Its always interesting when an action or a blog post stirs up a lot of attention--and that has sure happened with our comments about "undercover officials." (Let me point out that I did not name them that, it was submitted to me by a Junior Council member so I took their word for it.)
I had a great conversation with Chad Loup in the Texas Section office today and after about an hour we came to some great conclusions. We all agree that there is a serious problem with behavior in USTA tournaments--and I'm personally glad that something is being done. I however, have some "reservations" about some of the details but I hope this post will clarify some things for us officials.
Here is the exact text from the Texas Section rules about who can write in and have suspension points assessed:
Persons authorized to file suspension point reports with the Tournament Referee and USTA Texas are:
Tournament Committee Members: Tournament Director, Referee, Site Directors
- Tournament Officials: Chair umpires, Roving Umpires, Deputy Referees
- Discipline and Grievance Committee Members
- Junior Tennis Council Committee Members
- Adult and Senior Tennis Council Committee Members
- USTA Texas Director of Competitive Tennis
- USTA Texas Competitive Coordinators
- USTA Texas Executive Director
- USTA Texas Management Committee
- USTA Texas Executive Committee
- Officials committee members
We also discussed the fact that when a person sends in a complaint and it is deemed valid, there will only be SUSPENSION POINTS assessed and not point penalties such as we would assess. Chad handles all complaints that are sent into the Texas Section office (and has for quite some time and does a great job) and he assures me that ALL complaints will be thoroughly investigated before suspension points are assessed--and I take him at his word.
Here are some of my reservations about this new policy:
* We need to be assured that these committee members are not there to evaluate officials.
* We need to be sure that they are very cautious about writing about something they witnessed when an official is on the court and dealing with the situation. No untrained committee member should have that right. It needs to be stressed continually that these committee members DO NOT have the authority to asses point penalties. (Of course that wouldn't even be possible after the completion of the tournament.)
* We need to be sure that empowered committee members DO NOT function as "undercover officials" in any capacity.
* I think the new policy leaves the Section and officials wide open for lawsuits but that's a matter better left with the Texas Section and their attorneys.
I did encourage Chad to write to us officials more frequently and alert us to any rule changes. These new policy is effective January 1, 2010, so we sure need to know the details. I was given his assurance that we would be hearing from him.
This post expresses my understanding of the new rules as clearly as I can state them. While I have my reservations, I still believe in the authority of our leadership in Austin and support them fully in this new rule. Hopefully it will lead to better behavior on and off the court in our tournaments.
We would welcome your comments...
4 comments:
After more consultation with other veteran officials and people on the Officials Committee, we discovered that a committee member may file a report resulting in suspension points for code violations, behavior, and other things.
So in essence a committee member (without a third party witness and on their word alone) can do the same thing as a code violation. To me that means they can "add to" our officiating on a court with their own opinions and I consider that very dangerous territory...
Interesting to say the least...
We were also told by a very prominent tournament director that the Section told them that anytime an "undercover official" is on the site that they must check in at the tournament desk to notify them that they are on the grounds.
I've not heard this before but will check with Chad Loup to sort out the truth and get back to you.
Here is a list of offenses that result in suspension points:
Suspension Points
Suspension Points will remain on a player’s record for 12 months from the date of the tournament when the suspension points were assessed.
Code Violations under the Point Penalty System. For each violation under the Point Penalty System, one suspension point will be assessed.
· Code Violation Point Penalty → 1 Suspension Point
· Code Violation Game Penalty → 1 Suspension Point
· Code Violation Default → 1 Suspension Point
Defaults. All defaults, for any reason, count in a player’s suspension point record.
· Default (no show) → 4 Suspension Points
· Default (late arrival) → 2 Suspension Points
· Default (flagrant act on or off court) → 5 Suspension Points
Withdrawals or Walkovers
· Withdrawal from a Super Championship Major Zone after the deadline for any reason → 3 Suspension Points
· At a Super Championship Major Zone, Walkover for illness, injury, or emergency after a player’s first match is played→ 3 Suspension Points
Concurrent Tournament Rule
· Entering two or more tournaments scheduled to take place at the same time, in whole or part, unless each Tournament Committee involved approves, and USTA Texas is notified of the double entry. → 2 Suspension Points
Unsportsmanlike Conduct
· On-court unsportsmanlike acts → 1 Suspension Point
· Flagrant unsportsmanlike or inappropriate conduct by a player on or off court → 5 Suspension Points
· Unsportsmanlike or inappropriate conduct by a parent, relative, or coach; Includes Coaching → 5 Suspension Points
Gross Misconduct
· Physical act of violence against another person on or off the court by a player, parent, relative, coach or other person associated with a player → 10 Suspension Points
Playing While under Suspension
· Competing in any sanctioned tournament while under suspension by the USTA or one of its Sectional Associations → 10 Suspension Points
This way overboard, officials do not need one more person looking opver their shoulder. How can someone get suspensions points for actions not witnessed by an official but by a third party. Ugghh this gets better and better.
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