I think Texas officials are the very best to be found anywhere on the planet earth--and I think our Texas Section organization is the best there is--but there's always room for improvement. We only get better but continually looking for ways to improve. Here are some of my suggestions (and we would welcome yours):
MORE CERTIFICATION SCHOOLS
In Texas, the certification schools are now only offered in January and February and that isn't feasible for a lot of people around the state. (San Antonio does offer their school in March but they usually only have 15-20 people in attendance). In order for some people to go to school they have to go to another city and spend a ton of money to be certified.
It would be very simple to add additional schools in major metropolitan areas and a small fee could be charged so it would cost the Texas Section nothing. I would recommend additional schools during the summer and early fall in Austin, Dallas, Waco, and Houston.
AN UPDATED AND RELEVANT WEBSITE
A well informed organization is always that functions more efficiently--and we sadly, are not well informed in Texas. As of today (7-9-09), the home news section of the Texas Section website has nothing but an archive you can access. Upon going into the archive, the last article even printed was 12-08. Surely we can find more to write about than last years' news.
AN UPDATED AND RELEVANT NEWSLETTER
The USTA has finally come out with a newsletter but surely we could be doing one in Texas. A good newsletter doesn't take long to produce and would be a great help to our new officials as well as keeping us up to date on what's happening. As of today, the last newsletter posted on the Texas Section website is summer 2008. Surely we can do better...
MORE SUPPORT FOR LOCAL COORDINATORS
Since certification schools are only offered in January and February, there is a big gap of training and teaching during the rest of the year. Because of this need, the local coordinators in our major cities have done a FANTASTIC job of filling the void.
If an official takes the provisional test in March, that means they are wandering around officiating with no training until the following January. Surely we can do a better job...
In DFW, the Metroplex Tennis Officials Association requires additional schooling (4 hours) and shadowing (two 6 hour shifts) for all new officials. Congratulations to Cathy Kennan and her crew for doing such a fine job!
Houston also does a fine job in this area. Let's be sure to support our local coordinators for all the fine work they are doing.
These are just a few recommendations. We would welcome any of your constructive thoughts.
4 comments:
I strongly support having additional schools in select locations during the summer or fall for 2 reasons:
a) Many of us work both USTA and ITA events. Those schedules get busy in January and February. This year I had only one weekend when I could go to school - and I had to travel a great distance! We shouldn't have to choose between working and going to school. (By the way, don't schedule a school in a town the same weekend they are hosting a major event - local officials can't be in both places at the same time!)
b) In the past 4 months I have talked with 2 excellent candidates for becoming officials. But I told them they have to wait until January/February to go to school. That is too long to wait.
We don't need to offer schools in every city, but 4-5 locations that are easily accessible would be a great benefit.
Could the Texas Section web site have a page where referees could post tournaments/events in need of officials? Some officials don't mind traveling. But referees typically only send availabilities to their local people. I realize referees are leery of hiring 'John Doe' who they know nothing about. But a quick call to the local coordinator will let them know if they are about to hire a problem. Honest communication!
Adequate communication is always an issue. Almost all professions struggle with this. USTA Texas is ultimately responsible for addressing this issue for us. This blog certainly helps fill the large void we have with communication in Texas. Please keep the information flowing.
Thanks for those great ideas.
The MTOA does have a site where you can find tournaments to work and who to contact.
Let me brainstorm a bit more about offering something like that state wide here on the blog. It might be a good option.
The site is:
www.metroplextennisofficials.org
Check under "calendar"
You guys are pissing in the wind. Until there is a shake-up at the Texas Section, absolutely nothing will change. Haven't you figured that out by now.
From what I understand, you may not want change based on those chomping at the bit to take over officiating in Texas. Therefore, be careful what you wish for cause you just may get it.
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