We all live in a world of GREAT EXPECTATIONS.
EXPECTATIONS OF AN OFFICIAL
* That you know the rules of tennis and how to apply them fairly.
* That you get along with others in a work environment.
* That you know how to bathe and use deodorant on a regular basis.
* That you know how to coordinate your clothing. If you are going to wear a black shirt, please don't wear pink or turquoise shoes.
* That you know how to wash clothes and always show up with clean garments.
* That you know when you hat/cap is worn out. Please don't wear a hat that looks like your great grandfather wore it.
* That you are willing to listen to your referee and in some cases, the more experienced officials. There's nothing more ineffective than a bull-headed official who won't listen.
* That you understand that coaches, players, and parents are actually humans and deserve our respect. We are not called into the officials world to be Attila the Hun.
EXPECTATIONS OF A REFEREE
* That you have an experienced grasp of the rules and know how to apply them.
* That you treat those who work for you with respect and dignity.
* That you pay attention to what is happening around you.
* That you know how to have fun and enjoy being with the other officials.
* That you are protective of those who work for you.
EXPECTATIONS OF A TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR
* That you know and understand the role of a TD--and then operate within that role.
* That you don't act like the "boss" and dictate orders to everyone around you.
* That you don't keep reminding us that we work for you--we already know that.
* That you pay attention when you are doing the draws so we don't have to correct them later.
* That you hire legitimate site directors who actually know what they are doing.
* That you provide lunch/supper for your officials just like you do for your site directors--and don't complain all the time about how we are taking away your profits.
* If you don't provide meals then have the integrity to provide enough money for an official to buy his own lunch. Recommended amount is $10 per meal.
* Treat all officials with dignity and respect. In most cases they have much more training and experience than you do.
* Relax and enjoy the tournament. Not every parent is a devil out to get you and not every official is incompetent.
* Do not constantly tell the officials how little money you are making on a tournament.
* If you require officials to be a site 30 minutes before start time then pay them from the time you require them to be there. No official likes to donate 30 minutes of time just because you want them there.
* Don't ask an official to stand on a court for 6-8 hours without a break. Remember you are the one in the shade or AC at the tournament desk.
* Don't ask us to be site directors. You should hire someone else for that job.
* Don't expect sinless perfection out of your officials. We're human just like you are.
13 comments:
The expectations that you have listed for an Official and Referee and not expectations, they are our job descriptions.
True but they don't always sink in.
Did you write this for our favorite official in College Station? Is this the reason nobody wants to use her in the state of Texas? By the way, what has happened to Eeyore? I haven't seen any posts from him/her in a long time.
Surely you wouldn't think that I would write a post just for someone special...
I haven't heard from Eeyore in quite a while. I do hope he's alright. Maybe he will make another guest appearance. (At least I think Eeyore is a "he")
This is very good and could be handed out at our schools this coming year.
Coach D.
Oops! Left out that officials and referees are expected to squeegee, sweep and/or chip ice off the courts for up to 3 hours before the start of play....
I heard my most favorite official in the whole wide world tried to invite herself to work the NCAA Nationals and head referee Jim Russell told her to go home.
Now that's my kind of referee. I'm going to make sure he gets a personal invitation to my next birthday party.
Eeyore,
And how do the rest of us get invited to your birthday party?
We've missed you and your little nuggets of wisdom and information. What are you going to do now that A&M has moved to the SEC?
Does anyone know how many Big 12 men's matches the College Station official got this next year? I heard it wasn't many if any.
Everyone is invited. It will be April 30th in Austin. I'm starting to older and wiser. It will be my 48th birthday party.
If, as a referee, you had no expectations of others, you'd just schedule the first folks that responded to your availability request. Conversely, because you have expectations, you choose/schedule those from whom you expecct the best. No?.
This will be the last time my son or daughter will play in the Waco area. During a match at an open tournament I witnessed racket abuse, ball abuse, and vulgar language by the junior players. The official, Jane Hammonds spent more time talking to spectators than doing the job she is expected to do. During my son's match, I was talking tro the father of my son's opponent. Jane found her way to us began talking. My son's opponent out of anger smashed the ball out of the court. I looked directly at Jane to see what she would do. As soon as the kid did this she turned away. Then there was a dispute with the score. She made them go back to the score that both agreed upon. I agree with this, due to it being the rule, but both playeers did not agree. My son's opponent wasn't sure of what the score should have been. But they were made to go back to 30-15 even though my son won the game. My wife keep stats of each of my son's matches and my son was correct. He won the game and should have been serving for the match. Jane then began calling lines. The other kid hit a first serve that my son called out. She over ruled the call and gave the point to my son's opponent. The ball was at least 3 to 4 inches out. Spectators sitting by us that we have never met commented that the official was either blind or she had it out for my son. I agree with them. At this point my son asked if he could default. Usually I would say no, but this time I had no problem with it. There is some things that should be noted. My son was winning the match when he defaulted. The other kid was crampining up. The kids dad was in charge of lining up officials for college matches, so she definately would want to make him mad. And by ther way the way, I am an official also. We need stricter qualifications for officials. The way it is now anybody can become an official. Parents pay good money for entry fee's. Yes, I am mad as you can tell.
Dear Anon,
When you have problems like that in a tournament you need to immmediately write up a complaint and send it to Nick Arnold in the Texas Section Office. It will be dealt with fairly and quickly.
Nick's email is narnold@texas.usta.com
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