Hiring Marshals and Stewards for Fun Days and Events

The Color Run bills itself as the ‘happiest 5k on the planet’. And no wonder! Runners enjoy a designated 5k course around a city with added colour and plenty of laughter. Held in Cardiff, Manchester, London and Leeds, The Color Run is as popular as ever.

But for runners to ‘make memories and make magic’ on one or all of these city runs couldn’t happen without marshals and stewards. But what do they do, exactly? And why do you need experienced and trained people to act as stewards and marshals?

What stewards and marshals do

For any event, especially sporting ones like street races, cycling events or even something fun such as The Color Run, the people who are taking part need to be kept safe.

Those who come along to support them and other spectators also need to be kept safe.

Effectively, marshals and stewards ensure that competitors and spectators can enjoy the event without being at risk of injury.

It sounds simple enough but there is more to stewarding and marshalling sporting events than first meets the eye.

Stewarding and marshalling without unfair advantage

Road cycling events, for example, may take place on the open road. In other words, there are no road closures to create a closed, no public traffic allowed circuit. Riders are, therefore, expected to ride as per the rules of the road.

The Highway Code is the rule book for cyclists and drivers, anyone, in fact, who uses the roads. This means that cyclists, whether they are in a race or not, are expected to follow the rules of using a ‘Give way’ junction or when they meet a ‘Stop’ sign. Likewise, they should only pull out into traffic when it is safe to do so.

Marshals and stewards are expected to ensure that their designated area is safe for spectators and riders to use but they can’t stop the traffic or do anything else that gives some competitors an advantage over others.

Fun sporting events

That said, some events like The Colour Run are all about fun. There are no winners and losers, no overly competitive edge. It is about ‘health and happiness’ according to the organisers with runners starting the run wearing white. By the time they cross the finish line, they will be covered in multi-coloured powder, none of which harms the competitor nor the environment.

There are first-timers and old-hands running alongside each other, as well as groups of friends and families taking part.

In other words, it is all about the experience rather than who crosses the finish line first. But competitors still need to know where the course is, how to follow it, where the hospitality area is and so on.

Spectators will still need to be aware of the course and the are around them. They will have questions too and need signposting in the direction of the exit, the bathrooms, the music event…

Hire marshals and stewards for your event!

Marshals and stewards at any event are an important and essential part. In most cases, without them, your event can’t go ahead. That means you need to hire the best marshals and stewards for your sporting events!