Seems that the boy was playing a kid who was late for his 9:00 a.m. match. The late boy called to say they were tied up in traffic and would be there as soon as they could. There was a marathon race being run near UTA, where the match was being held, and they had many of the roads blocked off, so I ruled that it was a legitimate reason for lateness. The late player arrived 25 minutes late and no penalty was issued.
Since traffic is a valid excuse, I have never penalized a player for that reason. Some have told me that I should penalize them games and loss of toss but since it is a legitimate excuse, I have never penalized the late player in this scenario. In the Metroplex, traffic is frequently an issue for a player trying to get to a tournament site.
I'm sure there are all kinds of opinions on this issue so thought I would open myself on this one...
26 comments:
I applaud your decision...sometimes we (parents, officials, et la) lose sight that it is all about playing...not getting a default!
Anyone who is in your position in a tournament needs to be comfortable in making individualized decisions.
Traffic can be a valid issue in the metroplex; it is less likely to be a valid issue in Bryan or McAllen.
I think you did the right thing. . . ESPECIALLY since they called and told you what was going on.
Looking at the FAC I could not find the reference where it is OK to be late because of traffic. The other player was on time and had the same traffic problems. Look for problems in the next tournament when the other player is late. His and the parents response will be "my opponent was not penalized in a Major Zone" why am I being penalized for lateness now?
The reason we have the FAC is to follow the rules of tennis and apply them equally to all players. You had the right (after considering all relevant circumstances) to play the match but not without the penalty.
You should have still penalized the player loss of toss and 3 games. As referee, you have the option to overturn a default but lateness penalties should always apply. The only exception is if it was caused by the tournament.
Remember, poor planning by a player does not constitute forgiveness by the Referee!
If I was going to penalize them for having a legitimate excuse, how would I decide how much to penalize them???
Also, "traffic" may not be listed in the FAC but it is taught at the schools that it is a legitimate reason.
Come on Randy, Dallas traffic is a given. You have great traffic coverage on the news and radio. This was a planned event and not an unforeseen traffic accident. Sorry, you are just causing trouble for future matches and officials.
Should I alert them to stop teaching in the schools that traffic is a valid reason?
In what foreign country did you find that photo? They are all driving on the wrong side of the highway!
Guess that's what we feel like sometimes when we deal with some parents and players.
I agree with the following of the rule-book and penalties would apply. It is nice that the player was courteous to call and inform the tournament. While I do give some leniency for some extenuating circumstances with regard to traffic, (traffic fatality, major wreck blocking all traffic on IH-35), I would always penalize the player for lateness if I chose not to default them for their legitimate reason. Major traffic incidents are so well advertised on the radio the tournament would know up front about them.
How long would you wait on someone for "traffic" conditions before you default them or even give them a penalty 1 hour? two hours?
As far as taking about any changes in our certification school, I think we should have the ability to make judgment calls, but only in those "outside the norm" circumstances. I think it should be discussed in our schools, but not as everyday rush traffic applying. Yes these leaves it in the gray spectrum, but better than being hard and fast/black and white about the issue.
What in the world were you thinking Randy McDonald. You are not the hard-#!%^ person I know that loves to dish out penalties. You've gotten soft in your old age.
Well, it took 8 comments before anyone noticed which side of the road they were driving on. But then it could have been in north Austin...
It wasn't everyday rush traffic. It was backed up due to a marathon race being run in Arlington.
If we are to penalize them, what chart are you going to use for the penalty???
I tend to think if they are going to be penalized, then they should be defaulted.
As much as I might actually enjoy giving code violations, I think in reality I actually give very few.
On the other hand, I am growing very soft and mellow in my old age!
It's all about playing. Remember, on occasion you may have players legitimately trying to get to the tournament who are from hundreds of miles away and may not be aware of alternate routes or which radio station to turn to. It is an intimidating situation for parents from the outland attempting metropolitan traffic for the first time with the GPS mantra of "Recalculating route, recalculating route" chanting in the background. Or, heaven forbid they are using an actual road map to find the courts!
Based on the positions espoused herein by prominent officials is it any wonder that parents and players, along with many officials are confused, or don't know how rules will be interpreted from one tournament to another? Should "schools" be teaching circumvention of the rules? How much leeway should an official be allowed in interpreting 279 pages of 6pt-font,rules?
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I hope that it is not a National T/E that teaches that normal traffic is a valid excuse. I think the race traffic would be a valid excuse not to be defaulted, but in my opinion he should have been penalized the three games and loss of toss.
I don't think anyone would suggest that regular traffic would be legitimate but if there is a wreck I would consider that legitimate as well as a marathon race. In Austin, they have something like that every weekend.
I'm not sure where everyone gets the criteria for a 3 game penalty though. If its a legitimate reason, then I maintain there should be no penalty. If we get into giving judgment penalties (why not one or two games instead of three?) then we'll never find the end of the road.
Of course, at the end of the day and without a specific written rule in the FAC, then its up to the referee...
2010 FAC, page 125 Reg IV d 20 c. ...default is subsequently reversed, the penalty of loss of toss plus 3 games shall stand.
Think about it. Why did they change the rule a few years back, all 10:00 matches will be called at the same time provided that there is at least 1 empty court. The clock starts on any player not checked in. This was done to prevent inconsistent application of penalties.
The FAC is specific about the lateness penalties. See Table 14, page 124. IV-D-20a (page 122) does allow for the discretion of the referee in relation to a default for lateness, but it doesn't specifically address sub-default penalties.
As the parent of a junior player, I've faced with this nonsense. At one tournament we waited until half an hour after the match was called before the official defaulted my son's opponent. The opponent didn't call the tournament desk, he just blew the match off because it was cold that day. Needless to say, we weren't happy with the official.
In this case he did call and was told to get there as soon as he could. Therefore no penalty was assessed. The same is done frequently in adult tournaments.
The lateness penalty regarding match time in FAC is this:
One player has checked in and is waiting to play at the scheduled time;
One player has not showed up to play at the scheduled time,
and although late for traffic or other reasons the referee regards as legitimate,
the player is still late. The referee to encourage play can reinstate the match, with the penalty loss of toss and 3 games
so play is encouraged but lateness for match time for any reason is
penalized.
Players should plan to be on time and expect that lateness is a default,
and if allowed to play, a penalty is assessed for lateness regardless the reason.
Tough love, but levels the playing field.
RM,
You screwed the pooch on your ruling for the lateness penalty. It would appear you have been drinking too much Oklahoma kool-aide.
What's next, you giving code violations for someone yelling out JESUS!
Perhaps I did indeed screw the pooch but when they are caught in traffic by the site because of the city and they call in, I'll always let them come with no penalty. Guess that's how we do it at the tournaments where I'm the referee...
But I do appreciate your candor...
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