We have received numerous emails and posts inquiring about why tournaments are still hiring officials and NOT providing meals.
The only answers I have been able to get is that some referees and tournament directors have agreed not to provide them and then some are saying that it is a NEW policy and doesn't take effect until 2010.
Sadly, neither of these answers are acceptable. TD's and referees should be abiding by the long established policies of the MTOA.
You can be sure this will be a discussion point at the next MTOA board meeting...
12 comments:
So what are officials supposed to do? We agree to work an event on the assumption that the event is following the guidelines. Then after accepting an assignment, we get surprised by meals not being provided. We can't back-out of the assignment - remember the Code of Ethics? Is the only recourse to make food the first question about an event, and then going no further if no food? I guess that can be done, but it sure is petty. Of course expecting officials to bring their own food is petty also! I guess at noon, I'll just get in my car and drive to lunch and leave the courts uncovered while I eat. No . . I'm not pissed about this!
Remember, if the tournament you are interested in working doesn't provide lunch, you always have the option of not working it. If more officials would take a stand, I can almost guarantee lunch WILL be provided.
Personally, I refuse to work tournaments that do not provide lunch for officials, especially when we are the only official on-site for 12+ hours with no break.
There should be no question about it (at least in 2010). ALL TOURNAMENTS are now required to provide meals for the officials.
If they don't, be sure to let us know... Sometimes a bright shining light on a wrongdoing changes things.
To MDK:
You are absolutely correct, we can pass on an event that doesn't feed officials. The problem comes when others are willing to work it anyway. We can also choose to work out of town: we're only 2 hours from Tyler, Wichita Falls and Waco. And Abilene (where 'Jesus' is coded) is 2.5 hrs. They all have USTA events during the year. Does anybody know if these towns pay mileage or buys meals? If we really want to work, there are plenty of places away from the metroplex where we can work.
We shouldn't even have to look for work outside the Metroplex. Things should be done as per our established policies--with no room for wavering with a tight tournament director.
Don't buy the little brats a t-shirt and then you will have to enough to provide what is only right for the officials. Entry fees are already out of control so what's a few cents more?
Here's a novel idea for you nimrods in DFW, how about working to get some travel allowance in your program? I would gladly trade some gas money for that soggy wrapped &*%@$#wich that every event always seems to hand out that is supposed to be considered LUNCH. And it's usually the same thing everyday. Makes me want to PUKE just at the thought of hearing "Here's your Lunch."
I think we need to ask Mack Brown what we should do. Everybody knows he does enough whinning already. Maybe he should become a tennis official when he retires. It's apparent he already has what it takes.
I believe the main problem is the current crop of referees don't have a spine and are scared to stand up to the tournament directors.
I don't want to be a bigot, but how many of the current referees used to be housewives, desperate at that?
The way I cure this debate and dilema is this:
I ask the tournament director if they would rather provide meals or add $10 per official per meal to the invoice.
To date, EVERY SINGLE ONE of the tournament directors have opted for the $10 charge and glad of it. They said they would much rather do that than chase down a subway sandwich for an official at noon.
So Randy, based on your "$10 or meal provided scenario" do you recommend the officials at a site take a one hour break from the courts at meal time, go find their own "Subway Sandwich" and enjoy the food and the break? Is the break time paid for by the tournament? What happens if there is a dispute while the official/s are on their lunch break?
To be honest, this is the first year I have ever heard about an official leaving a site to go get their lunch. I normally never leave a site if I am not the referee nor do I take designated "rest breaks."
The TD/Tournament should do one of the following:
1. Permit the umpire to leave and go get his lunch (paid the entire time.)
2. Permit the umpire to have someone go get his lunch for him.
3. Bring lunch to the umpire.
The vast majority of officials who work for me have someone get their lunch for them and then we pay them $10 for their time, trouble, and food.
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