Dave Coburn spent most of his time on the court long before he picked up the whistle and walked the sidelines at the Gus Macker.

After having played in the Chillicothe tournament for several years and volunteering the last couple locally, Coburn will serve as the head Gusbuster, a.k.a referee, at the 3-on-3 basketball tournament returning to Ironton June 6 and 7.

Since it takes 40 or 50 Gusbusters to run the 15-17 courts, Coburn and other Friends of Ironton event organizers are looking for a few good men and women.

“Anyone can help. We are never going to turn down volunteers,” Coburn said. “The more we have, the less time they have to stay on the court.”

Coburn said the Gusbusters would only have to work four hours a day if enough people volunteer.

Scorekeepers are also needed.

“The qualifications for a Gusbuster is just someone who has just a little bit of experience or knowledge of basketball,” Coburn said. “They don’t have to have played their whole life.”

Rick Jansen, a founding member of the grassroots Friends of Ironton organization that brought the event to town five years ago, said it is volunteers that make the Macker go.

“Joyce Lynd’s passion and leadership is tremendous. Her and Viviane have done an outstanding job. Joyce is so into the Macker and all it does for kids.”

Coburn agreed that volunteers are the lifeblood of the event.

“If we don’t have the volunteers, we don’t have the Gus Macker,” Coburn said. “If we don’t have Gusbusters, we don’t have the Gus Macker.”

Volunteer information packets are available at Ironton Physical Therapy.

Anyone who would like to volunteer can contact Coburn at 606-923-5313.