One of the most thankless jobs in tennis officiating is the job of "match coordinator" and now that it is nearly time for the spring assignments to start coming out, that job has new meaning and focus. Here are some things to remember when the assignments come out:
* Don't count everyone else's assignments and compare them to your own. This will only create headaches for everyone concerned.
* Many times a coordinator will make assignments based on an official's ability to be part of a team when they are working a match.
* If you got more than one bad eval last year that probably means you will get fewer assignments (or less stressful ones) this year.
* Keep in mind that the pay is the same for men's and women's matches so don't pull out the crying towel when you don't get a bunch of men's assignments. Besides, the stress level is usually less for a women's match (but not always).
* Remember that coaches have the ear of the coordinators. You may not like it, but its a fact of life.
* Some coaches keep files on officials. Another fact of life you need to remember but it sure would be fun to read through those files.
* Only one coordinator in Texas gets paid for doing the job so don't be too quick to criticize.
* Always remember that you don't know how many officials signed up for the match. There are times you have 20 people sign up for 6 spots so someone is going to be left out.
* Remember that some conferences pay more than anyone else and that's why people wait until their assignments come out before committing to anything.
* Try not to cancel out of too many previous assignments after you have gotten the big conference assignments.
* The SEC pays as good as anyone in the nation so turn your eyes toward College Station, Baton Rouge, and Arkansas if you want to branch out.
* There are times that a coordinator has to match up coaches, players, and officials according to their personalities and job performances. Just like some coaches and players are hard to get along with, there are some officials that make life miserable for everyone.
* Don't threaten the coordinator with a lawsuit if they don't give you enough matches. This has already been done in Texas and it didn't work out well for the official. She no longer works collegiate matches...
* If you and the coordinator don't get along well don't even begin to think you will get a ton of assignments.
* Be thankful for the assignments you get and then do the very best job you can do when spring rolls around.
3 comments:
* And don't start calling the coordinator the day after the match wanting to know where your check is!
Amen to that!
The coordinators need to be quicker with assignments and letting the officials know if they have been chosen to work. Officials sometimes have multiple opportunities to work but have to commit to one or the other and then if they don't get assignment they lose out with the other coordinator.
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