As we all know, the season for Officials School is coming soon and everyone is scurrying around to find their best date and location. Earlier this year we had encouraged the Texas Section Officials Committee to have more schools offered throughout the state and on times other than January and February. It was my understanding that this was passed at the last officials committee meeting.
In order to help with this step (and a much needed one), the leadership of the national junior college men's tournament (which is held in May every year in Plano) offered to host an officials school on two nights of the tournament and in conjunction with the Texas Section Chair Academy. They also offered to provide a classroom at no charge and also offered to pay all the expenses for the instructor. Our feelings were that we would offer a great alternative in the Metroplex for officials who could not attend in January and who also could not attend on a weekend.
Today we received notice from our Sectional Chairman, Bruce Sampley, that our request had been denied. Here were their reasons:
1. We did not request a school in time to be considered. That is patently false since we were the first to get our request in (September 11, 2009).
2. They were worried that the officials would be "too tired" to go to the school after working all day. Folks, people work all the time and still attend officials schools and do quite well.
3. They want all schools in Texas to be taught on weekends only. Anyone who has a brain and knows anything in Texas knows that we have taught schools on weekends and during the weekdays for years and years. There were numerous schools taught during the week in 2009.
4. They already have plans for another school in Dallas in May. Of course, when questioned they have no dates and/or locations and no realistic plans. If this is true--then why not let us host the school in Plano in May??? Wasn't that the goal of the officials committee?
5. They want to the sectional school to last at least four hours and the ITA and referee schools to last at least two hours. That could have easily been facilitated in the format and schedule that we submitted to them. Again--everyone in Texas knows full well that the only schools that last for an eternity are the National Schools and most all the others are taught in much less time.
6. They were worried that there might be a rain delay in the tournament and hinder the school. Folks, in case of rain we can adjust. Any official who would be attending the school would have been given plenty of time to rest and be prepared for the night's class.
7. There will be an additional school taught in north Houston--all with our leadership's blessing as it has been for the past five years. If they can do it in north Houston then why can't it be done in Plano? And at no expense to the Texas Section...
The bottom line is that this bias is coming from our Sectional Chairman because I questioned his leadership and decisions he has made concerning me in the past. Plain and simple so let's stop trying to hide behind some imaginary bush.
This decision is coming from people who can't even update a website or get out a newsletter more than once every two to three years.
Even though we won't be hosting a school, I do submit that is time to be hosting some new leadership in Texas. The current leadership's bias is showing badly...
