Pennine Trails running marshal sacked

[cougie uk]

Could we blame a lack of training? If Pennine Trails hasn't prepared their volunteers in some basic conflict resolution that could explain why this escalated so quickly.

Have you ever marshalled your Club 10 or something similar ? What conflict resolution training did you get ?
It's a volunteer. Not a United Nations Peacekeeping Force.

It's like pulling teeth trying to get members to fulfil their commitments to marshal two events a year already without them having to do training courses as well.

 

[Drago]

I have marshalled at many events and,aside from motor racing and British Cycling events, have never seen any training of marshals taking place.

I've marshalled a few and found the organisation terrible and guidance non existent. On top of that a tiny minority of riders behave like utter dilberts towards the marshals, bad enough that I've never volunteered since.

 

[Profpointy]

Can you sack a volunteer ?

Poor woman volunteered her day pointing people in the right direction and ended up refereeing a fight.

Kid was in the wrong. Old runner was in the wrong. Marshall caught in the middle.

Did you watch the video ? The marshal is shown angrily shouting at the man who is trying to back off and de-escallate. If she'd been a bloke the father would have been expecting to have to defend himself from an assault any second. Her actions encouraged the angry old man to join in again. I'd have been genuinely frightened and be thinking about whether to hit out before being assaulted by two crazy people

 

[wiggydiggy]

Have you ever marshalled your Club 10 or something similar ? What conflict resolution training did you get ?
It's a volunteer. Not a United Nations Peacekeeping Force.

It's like pulling teeth trying to get members to fulfil their commitments to marshal two events a year already without them having to do training courses as well.

My own experience of marshalling is irrelevant. I was just suggesting if training is not provided, even if that is just some pointers on the morning of the event in how to react in case of a conflict, that could have escalated the situation.

 

[gbb]

Pretty awful behaviour by all and the trouble is, we didn't see what caused it and without that, any opinion is pretty pointless.
The one I feel sorry for is the Marshall. Probably not experienced that kind of thing before, as said, probably not trained how to deal with it, possibly right out of her depth, denied the opportunity to de escalate by the dad...I doubt she will ever ever want any further doings with it ever again.

 

[gbb]

Ok, so as dad says a little way in
'He's 14'
Marshall (some indecipherable shouting beforehand) says
'Pack it in' (de.escalation?)and shortly after turns to runner, seemingly trying to usher him back (de escalation?)
Some more words and she shouts
'Whoa' (de escalation ?)then shortly follows up with 'I'm not sure if you're aware' (trying desperately to explain) but is cut off by dad who says 'stop shouting at me'
Her hands are palm up, to me that's a de escalation sign/request.
Dad says 'stop talking to me' so is not interested in de escalation
Marshall..incomprehensible words then 'stop now' (de escalation attempt ?)
Dad further shuts down Marshall.
Marshall 'no, there's an event on'..'just go'...another attempt to explain or diffuse the situation ?

The runner didn't help, the dad didn't help, the son (i think) had to be told you get back and I think swore again (theres and awful lot going on)

The poor frikking woman, stuck between two grown aggressive men, who has perhaps not even seen what caused it all, probably no training on how to deal with it, did the best she could IMO.. not her fault not her doing, just stuck in an awful situation with a potentially violent outcome...and we wonder why she's shouting ??

Did she do it well ? No of course not. Could she have done it better, yes of course....was it her fault ? Absolutely not.