Re: t-and-f: Arrogant officials and decisions...
Some Associations (including NJ) require officiating a certain number of meets as well as passing the test. It is up to each Association. Ed Koch -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Sunday, June 10, 2001 11:08 PM Subject: Re: t-and-f: Arrogant officials and decisions... In a message dated 6/8/01 11:56:23 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: 2. Appropriate training for officials, not just meeting to look at old films or discuss how things used to be. Is track the only sport where an official can be certified w/o ever having seen, much less worked, a meet? To pass the USATF test (at least in CT) you merely have to pass the written test, which is open book and untimed. Every other sport has a rating session where officials work at a pre-season scrimmage; newbies are guided by veterans, who themselves work on applying new rules. And once the season begins, the assigner generally puts novices under the wing of an experienced official, who can give pointers along the way. As far as I know, track does nothing along those lines. Jim Gerweck Running Times
Re: t-and-f: Arrogant officials and decisions...
In a message dated 6/8/01 11:56:23 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: 2. Appropriate training for officials, not just meeting to look at old films or discuss how things used to be. Is track the only sport where an official can be certified w/o ever having seen, much less worked, a meet? To pass the USATF test (at least in CT) you merely have to pass the written test, which is open book and untimed. Every other sport has a rating session where officials work at a pre-season scrimmage; newbies are guided by veterans, who themselves work on applying new rules. And once the season begins, the assigner generally puts novices under the wing of an experienced official, who can give pointers along the way. As far as I know, track does nothing along those lines. Jim Gerweck Running Times
t-and-f: Arrogant officials and decisions...
While there are certainly arrogant officials, let us not forget that the pool of officials is becoming older. With all due respect to those veterans officials, there are certainly some of them who should retire. However, to get competent officials for high school or college meets is getting harder and harder each year. Finding qualified officials who know both college and high school rules is not easy, then to ask them to stay out in all kinds of weather all day for a bag lunch, a hat, and perhaps a small stipend is not my idea of a good time. Granted that there is a power struggle between the high school federation and USATF, some officials see themselves as only working if they can be in charge or in a high position, the fact that there are too many sets of rules in effect in the various states, and that the average age of those willing to volunteer is getting older, the key questions is what is to be done. Certainly, officials should be there for the student-athlete and not to pad their own resume or stroke their egos. However, noting that, solutions must be found, developed, and implemented before the changes that some many of those posted can be made. What is going to need to take place for this situation to improve is not going to be easy or even possible for some. 1. A standardization of rules in this country, with the differences found in the particulars of the age divisions, not in the base rules of competition. 2. Appropriate training for officials, not just meeting to look at old films or discuss how things used to be. 3. A cooperative agreement with USATF and the National High School Federation and a compelling of the member state associations to follow the standard rules. 4. Appropriate and adequate compensation for officials. While we all would like to have them work for free, it's not going to happen too much now. I am sure that many of the members of the list could find other things to add to this list. However, just discussing the matter is not going to make this situation change. Until it does, the sport is going to have to deal with officials on ego trips, officials not knowing the appropriate rules, officials refusing to work meets unless they can be in charge or in a highly visible position (or not doing the dirty work), and officials getting selected for meets based on who they know, not what they are willing and qualified to do. Any takers on helping to try to solve this dilemma? Trey Jackson Assistant Coach - Track and Field Lebanon Valley College Annville, PA
t-and-f: Arrogant officials and decisions...
Listers, Where do we draw the line at HS meets? Here's the scenario... All-American high schooler at his/her last meet. He/she checks into an event 5 minutes too late. Do you strip this child of their last opportunity to compete in his/her state? THESE MEETS ARE FOR THE KIDS!! Officials are stripping kids of some of the most fond memories of their HS years. In NJ, some of the state's finest athletes were robbed of a chance to finish their careers because of some stupid rules. I think if you have a kid at a meet who's tops in the state in their event, page that person just to make sure they are not running the event. But don't close the event and have kid miss out because he was off warming up and didn't hear the call. Larry A. Morgan Elizabeth Heat TC
Re: t-and-f: Arrogant officials and decisions...
Maybe the supreme court will determine that being on time in not an essential part of the sport. In fact. they can mandate that we issue kids the chip and they could start behind the field if they like. Some of the best lessons I have learned from my time in this sport came from the difficulties, not the victories. In a message dated 6/7/01 8:19:28 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Listers, Where do we draw the line at HS meets? Here's the scenario... All-American high schooler at his/her last meet. He/she checks into an event 5 minutes too late. Do you strip this child of their last opportunity to compete in his/her state? THESE MEETS ARE FOR THE KIDS!! Officials are stripping kids of some of the most fond memories of their HS years. In NJ, some of the state's finest athletes were robbed of a chance to finish their careers because of some stupid rules. I think if you have a kid at a meet who's tops in the state in their event, page that person just to make sure they are not running the event. But don't close the event and have kid miss out because he was off warming up and didn't hear the call. Larry A. Morgan Elizabeth Heat TC
