Thursday, January 01, 2009
Progress Right Before Our Eyes
Wow! I just read the Texas Section website and checked on the officials section and much to my delighted surprise--there is actually something on the home site and something on the newsletters. Now folks, that is PROGRESS... I'm sure not questioning why it was finally done--just glad its there.
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13 comments:
You can be sure Bruce Sampley didn't do it.
I believe HELL has just frozen over....
Maybe your blog posts are finally getting the attention of the Texas Section office.
RM:
Have you seen the new ITA rule updates that were not included in the FAC 2009 Edition?
some interesting ones regarding MTO's and what not, I guess they will be ingrained at the respective ITA schools.
I'm just glad they are finally doing something...
I'll check out those rule changes and post them real soon.
QUESTION!
If the 2009 USTA schools tests are based on the 2008 FAC why on earth can't the schools be held in November/December? Officals working ITA matches are put at a real disadvantage in getting a school in. I have to give up a weekend assignment to go to a school. We know the powers that be in NYC don't give a rats-ass about the officials out in the field, but what big event is held in the U.S. during that time period?
In fact, is there any word on when the FAC's will be mailed out? And if the main go-to-guy (ryan orner) is no longer with the usta, why hasn't he been replaced already?
Good question. We have been asking that for years. The national powers that be want the schools held during the first part of the year for some reason.
Its especially difficult in Texas because our ITA season begins in the middle of January--before we even get the new FAC's. At least the questions are based on last year's book...
Personally, I think most of what we cover in schools could be done on the internet and thus eliminate the need to attend a school every single year.
Now Randy, you know that won't fly. It's too logical for the home office to comprehend. If it's logical, then who would the idiots follow?
These USTA schools could be done on-line and let the officials have a little more control over their livelihood, without having to attend a school every single year.
Most professions have developed online testing of somekind. Tennis could develop a 200-250 (or more) test database and each user would get a unique test of 50 questions. This would solve the problem of those slugs who always copy their answers from someone else. From my experience, it always catches up to those who don't know the rules. Those slugs just stand out. But, isn't it strange, those are the ones who always get the assignments first.
Below comes from a post by Anne Burrell-Smith on the Southern Officials Blog:
1. Rule I.J .3&4 (page 257)* *(page references are to 2008 FAC)
“For men’s tennis other than Division I only two people may coach” should be deleted.
All Men’s Divisions may have 3 coaches.
2. Dual match competition – Carry-Over Rule
If a player commits a code violation after his/her doubles match is complete, the penalty will
be assessed to the highest remaining doubles team still on court, to be assessed at the beginning of the next game or immediately if in a tiebreaker. If the doubles point has been decided, the carry-over penalty will be assessed in the next round. If the player is not playing again, the penalty will be assessed in the next round against the No.1 singles player.
NOTE: Be sure you discuss this regarding other Divisions where they get 1 point for each
doubles match. In these Divisions the Carry-Over will automatically go to the highest doubles still on court.
3. Rule I.I.1 (page 256)
Delete the last sentence. Extreme heat now applies to both individual and dual matches.
4. Rule II.K.4 (page 268) – added paragraph before II.K.5
In a team match, the official start of the doubles is when the on-court warm-up begins
between any of the doubles matches. In singles, the official start is when any one of
singles matches begins it’s warm-up.
5. Rule II.I.2 (page 267)
Along with what is in the book add this: “If a team is not ready to begin the match within 15 minutes of the specified starting time, it will lose the doubles point(s). If a team is not ready to begin within 1 hour of the specified starting time, it will forfeit the remaining singles matches.”
NOTE: This is when a team has not called and arranged times with the home team.
These penalties are cumulative starting with the penalty of 1 game in each of the singles
matches. I suggest that you teach officials to try to wait for 15 minutes before they do
anything. They can then start with the doubles point(s) penalty.
6. Rule I.H. (page 255) to be added
In dual matches, Division I players may have one Medical Time-Out per match. Should a player
need another Medical Time- Out, he/she will be “retired.” Exceptions are the Bleeding Time-Out and the Medical Time-Out taken for a bathroom visit at an unauthorized time.
NOTE: This means 1 MTO in the Doubles and 1 MTO in the singles.
I got my new official's card and 2009 data card yesterday. No FAC.
MAKES SENSE TO ME??
From the current USTA Dear Official letter:
ITA--any official who wishes to be certified as an ITA official must annually attend an ITA school and pass the ITA test. In addition, since USTA rules apply to anything not specifically superceded by ITA, NCAA, NAIA, or conference rules, officials applying for ITA certification must attend a USTA school and pass the USTA test. Being versed in all sets of rules is vital.
So, as I understand this letter, the USTA wants all officials to be well versed on the 2008 rules in order to be prepared for any of the 2009 ITA matches we are assigned to. Huh??
It appears that the new ITA rules will not make the FAC again this year; or will may be in the book that has no definitive publish date as yet; dual matches get going on January 16 in my schedule. So we will get numerous Handouts at the schools and updates via e-mail to check the USTA website for any ongoing rule changes that the ITA might adopt. Most college coaches don't even know they have any ITA rule changes coming and if they do, they will always claim they didn't understand that was the way they would be applied.
Yep, this is going to be another great year for college tennis. Can someone send me Herb's cell # in case I need a rules clarification.
I ran into an issue last year calling the UTPA/TN Tech match in which the whole receiver standing in service box issue came up. Called a warning to the young lady and the UTPSA Coach came at me like a pit bull saying it should have been a Code Violation, thankfully had a copy of the print out with the updated rules stating first offense was a warning.
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