Special contributor Betty Mitchell shares her experience spending nine days as a tournament volunteer at the Sony Open in Miami.  

Keeping diaries allows for a record of both the important and the routine events that occur in our lives.  Tennis is important to me, and the entries in the diary I kept as a 2014 Sony Open tournament volunteer reflect the excitement, exhaustion, occasional aggravation, kindness and inspiration experienced over the nine days I volunteered at the tournament.

Originally, I found the volunteer site on the Sony Open website in the fall and just kept clicking until I signed up. Leaving the snow and sub-zero temperatures in New Hampshire on March 20th, I gave myself over to Diane Thompson, Volunteer Manager of the Sony Open. Diane has been involved with the tournament for 28 years, and her staff and volunteer community are devoted to her. Now here I was, retired for only two months, dressed in my official volunteer outfit and stepping off the shuttle to join this Sony Open community of volunteers.

The volunteer community in 2014 consisted of approximately 740 individuals, who committed to a minimum of nine shifts of five hours each during the event. However, by far the majority of the volunteers gave a week or more of their time during the 12-day event.  Our primary responsibility was to act as ambassadors, assisting 300,000 -plus visitors and hundreds of players to have a safe and enjoyable visit. We all played our part in roles from Ticket Checkers, Media, Security, Transport, Floaters and six other “volunteer areas” that we chose in the volunteer application process.

Arriving at the volunteer designated area on the first day, I met Renae and Tiffany. They were my area leaders and go-to people for the next nine days. The volunteer area even looks like a community with its clustered but separate white tents. It is the hub where we held our daily updates, received assignments and also went to relax and unwind. For many of us, it offered the chance to see friends made the year before and forge new friendships.

Renae and Tiffany were patient and knowledgeable women. In the next few days after orientation, I worked with ‘John’ and ‘Maria’ at the Interactive site. During breaks, I would run out quickly to one of the practice courts and catch Roger Federer, Li Na, or another top player. Occasional runs to a court with an official match in progress was also possible. The ability to see all of the stars, even just for 10-15 minutes at a time, was a treat. My diary contains almost every top name in the sport, all seen at the Sony Open.

I had selected the “Floater” area, a combination of other areas, since it offered the opportunity to work the stadium and outside courts along with more interactive areas with the visitors. I found that each area had its challenges and rewards.

The Ticket Checker area was the most physically taxing with long sun exposure and standing on concrete for five to eight hours. But the location in the lower seats gave an up-close look at the matches that was priceless. A plus for the transport team, by contrast, was driving VIPs and players to and from the site in the luxury of a Mercedes, Jaguar or Aston Martin. On the other hand, this group of volunteers did not see much tennis played.

The Floaters filled in as ushers at outside courts and the stadium, but they primarily worked in the Interactive area. Here, local pros and coaches spent time with kids doing drills and giving tips. It was an entertaining assignment, although it offered no view of the matches. Thus, careful consideration based on your interest and physical stamina is important when making a selection. Next year, I will tweak the number of shifts and assignments.

Halfway through my volunteering stint, I had learned the routine for timing, locations, what my assigned job required, the people I needed to know, and finally (of high importance) which food vendors had my favorite choices. I felt that I could carry out my job well, and, more importantly, that it was appreciated.

What impressed me the most about my volunteer experience was the collegial and family atmosphere of the volunteer teams. Their ages ranged from 18 to 80, almost every state was represented, and many came from all over the world. I met volunteers from Brazil, Great Britain, Australia, Ecuador, Russia, Spain, Canada, and Germany.  Many volunteers have been returning for 15 or more years. The majority of them spent their week on vacation here.

Among those who stood out was Edward, a teacher in Ecuador who has come for the last eight years and hopes his son can be a Sony Open ball boy next year. Another volunteer, Norma, works in payroll for the Miami School District, while Andres is an entrepreneur. There also are many retired individuals who volunteer. What brings them back? I asked many, and the common responses included their love of the game, the international ambience, getting to meet so many interesting people, and seeing the friends they made the previous year while volunteering.

My nine days passed very quickly, and I truly enjoyed the experience. The highlights were meeting and working with people from around the world who shared my love of tennis. I loved watching the children at the Interactive site playing with the pros and coaches, especially a happy three-year-old who had perfect follow-throughs on every stroke.

The lack of rivalries and animosity among fans at many other sporting events was refreshing. Everyone looked relaxed and happy to be at the Sony Open. The atmosphere was somewhat like a festival with families strolling, music coming from vendor sites and kids on a constant lookout for player autographs. Watching Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, or Novak Djokovic practice or play on most days was a surreal pleasure. If watching great tennis improved one’s game, I would be a star.

To be sure, there were a few volunteers who were territorial of their area, some shifts overstaffed, and the shuttle from downtown to the site could be long and the traffic heavy.  But the positives far outweighed the negatives, and I was fortunate as a volunteer to see the top players every day during my stay, and it will always be a special memory. Yes, I will look forward to March and Miami next year.

Photographs are by the author, and all persons appearing in them gave verbal consent for the use of their image.