PDGA TD School | Episode 17 | Finance and Payouts
Learn the fundamentals of tournament finances and payouts from experienced Tournament Directors in this episode of PDGA TD School. Join us as we explore the basics of event finance, including player classifications, payout structures, and transparency requirements. The PDGA Competition Manual and Tour Standards document serve as guides for understanding procedures and specific dollar amounts and percentages that must be met by events. With expert advice from seasoned Tournament Directors, you'll gain a deeper understanding of how to manage event finances effectively, ensuring fairness and competitiveness for all players. Discover how the level of competition affects payouts and what factors influence player returns on entry fees. Whether you're new to TD School or looking to refine your skills, this episode provides valuable insights into the financial aspects of tournament management.
Expert guidance on finance & payouts for disc golf tournaments. Improve your event management skills with PDGA TD School.
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It's time again for TD School. In this episode of our Tournament Director Training series, we'll be talking about the rewards that players receive when they compete in a tournament: payouts, player packs, event amenities, and the finances behind those awards. Understanding the fundamentals of tournament finances, the rules governing the finances, and how to use the PDGAs finance tools is extremely important to running a successful event. We're here to help you navigate these topics. Let's start with some fundamentals. Players come in two classifications, Professionals and Amateurs, and their tournament finances are handled differently. According to the PDGA Competition Manual, Professional players playing in a Professional division compete for money and players playing in an Amateur division compete for trophies and or prizes. It's as simple as that. When a TD reports their event results to the PDGA, they list the amount of entry fees collected, the amount of additional funds added through fundraising, costs related to running the event, and then the money paid out to Pro players or the merchandise value that is returned to Amateur players. This transparency with event finances helps players know that they are being treated fairly. Tournament finances are another area where doing your homework as the TD is extremely important. The PDGA's Competition Manual and Tour Standards document contain a great deal of information detailing procedures related to event finances and specific dollar amounts and percentages that must be met by events. You'll want to review these documents early in the event planning process and even consult with experienced Tournament Directors in your area to make sure that you understand all that is required. The level of competition or tier of an event factors into the payout and finances. The higher the level of competition, the greater return on their entry fee investment players can expect to receive. For example, C-Tier tournaments require that players receive 85% of their net entry amount back in the value of their Pro payout or Amateur player pack and payout. For B-Tiers, A-Tiers, and Elite Series events, this value percent is 100%. For PDGA Majors, the value percent is 125%. Higher tier events also have increased requirements for added cash money added to Pro payouts through fundraising or sponsorship, in addition to the players net entry fees. So for tournament directors wanting to run these higher tier, more prestigious events, the fundraising expectations are...
