"My opinion on the intent of the rule is that there needs to be at least two qualified officials per match in order for it to be counted for ITA ranking purposes. It is NOT intended that the remaining officials not be qualified. All officials working the match should be qualified officials and the minimum number permissible is two. I hope this helps and if you have further questions please feel free to contact me."
Enough said--and now we need to see that rule enforced.
20 comments:
So, are you tattling on Texas A&M to the ITA Rules and Infractions Committee anytime soon for their failure to follow ITA rules?
I guess A&M will have to forfeit those matches where they knowingly used uncertified officials, especially as head Referee for the match. Wow that could bring up some huge issues.
Does anybody know how many matches Texas A&M will have to forfeit for using un-certified officials?
Personally I am not contacting A&M but if they happen to read the blog then that is their blessing...
Out of 20 home non-conference matches A&M only had a non-certified official on 13 of them. You do the math.
I believe A&M coordinated with the Texas Chairman of Officials whether or not they could use an un-certified official for their matches and the Chairman told them it was okay. So A&M should have a get-out-of-jail-free card.
This is total flagrant disregard for ITA Rules by the A&M Coordinator. She will tell you to your face that she knows all the rules and is the best ITA official in the US.
This issue has absolutely nothing to do with the Texas A&M Men's and Women's tennis program so please stop berating them. They hire a coordinator in good faith to staff their events. It is up to the coordinator to ensure qualified officials are assigned to each match. If the coordinator is corrupt, then the coaches should find someone else to take her place. I think they tried to replace her this year but elected to give her one last try. It appears that was a bad decision.
What about enforcement? What entity
will enforce the "intent of this rule"?
The ITA, the USTA, the University, or a Conference? Nothing will happen to A&M, period.
Self-regulation is the answer.
Violation of the ITA rules results in a reprimand letter from the Rules and Infraction Committee and that is it.
Look at it this way:
The Baylor men's coach used vulgar language toward an opposing player (totally inappropriate) and was suspended for one match.
A&M knowingly uses an official that does not meet the requirements. And they get . . .
I know, the Big 12 has nothing to do with non-conference matches. But in the big picture, this just isn't right.
Dear "April 18, 2011 3:12:00 PM CDT Anonymous: Please read the comment submitted before you started spewing about A&M. A&M has nothing to do with this, however the Coordinator does and should be punished. In fact, A&M contacted the Texas Sectional Chair of Officials to get his position on this subject once they were made aware of the situation to determine whether or not they needed to change their officials assigned to non-conference matches and the Chair said "NO" - There is nothing else the school should do. They did the appropriate thing up front.
I love this A&M Coordinator Blog.. Always a good thing to read about how other people mess up. Isn't America Great!?
Sounds like its the Sectional Chairman who needs to learn the rule book. He should have known better than to tell A&M they could hire non-certified officials.
I thought the rule was pretty self-explanatory but I'm glad you got a ruling from the Chairman. It sounds to me like the original interpretation from some was just an excuse to hire uncertified officials.
Dear Baylor Bear Fan
Why would A&M contact the Texas Section Chair of Officials when USTA has nothing to do with this . . . it is an ITA question.
And second, if A&M has done the "appropriate thing up front" and found out this is OK, then why should the coordinator be punished?
If the university is in the clear, then so is the coordinator; if the coordinator should be punished, then so should the university. The coordinator works for the university and therefore is an agent of the university. They are one in the same.
Why is anyone calling the Sectional Chairman in the first place? The ITA is not under the authority of the USTA and hence, his opinion is unwarranted, unneeded, and useless as well as being ill-informed.
I say - screw it - lets have a beer
MY interpretation is the following... I CANNOT WAIT until After the BIGGEST match of the year tomorrow night at Baylor v A&M - I will get with my friends and talk ALL NIGHT LONG ABOUT HOW BAD the officials were... if they are not bad - I will make stuff up. CANNOT WAIT!
The umpires are so busy bashing each other that they have lost sight of
really great collegiate tennis that they get to watch at courtside.
I certainly don't think the officials have lost sight of the "real thing" and that is following the rules, applying them fairly and to everyone, telling the truth, and enjoying tennis.
I'm real proud of the vast vast majority of officials in Texas.
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