Our archery session's field captain is late, and another member wants to start. Who should decide?

The appointed field captain messaged that he'd be twenty minutes late. One member said, "I've been shooting here for years. I'll get us started." Nobody had been told he was taking over.

I'm new to this outdoor target-archery club. I know which session I booked, but I don't know who can approve a replacement field captain or open the range. A few people are already unpacking, and asking seems to make me the person holding everyone up.

[Archery GB's guidance on judging](https://archerygb.org/performance/get-involved/judging-with-archery-gb) says shooting needs to be under the control of a Field Captain. I don't want to guess that years of membership alone establish today's authority. I'm waiting rather than joining a start that hasn't been confirmed.

What is a reasonable question to put to the club contact now, and what should the club explain to newcomers before the next delayed session? I'd like a clear handover, not an argument about whether the experienced member knows what he's doing.