We have all heard stories of kids in Texas being expelled for one cigarette when there is a zero tolerance for smoking or a boy expelled because he left a hunting gun under the seat in his truck when there is a zero tolerance for guns. Those are rather extreme circumstances and ones that make us want to throw out the letter of the law in favor of the spirit of the law.
In officiating, there are times when we must and should follow the letter of the law--when it is plainly written out in the FAC. However, there are times that there are no specific written rules and we have to interpret the spirit of the law. Each of us have had times where we penalized or didn't penalize a player because we interpreted the spirit of the law.
Here are a few guidelines for you to consider when faced with this decision:
1. Is it specifically addressed in the Friend at Court? If it is, then follow the written law.
2. If it isn't, then be wise in your decision.
3. Be sure you aren't being biased by personalities. Players, coaches, and parents all have distinctive personalities and can be quite persuasive both in a negative and positive way so be on your guard.
4. Remember that one of our ultimate goals is to encourage play--not to become a Nazi official looking for ways to code everyone that walks.
5. Be firm in your decision. A waffling referee is always going to encounter difficulty. If a parent, player, or coach feels that you are in control of the situation and know your rules, they will usually accept your judgment.
6. Be kind and polite in your presentation of your decision. There is no reason to scream at someone or berate them. If they get a code violation, give it and move on. You're not there to determine why they are the demon they have become...
7. Always remember that it is better to err on the side of caution. The Bible teaches us that grace triumphs over judgment and I think this holds true in all areas of life.
8. When making a judgment decision, be open to listening to arguments from everyone. Players should have a right to express themselves (in a decent manner) and we have a responsibility to hear them.
9. Remember that if there is a dispute between two parties, one of them isn't going to like the decision that you make.
10. At the end of the day, remember its just a game and the universe doesn't revolve around any decision you make in a tennis match. I've seen officials go into deep depression over a decision they made. If you get depressed over what you did, then you probably did the wrong thing.
11. Learn the rules, be nice, and then do the best job you can do!
4 comments:
Code Violation, Audible Racial Slur, Default, Mr. RM.
Isn't calling someone "NAZI" equivalent to a racial slur and therefore subject to immediate default?
When capitalized (NAZI) as in the comment it does suggest a racial issue; otherwise Nazi(as written by RM) is a political designation to refer to a member of the German Workers Socialist Party.
I think the eleven suggestions are particularly well spoken and worthy of strong consideration.
I think everyone knows what I'm talking about when I say "Nazi official" and I doubt if I have offended some Nazi somewhere... But then I don't stay awake at night trying to be politically correct.
Randy, were those Tablets heavy when you carried then down the mountain? You should have made 2 trips, that might have kept you from breaking the broken one.
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