Things Not To Say To Your Collegiate Coordinator

 

When an official starts their career in collegiate tennis officiating they will undoubtedly meet with a coordinator to hopefully be scheduled to work their matches.  This can be an intimidating and daunting experience but here are some things NEVER TO SAY when you are being interviewed by your coordinator:

*  "How much do I get paid?"  Don't ever let this be the first thing out of your mouth or you can be sure you won't be working at that university.  

*  "When do I get paid?"   This is one of the great variables in collegiate tennis.   It can range from 2 days to 14 months so don't hyperventilate over this issue. 

*  "Do I have to do doubles as well as singles matches?"  This is so stupid it doesn't deserve a response.

*  "I come from a total USTA background and I'm widely considered to be one of the best in America."    First of all, if you say that, you're done and second, I don't know of a poll where they select the best ones in America.  

*  "At USTA events all the parents come to me and tell me I am the best official they have ever seen!"  Please spare me that kind of ego...

*  "I expect to get mileage for every match I do and if its over 40 miles from my house I will need a hotel the night before."   Ain't gonna happen and you need to adjust your priorities...

*  "I expect to always do line 1 or 2 singles and I never do doubles."   Probably best to find another career because you ain't gonna make it in this one...

*  "I'm not intimidated by anyone and I excel in areas of stress management."   Obviously your ego is inflated and you have never encounted an irate collegiate coach.  

Does A Screaming Coach Really Matter?

 

As officials we often see players, coaches, spectators, and other officials at their very best--and their very worst.  Today I want us to consider coaches and how they treat their players and leave the other areas for a discussion at another time.  

As an official we are tasked with maintaining order on a court during a match but we also see (and hear) coaches as they interact with their players--and sometimes this behavior is questionable at best and appalling at worst.  Its always a joy to work with a coach and players where the coach maintains the personal integrity that is required of their position and treats their players with the respect and dignity that they deserve.   As a parent, I also respect the fact that parents have given that coach the authority over their son or daughter--and expect him to honor that privilege...

As officials, there is very little we can do about abusive and unethical behavior by a coach in their interaction with a player--but it happens more times than we would like to admit...  Just this week I listened as a coach berated his entire time with vulgar, crude, unethical, and evil words that should never be uttered to another human being.   If I had been the parent of one of these players I guarantee you that he would never play another point for that coach.

So, what do we do?   First, if it is illegal and violates a rule, then we code it.   If not, there's not much we can do except maintain a higher standard of ethics when we are around that coach and second, pray that the Lord protects those kids from his abusive behavior.  This is serious business when we are dealing with the lives and upbringing of young people so let's all do our best to see that we give our kids the very best...

There's an old saying that says "the proof is in the pudding" and that is absolutely true with coaches.  The quality of their ethics and program will always manifest itself in the way they conduct themselves with others and in the play and lives of their players.  

Let's hold to a higher standard and trust the Lord for the results...