Chapter Fourteen
TAG PULLER AND SPIKER INSTRUCTIONS

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Primary Responsibilities

  • Tag puller and spiker must perform as a TEAM.
  • Handle only one bib tag at a time!
  • Do not collect tags in your hand, apron or pocket.

 Tag Puller

  • Be polite, but be assertive!
  • Be willing to touch the runners.
  • Make the runners wait until you have the bib tag firmly in your hand.
  • Stand in the middle of the chute and block the exit, if necessary, to prevent runners from leaving before you have their tags.
  • If the finisher does not already have the tag pulled, remove the tag from the bib. Use both hands--one to hold the bib number and one to pull the tag.
  • Work with your spiker to develop a rhythm for getting tags from the runners to the spiker as quickly as possible.
  • Do not place the tag on the stringer yourself.
  • Bandit tags: if the person is unregistered (has no bib number) or removed the bib tag, give the spiker a bandit tag (substitute document) from your carpenter's apron, and let the runner exit the chute. (If your race has duplicate substitute documents, give the second part to the finisher.)

Spiker

  • Develop a system with the tag puller that is fast and accurate.
  • Handle only one tag at a time!
  • Place the tag on the stringer or spindle through the pre-punched hole the pre-punched hole.
  • Preferably place the information (names, barcode) face down toward the stringer identification tag, but getting the tags on the stringer in the correct order should take priority.
  • If the pre-punched hole is torn, make a new one using the end of the stringer.
  • Be sure not to drop to drop the stringer or spindle. Runners may bump you, so maintain a firm grip.