"The Gathering 2017"

Views of the Tolbert's lake house.

This year marks the 5th anniversary of "The Gathering" and its going to be bigger, better, and longer than ever!  Its a fantastic weekend designed just for ITA officials and their spouses so if you fit the bill--come and join us...

Here is what is happening...

Date:  July 21-23, 2017
Location:  Tolbert lake house on Cedar Creek Lake (about an hour east of Dallas)
Cost:  $25 per person if you come for all 3 days and $20 if you only come for two.
Meals:  Meals are covered in the fee and will feature hot dogs, hamburgers, fajitas, and Gary Tolbert's fantastic breakfast on Sunday morning!
Lodging:  Plenty of rooms at two lake houses and your lodging fee is included in the cost.

This is always a wonderful time of relaxation and fellowship for of our fellow ITA officials so we hope you will come.  If you have never been--we really want you to come this year!  It will be a weekend you won't ever forget.

We will be eating (a lot!), playing dominoes, swimming, playing pool, and riding some great jet skiis so there will be something for everyone.  If you would rather just sit around and fellowship, that's an option too!

The cost covers your lodging at the Tolbert's lake house.  If we run out of room, we have another lake house reserved right down the road so there will be a place for everyone.

RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED so if you want to come, get your reservation in today.  You can do so by contacting Randy at the following locations:

Randy McDonald

rmtennis@yahoo.com

214 796 7402

How Would You Rule? Is The Racket Broken Or Isn't It?

SCENARIO

In an ITA dual match, Player A jumped up into the air after losing a point and slammed her racket into the ground.  No code...

She then walked over and put her racket into her bag and got another.  The Chair Official then coded her for "racket abuse" because he said she had broken her racket.

Player A then loudly protested and said she had not broken her racket but was simply getting another.  The officials checked her bag and racket and found it to be "unbroken" and the code was rescinded.

Was this the correct ruling?

"Catfish" A New One Among Us

"Catfish"

Our Newest "Family" Member

One of the joys of officiating is that we frequently get to welcome new members to our group of ITA officials.  We quickly want to make them feel like they are part of the "family" so we usually give the new ones a nickname...

We want you to meet one of our newest family member--CATFISH.  He's a 20 year old student at Oklahoma University and hails from Canyon, Texas.  He already has a ton of experience doing collegiate chairs and definitely has a bright future.  He hopes to someday become and commercial pilot and is well on his way to that goal.

Congratulation to "Catfish" for joining our family.  We look forward to welcoming you to our family...

Want to guess who he is???

How Would You Rule? Two Issues At The Same Time!

SCENARIO

In a women's ITA dual match, player A had a cramp and called the trainer to the court.  When the trainer arrived, he noticed that the player had also scraped her knee and was bleeding. 

Here are the questions to be answered:

1.  Do you take the medical timeout for the cramp and get 5 minutes treatment time and just ignore the bleeding.

2.  Do you take the bleeding timeout and get up to 15 minutes and just ignore the cramp and hope it goes away?

3.  Do you get 5 minutes for the cramp and then up to 15 minutes for the bleeding if it hasn't already stopped?

4.  Do you just default and run to the nearest hospital?

What would you advise or do???

How Would You Rule? (This Is A Good One!)

SCENARIO

In a Division I women's dual match, player A takes a bathroom break on a set break (entitling her to 5 minutes).  Player B has her trainer come to the court and begin to treat her for an ailment.  

What do you do?

A.  Tell Player B that she has 2 minutes for treatment and then must stop treatment or take a medical timeout.

B.  Let Player B receive treatment as long as Player A is gone to the restroom.

C.  Allow Player B three minutes for treatment since Player A got three minutes for the bathroom break.

D.  Do nothing and hope the ailment heals itself.

E.  Avoid the issue and hope that noone notices.

Is The Show Really Worth It Coach?

As tennis officials we have all witnessed or experienced an irate coach and when all the yelling and venting is done, I sometimes want to ask the coach, "Was the show really worth it?"

