Striving to find consistency in tennis officiating is one of the goals that we always seem to be seeking but never finding. I'm not sure we will ever reach perfection but it seems the struggle seems to be more difficult these days.Not a week goes by that we don't hear a report of an official failing to enforce the rules or enforcing them in error. The errors cited in our previous post are simply unacceptable and without excuse. The common joke among officials is that if you go to Abilene or Lubbock then they are not only going to code what you do, but they are going to code what you THINK... What a sad state of affairs for our officiating reputations if that is true.
Sometimes the CURE for a problem is hard and difficult but we just need to start on the adventure of correction...
I know that anyone involved in the leadership continually struggles with the best solutions for finding consistency. There isn't one pat solution but there are some steps that should help us along the road to recovery. Here are a few thoughts:
I know that anyone involved in the leadership continually struggles with the best solutions for finding consistency. There isn't one pat solution but there are some steps that should help us along the road to recovery. Here are a few thoughts:* Good solid teaching in our schools. There is no substitute for good education but its not the whole ball of wax. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink...
* Institute more "on the job training" instead of more "classroom teaching." They need to know the rules but then they need to know how to apply them. If they flunk the test, then put them back in for more training.
* Stronger supervision of officials. Referees need to properly supervise those who work with them and the Texas Section needs to properly supervise those who serve as referees.
* Institute some form of "treatment" for officials that are continually in error. Requiring more training or suspension for a period of time would be good places to start. Everyone knows who these officials are--now we need to step up and do something about it.
* Pay valid attention to complaints that are filed. The vast majority of complaints are not valid but some do have truth in them. Learn to separate the wheat from the chaff and then act upon what you find.
* Quit hiring the offenders. This is the surest way to find consistency.
6 comments:
maybe you should have said "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him think..."
Dr. Randy: Appreciate your blog on the different thoughts on improving the officiating. At each event it's the same old thing, we all need to be on the same page. Question: What page is that. When observing make note of what the official is doing wrong. Talk with the official, If he / she does not want to correct their mistakes, then use them less and less. One official use to tell me, when I would try and tell him of the mistakes, I know, I know. Finally, I had to tell him that if he knows, why does he keep making the same mistakes over and over. Another major problem is that the instructor dare not on the same page during the certification training. I've noticed that instructors from the East have different ideas than those from the West. The only officials who are consistent is the one from Texas and Oklahoma, Throw in a few from Arkansas. Both line, get rid of the bad and keep the good just like apples and oranges.
Most referees seem to have different tolerances for different behaviors. As a newbie, I really appreciate those Referees that will spend a few moments telling the officials what they will and will not tolerate. What behaviors we will caution, and those we will immediately code. That way we are all on the same page and everyone knows what is expected. It also lets everyone know that if they make a tough judgment call based on the referees instructions, we will be backed up when the parent, kid, or coach complains.
Believe or not, not all Referees automatically have pre- tournaments meetings. This makes the tournament a little more stressful and unsure for me as a newbie.
ALL VERY GOOD POINTS and I think that everyone would agree... we ALL need to be consistent. BUT, this includes the suits/people that make the rules in some office to the ones that have to enforce them correctly on the courts. THEREFORE, make the rules more standard throughout the system... it is too DARN complicated for all of us (including the players) to learn three-four-five sets of rules (ITA, ITF, USTA, Pro-Women, Pro Men) WHY make it so difficult? I am not too sure that other sports are so convoluted with different rules/guidelines. If we (the officials in the field) are to be consistent - get the rules consistent. Is there any other sport that meets ONCE a year to go over RULE CHANGES? I am VENTING here - but it is CRAZY to ask someone to be a TENNIS OFFICIAL and then tell them there are rules for this and rules for that BUT it does not apply here - but does apply there?!?!? STUPID-JUST-STUPID!
My solution... I like the ITA rules - I think that ALL organizations INCLUDING USTA should adopt the basic ITA rules...Because it is a system that is fair and keeps the officials out of the match – YOU have to remember – it is NOT our match – we are a third party! (I know it will never happen – the USTA/GOOD OLD BOYS are set in their Neanderthal ways)… Here is another reason to do things the same from the top to the bottom… All of our college bound – kiddo’s are headed to the ITA world and MOST are not headed to the pro world – does it not make since to adjust them to the ITA world of rules?
Just a thought!
Whomever Anonymous 11:20 is - All i have to say is Excellent point! I am new to the tennis officials world and I have to admit - it is very complicated! Thank Goodness my son played USTA tennis and is now playing college tennis (even in college tennis the rules are not the same) - I would be lost if I did not have that background.
You will never achieve consistency as long as humans are involved and situations are not black and white. However, having said that, there are basic attributes all officials should hold themselves too, which results in a degree of consistency.
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