Ever since I was a kid I have had a healthy, if not somewhat paranoid, fear of elevators. I've managed to navigate them safely over the years but the worst ones have to be the ones that go up and down the outside of buildings...
Sometimes new officials feel that same way when we explain chair officiating to them. Last night we had a training session for some new and upcoming ITA chair officials--and it all went well! We went into great detail about managing a stop watch, scorecard, pencil, and scoring device--as well as the entire court and players and coaches.
After they were gone and I was thinking over the meeting and wondering how much actually sank into their brains and psyches, one of the trainees wrote back with this evaluation of doing a chair:
"When one reaches 'Maximum Task Separation' and possible resulting loss of Situation Awareness catastrophic loss of control of the environment can occur. Chairing sounds also much like flying airliners... "Hours of boredom interrupted by seconds of terror."
For those of us who have long since forgotten our first chair experience this has to be one of the best descriptions I have ever heard!
5 comments:
Very true and well said!
As a kid, I was very adventurous. I even jumped off a one story factory building and survived. One day I nearly feel off a two-story structure. From that point on, I've had a healthy fear of heights. Being on a chair the first time brought back that feeling!
Build a Good Foundation,
All the more reason to have these ITA chair officials - start in the grassroots area of tennis. The best place for all of us - is to start with the Mothers of our youth - WAY BEFORE - you take on Diaz, Center, Knoll, or Boland.
Most important - WHEN you "fall out of the chair" - FALL FORWARDS. In other words - learn something!
BACO
Unfortunately there are very few opportunities to get chair experience outside of working ITA matches. There is no training program in Texas. When there are chair opportunities, they are all scarfed up by the pro- wannabes.
There is plenty of train training available in the Metroplex. There is chair training at Highland Park High School in the fall where an official can do at least 20 chairs if they so desire. Then in the spring there is chair training at TCU, SMU, UNT, and UTA. The coordinators at UT, A&M, and Rice will also offer training if someone asks.
The availability of chair training at the pro level is another story in Texas. There ain't none.
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