Here's what we sometimes think--but we know we can't say it.
And then the harsh realization that some people just aren't cut out to be officials.
Here are two common responses we hear when enlisting people to become a collegiate chair official:
1. There's no way in hell that I'm going through what you guys go through.
2. I'd love to do it. It looks pretty easy to do and lots of fun.
Both are right in some aspects but the common ground is probably somewhere in the middle. Consider this when contemplating becoming an official (and these all come from real life examples):
* Coaches will insult you to your face and scream obscenities.
* Coaches will insult your birthright and right to exist on this planet.
* Coaches will even lie to you.
* 19 year old players will do the same as their coaches and expect you to endure it all.
* Fans in the stands will lie to you and call you bad names.
* Some people will think you are blind as a bat--and tell you so!
* Your personal security will be threatened.
* Your own Mother may even doubt your abilities.
* When you come home, your dog may turn and run from you after you called 5 overrules.
* The other five officials go out to eat after the match and exclude you.
It takes a VERY SPECIAL PERSON with some very specific skills to navigate the waters of collegiate tennis officiating. Here are some observations:
* You get to work with some fantastic coaches and players. 99% of them are wonderful!
* You get to be right on the court with some of the best players in the world.
* You get to train and work with some great people who ultimately become great friends.
* You need to have a heart of gold and skin like an alligator to live through it.
* You can't be easily offended or intimidated.
* You have to realize you are just human and might even make some mistakes.
* You have to learn to be fair and unbiased in the face of the forces of hell.
* You have to be able to put it to rest after the match or tournament is finished.
* You have to be able to realize that the coaches and players don't totally believe everything they say to you. They do mean a lot of it though...
* You have to remember that there is a Mother somewhere that loves that screaming coach and/or player.
* You have to remember that the Lord God in Heaven is still on His throne and will exact His just reward on those who have spitefully used you and persecuted you.
Put all this in your mind and then decide if you are one of those SPECIAL PEOPLE--and then go for it! You won't be disappointed in both the positives and the negatives because they will both be there.
12 comments:
It appears our days of officiating college matches may soon be over. Based on what those IDIOTS in charge of officiating at the ITA level are making college officials go through, it's just a matter of time they take over scheduling officials for all ITA sanctioned events. Why else would we have to pay a $48 fee and be entered into ZebraWeb, a database specifically created for making officiating assignments.
I think these ITA-wannabee pro chair umpires are figuring out the money is in college officiating, and not at the pro events. As a result, they will do whatever they can to push those of us out who specialize in college officiating.
ZebraWeb is designed to get total control of the ITA game. They have come out with this new entity and in not any subtle way are going to tightly control all aspects of collegiate tennis. It is clearly laid out what the plan is.
Why would an oversight organization be designed such that it will function for controlling assignments & payments as ZebraWeb is. Most folks were expecting training, certification and rules as the primary function of this new ITA organization.
If you look at the "Committee" - most are known back stabbing fools. They only hire their buddies to work the prestigious Nationals and based on their performance from the past two years, most of them should be FIRED. I wonder who provided their last chair evaluations? It's borderline unethical, but their performance is about par with entry level ITF Professional Tennis. Totally unacceptable.
Another interesting tidbit I bet a lot of the local officials don't know. In the ACC, the "Coordinator" only assigns matches as they go through the season. The one and only reason is so his buddy pro chair umpires can scarf up available assignments to supplement their measly pro paychecks for those days they aren't working pro tournaments. Another borderline unethical behavior.
Yet, these are the buffoons we will be dealing with for the foreseeable future. That's sad, very sad...
This just in!
Anthony Montero and his cronies are taking over assigning officials to work all ITA matches across the US.
Does this mean our pay scale for working ITA matches will be reduced to $50 a dual match like what happens at the NCAAs. I can only imagine it's coming.
At least the pro chairs will feel right at home getting paid their peanuts for working collegiate matches.
I can't wait to see what dumbass training materials come out of the ITA Officials Committee. Their best bet would be to get rid of Carole Cox and Jane Goodman. Weren't they the brains behind incorporating the abridged "CODE" to the front end of this year's ITA Rulebook, which is totally inappropriate for collegiate tennis.
Actually, the NCAA stipulates the Regionals pay $75 per match + $45 per diem a day. This is usually less than a regular season dual match fee; but has much more significance to the teams. Go figure that.
Well what else are the supposed ITA gurus going to to do to screw officials, there was nothing about a certification fee and now they just throw it on, let the referees choose their officials and if there is an issue the coaches and conferences can help fix the issues.
Do not need a upper level group trying to dictate to the masses.
What's the over/under on how long before the new ITA annual dues of $48 exceeds $100?
OK, I'll go first. . . I'm picking 4.5 years.
Typical send out information for their new database system and you can not even fill out the profile section due to a database/scripting error. Do they not test anything in a live scenario.
Ok AR, the solution for that problem would be to increase the dues already.
shhhh!! Uncle do not give them ideas
Also anyone else not liking that they want to know where you work and what not. Again leave it to the Referees for each school to choose officials they are comfortable with and if issues coaches and conference can fix them.
Do not want some central database that will start assigning officials willy nilly. No Carolina model please. I am independent to pick and choose.
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