to be in the open of a rooftop environment that I have never considered.

So please, share your thoughts if you have experience performing press booth task for a team.

LOL, I have told everyone that if I was to ever win the lottery, Dinwiddie would have the only press both in the country with a real wood burning fireplace!! Alas, I guess I should start playing the lottery for that to come true.

Thank you greatly, DP

From a comfort standpoint, I preferred indoors. From a vantage standpoint, I preferred rooftop because very few HS stadiums have home stands high enough to provide an adequate vantage point from an indoor press box.

As far as City Stadium in Lynchburg goes...you are absolute right! I spent 15 years coaching in that stadium at Heritage (6 years) and EC Glass (9 years) and I hated climbing down that ladder every time. I'm surprised no one hasn't been seriously hurt over the years.

 

[DinwiddieProud]

First, unlike typical stadiums, at least on the home field side, height of the press box is not an issue. Part of the reason the moniker that is catching on for the stadium is “The Pit” is because it is somewhat of a bowl type stadium. The new press box will be on top of a new section of high rise bleachers that will be about as elevated as anyone’s press box in high school. So going with a roof setup is not necessary for the additional height.

As “ RAW…” eluded to above, maybe “both” is an option? I think the cost to have a second floor coaches suite, as well as an accessible roof area is doable. Worst case might be the second floor IS the roof area, but it could still have a roof covering and maybe partial side and back coverings.

I’m partial to a fully enclosed setup because of the amount of electronics involved with today’s coaching staffs.

VFL, like you, I’m amazed that no one has been killed at City Stadium. I guess that is what it will take before they put in a set of steps. Or, (unless they are somehow exempt), a citation from OSHA? Truthfully, the way government usually works, if they were cited by OSHA they would simply declare the roof off limits instead of putting in a $2000 set of steps.

Great input guys. I hope I get more.

 

[Virginia HS Football Fan]

For radio booths, make sure the windows open! Nothing like sitting inside an enclosed booth. You don’t get the natural feel of the game.

I prefer LSU’s setup where the windows open inwards and upwards towards the ceiling.

 

[DinwiddieProud]

Discussing the window situation tonight at Prince George, and they made the suggestion that the widows hinge at the top and outward. Their reason was that it provided an awning against precipitation. I think I like that idea.

 

[Virginia HS Football Fan]

Discussing the window situation tonight at Prince George, and they made the suggestion that the widows hinge at the top and outward. There reason was that it provided an awning against precipitation. I think I like that idea.

That works as well.

 

[MaroonDude]

Some stadiums have press boxes on both sides.......................................

 

[Anon1751902864]

I like the way our press box has both booths that are self-contained(and heated) and also decks on each side that are covered where both film and assistant coaches can do their thing. But even with that, one visiting coach wanted to go on the roof, which is not a thing on our press box. So I guess no matter high you are, someone will always want to be higher.

 

[DinwiddieProud]

I like the way our press box has both booths that are self-contained(and heated) and also decks on each side that are covered where both film and assistant coaches can do their thing. But even with that, one visiting coach wanted to go on the roof, which is not a thing on our press box. So I guess no matter high you are, someone will always want to be higher.

LOL, you should have pointed to the closest light pole and said, help yourself!!!

Incidently, I’m guessing the roof level or second floor level, (which ever it turns out to be), in our new press box will be approximately 60’ above the level of the field.

Hey VFL, I saw something close to the city stadium roof access last night. At Prince George, their roof access is from an interior closet. The steps are about as steep as you can imagine and not call them a straight ladder. And access is through a roof hatch. If I had to guess, use of the roof was an after thought.