NORWICH- As Gus Macker returns after a two-year hiatus, the Norwich YMCA and Macker committee is seeking volunteers and scorekeepers. The volunteer or scorekeeper would need to be available for both days of the tournament; July 9 and 10.

I was a scorekeeper for the 2018 Gus Macker Tournament and here is my experience.

When Gus Macker was held in the summer of 2018, my grandma and I both signed up to be scorekeepers after her friend Ted Guinn reached out. Upon signing up at the YMCA, we were required to take a brief training course with Ted on how to keep score and the rules. After the session, we received a t-shirt, whistle, a hat along with a stop watch.

It was a hot weekend for Gus Macker in July that we struggled to stay cool, but we wore our gear proudly and stayed pleny hydrated. My Grandma and I were in charge of a court consisting of middle school aged boys.

Each game was 25-minutes in length where we took turns at keeping time on the stopwatch and only stopping on a timeout by the team signaled by the referees. We also followed the referees instructions on how many points to give if it was a one-point or two-point shot.

We kept a clipboard with a scoresheet and a bracket to mark off which team went on to advance. The games went to around 15 to 20 points where the winner would win by 2.

In between games, my Grandma and I went to cool off at Park Place, where they provided food for the all the volunteers. It felt really good to finally sit down after being out in the brutal heat.

Overall, I enjoyed volunteering for Gus Macker and take advantage of all volunteer opportunities that I can participate in my free time. As a beloved sports fanatic, I loved the atmosphere of being able to enjoy the game of basketball. I used to enjoy being a spectator watching my Dad and Uncle play in the Gus Macker tourament growing up and bringing home Toliet bowl trophies.

Also, I was impressed in how Gus Macker is important to the Norwich community, where everyone either walks by or is in attendance cheering on in support and I love seeing the players try their best to win.

I won't be able to be a scorekeeper for this year's Gus Macker due to my Sports Editor duties, but I will definitely be covering the event.

For more information on how you can get involved and join in on the fun or know of someone who might be interested in scorekeeping or volunteering, contact Tom Revoir at 607-336-9622 ext 29 or visit the Norwich YMCA to sign up.