June 5, 2025 @ 8:27 PM

We have found that there is a simple progression for starting a new gym on PARS.  The typical thinking for a new member is that we have all these folders with assessments that have to be entered as the first step!  How are you going to do that? You aren't!

Here is what we have learned.
 

  • Note 1:  DO NOT enter all your boxer information and assessments from paper before getting started.  Enter historical assessment information just before each fighter's first PARS assessment.  PARS is very smart so you can add assessments in any order at any time.
     

  • Note 2:  Do all new assessments, intake or reassessments, starting tomorrow morning, on PARS.  Alright, take a couple days to learn the system and play.  Stop using the paper forms because they just have to be entered in PARS later. Jump right in.  
     

  • Note 3:  Do at least 3 trial assessments on a coach or family member before doing a live assessment on a boxer.  You will want to be familiar with the navigation and the screens.  You don't want to look foolish or lost in front of your boxer! 
     

  • Note 4:  Most RSB affiliates/head coaches don't have time to implement PARS or do the ongoing assessments.  Therefore, you can't be in the critical path to PARS success.  You may need to get out of your own way!  The best way to get more time is to add a person to the process.  In my 2 gyms, the head coaches do not do assessments.  EVER.  We have volunteer PARS Coordinators in both gyms.  They have done a combined 200+ assessments so they are very good.  They are both spouses of a boxer.  They are very protective of the boxers, very good collaborating with the head coaches so they know what is going on with everybody, and they love the responsibility of being the PARS Coordinators.  We have articles on how to find coordinators, how to train them, and what to expect from them.

Here is how we recommend you implement PARS in your gym...

  • Step 1: Add your boxer roster using the PARS Quick Add feature.  Just first and last names plus a fake email address and fake phone number.  One minute each.
     

  • Step 2:  Find a volunteer-for-a-month information gatherer and photographer.  Ask at workouts.  Send a group email.  Make a couple phone calls. You just need them for a month.  Knowing my boxers and their spouses, I know who I would ask all ready.
      

  • Step 3:  Now that all of your boxers have a skeleton record in PARS and you have found your PARS assistant, have them grab each boxer for 7 to 8 minutes before, during or after your workouts to tell them about PARS.  Show them Zeke or Zelda's fake record.   Then click on their skeleton record to fill in their PARS general information and take their picture.   You will capture information in PARS that wasn't in the paper files such as gender and shoe size.  This way, your records are up to date.   You can give your volunteer guidelines to set a temporary assessment date which you can refine later. 
     

  • Step 4:  Find your PARS Coordinator:  See the notes above.  
     

  • Step 5:  Entering previous assessments.  The day before each boxer's first PARS assessment is when the PARS Coordinator adds the boxer's historical assessments from paper.  This makes the data entry very manageable by spreading it out over several months.

The message is stop doing what is comfortable but creates more backlog and start doing what is less comfortable but more professional and when you are done you are done.  It all starts with volunteers!  One as your 1-month PARS assistant information gatherer and photographer.  One as your PARS Coordinator to do assessments.  If you are having trouble giving up the assessment responsibility, contact me and I'll help you.

You will have your boxers in PARS in no time and the assessments will be up to date in just a few months.  No overwhelming workload.  Easy peasy.