In the past few days I have personally witnessed two head coaches totally lose their cool during a match and spent their time screaming at officials and/or anyone who would listen.  To say it was a disgrace would be an understatement.  I was embarrassed for their schools and players and wondered if anyone had ever actually confronted them about their behavior.

A while back I was sitting with an athletic director watching his school play a dual match.  Their coach was well known as one of the most vocal and argumentative of coaches and the AD told me at one point, "Just watch.  He fixing to throw a fit on that official to get the focus off of his player."  If that is true (and I have no reason to doubt the AD's explanation) then I'd love for that coach to tell me "if the show was worth it."

Simply put, here are some of the things that happen when a coach becomes irate and throws a fit on whomever is close by:

*  The coach looks juvenile beyond description.
*  Its not good for their health.  Extreme anger and agitation are always bad for one's health.
*  Their players know that its for show most of the time and lose respect in a hurry.
*  If their anger is real, the players, fans, parents, and officials lose all respect for the coach.
*  They totally disrespect the official and that is just simply wrong.  We are adults and deserve respect just like they do.
*  Can they honestly say that they believe that is how an adult should act?
*  Would they seriously want their children to see them acting that way?
*  Would they want their spouse to see them throwing their tantrums?
*  They need to ask themselves, "What kind of  human being would treat another human being like that?"
*  They need to remember that "that which proceeds out of the mouth shows the condition of the heart."  Enough said...

As officials we have steps we can take to curb a coach's rants and raves but they are rarely employed. One suggestion would be to immediately code a coach when he/she starts their tantrum but there would be a high cost to be paid.  It might be good too for the individual conferences to suspend offending coaches for a match or even the entire season.  The behavior would change in a hurry if there were valid penalties.

In conclusion, let me share a story with you.  A few years back I was standing around with some officials and talking to one of the most renowned "screaming coaches" in America.  We were talking about the coach's rants and raves and he laughingly looked at me and said, "Don't take it personally if I scream at you."

My reply was simply, "Don't take it personally if I code you for screaming at me.  I'm an adult and expect to be treated with the same respect that we give you."  Nothing more was said...

Halfway Through The ITA Season and Things To Remember

Well, we are about halfway through the spring ITA season--and boy is it a good one!  Some of the greatest players and matches we have ever seen and also some of the most unique scenarios to consider.  Along with all of the excitement there are always frayed tempers and correct and incorrect rulings by officials.

Here are a few things to remember:

*  We are at the point in the season where wins and losses take on more meaning.  That means coaches and players are going to be much more uptight and irritable.  Keep it in mind!

*  When a coach loses, many of them seek a scapegoat for their loss and unfortunately, that often means an official is the recipient of their ire.  Be as patient as you can but don't let them abuse you.

*  Biblical admonition:  "A soft answer turns away wrath."  Just something to ponder...

*  Be sure you are up to date on your assignments.  Remember times, dates, and locations can change in the twinkling of an eye.

*  Constantly refresh yourself on the rules.

*  Remember the coach is basing his income and reputation on a bunch of 20 year olds.  They deserve our thoughtfulness and sensitivity.

*  Even though you may be tired and a bit road-weary, don't let them deter you from doing your job well.

*  If you get fired or banned from a school, don't hyperventilate over it.  It happens and try to learn from it.

*  Final Biblical admonition:  "Be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger."

Its amazing how much God knew about tennis officiating isn't it?

"Use It!" What Do We Do With The New Term

Now that  there is a brief break (from midnight until 2 a.m.) in collegiate officiating, I thought it was time to return to blogging...

Now for the QUESTION OF THE DAY!

We all know that the use of "On It!" was prohibited at numerous collegiate tournaments, including the NCAA tournament, and that all well and good and a welcome prohibition.  However, we can count on our younger generation to come up with a variation to immediately test the prohibition...

Seems that the collegiate set is now using the term "Use It!" in the same manner as "On It!"

Should the new term be prohibited too?  Just thought I would ask the question before I start making it illegal.  What do you think?