Yup - I did my first at age 14 having been badgered into it by Jonathan Berry who at 15 was already an experienced director and member of my home club. That first tournament was horrible as it was well run but too long to engage most of the players. (12 rounds?!?)

This was long before he went to the Business Office. Directed a bunch of club tournaments at the Scarborough Chess Club and in Winnipeg before returning home to Vancouver in '91 which is where most of my events were done.

You have to have the right mindset to be a good TD and imagining others in the role ("succession planning") is always part of the role.