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Dumb Officials
In high school competition the referee of the meet can always over rule a call that another official made. Where was the proper judgement in this case? I have been a high school coach for many years. When I first started, in 1969 there were no uniform rules or jewelry rules. Some of the rules made sense, but some made no sense. When they passed a rule that runners singlets had to be tucked in at the start of races. I asked a veteran official that when auto timing was being done that made sense, but why was that rule passed in other cases. He felt that it was probably because in other sports the top had to be tucked in. In NJ in a state meet a kid was dqed for wearing a necklace. It wasn't spotted until the kid crossed the finish line in first place. The newspapers in South Jersey pilloried the decision. As a result in NJ, the violation has to be reported before the gun goes off in the case of uniform and jewelry infractions. If it is spotted later, nothing happens to the kid. A number of officials were unhappy, but the coaches were relieved. I guess we shouldn't be surprised at stupid decisions being made, because look at the world. Why should track and field be exempt from idiots? NO other province of the world is.
In high school competition the referee of the meet can always over rule a call that another official made. Where was the proper judgement in this case? I have been a high school coach for many years. When I first started, in 1969 there were no uniform rules or jewelry rules. Some of the rules made sense, but some made no sense. When they passed a rule that runners singlets had to be tucked in at the start of races. I asked a veteran official that when auto timing was being done that made sense, but why was that rule passed in other cases. He felt that it was probably because in other sports the top had to be tucked in. In NJ in a state meet a kid was dqed for wearing a necklace. It wasn't spotted until the kid crossed the finish line in first place. The newspapers in South Jersey pilloried the decision. As a result in NJ, the violation has to be reported before the gun goes off in the case of uniform and jewelry infractions. If it is spotted later, nothing happens to the kid. A number of officials were unhappy, but the coaches were relieved. I guess we shouldn't be surprised at stupid decisions being made, because look at the world. Why should track and field be exempt from idiots? NO other province of the world is.
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