I was working a large JV tournament this week. I got to work with some great High School kids that worked the tables, and 3 of the 8 mats at the tournament. I called matches with kids from 17 different schools, and worked along side of 9 other officials.
This was the first GHSA event I worked this year, and everyone was more well behaved than normal. One of the big differences between a High School event, and a club/USA event is the fact that these coaches have more on the line than a Dad/coach. There teaching job could be in jeopardy if they act a fool.
It is not just the relationship between the coaches, and officials, but the behavior of the wrestlers was respectful as well.
I can only remember a couple of times in the entire tournament that were the least controversial, and although at least one person left unhappy in each of those situations, I still feel that the conflicts were handled in a reasonable respectful manner.
The worst incident I had was late in the day, on the second day. The match just started off with a bad handshake. I really did not catch what happened, so I told them to shake hands again, like men. It still wasn't the best handshake in the world, but it was acceptable. The match was competitive, but the green wrestler was clearly winning the match. While the red wrestler was on the bottom, he posted up hard, and lifted his head. he repeated it and caught the green wrestler in the nose with the back of his head. I felt like it might have been intentional, and warned him to keep the match clean during a blood stoppage. I told him that I believed what he did was intentional. Latter in the match in a scramble for a takedown, the red wrestler, who was about to give up the takedown reared back and punched the green wrestler in the head. I immediately stepped in and stopped the match. While I was stepping in the green wrestler said "what the (expletive". As I made sure the wrestlers were separated, I signaled flagrant misconduct on the red wrestler, and told him he was disqualified from the tournament. Then I held out my green hand signaling unsportsmanlike conduct on the green wrestler. The green wrestlers coach did not see the first call, and shouted out what, and before he said anything else, I explained that he had missed the first call. I told him I ejected the red wrestler, and let him know that his wrestler had used profanity. He immediately calmed down, and made sure his wrestler was OK.
I had to fill out a report to send to GHSA. I gave it to the Head Official of the tournament, and he forwarded a copy to the head of our officials association, who will in turn deliver it to GHSA. The wrestler will have to serve a suspension.
One of my goals for the year is to have a better, more positive relationship with coaches and wrestlers. I want to answer all questions as completely as possible, while keeping tournaments moving. I want to give wrestlers a quick explanation when they seem to be confused by a call. If wrestlers ,and coaches have a better feel for what I am looking for, they will be able to produce it on my mat, and I will have nothing to do but award points, and congratulate wrestlers for hard fought matches.
Good luck the rest of the way everyone. We are off to a good start.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
In pussuit of perfection.
I am not talking about a wrestler, or a coach. I am talking about officials. I have spent the month of September, and October doing what I can to get ready for Folkstyle season. I ended FS/G season on a high with a strong session in the Junior Finals, and I want that improvement to roll right into Folkstyle season.
I am not the only official working this hard. You would be surprised at the study and work put forth by many of the officials right here in our state. Here is a list of some of the training that has occurred.
Formation of the Team Georgia Wrestling Officials Association.
Online training of new officials by TGWOA.
Training sessions by local GHSA officials associations.
Sharing session with MAWOA, and The Rome Area Officials.
Combined training sessions with all GHSA associations.
3 on sit training sessions by TGWOA
2 onsite Training sessions by MAWOA
A GWOA, and MWOA/TGWOA official(Me) representing Georgia at USA preseason Nationals.
Looking at video (something we can not do in a match) and giving my opinion to parent/coaches striving to learn the sport.
At Fargo this year, there was an emphasis on Coaches and officials being cooperative. Coaches would come to the table with respectful questions, and officials would give complete answers. The tournament not only ran smoothly, but I think the officiating was better than usual. I want to do what I can to carry this over to the folkstyle season.
One of the top coaches in the state told me Saturday that he was going to hold his emotions back, and approach officials with respect this season. His theory is that he is more likely to get the benefit of a doubt in more instances. I am here to tell you that the coach is right on the mark. No matter how you approach an official, they will take it to heart, but if that approach is respectful, they are way less likely to become defensive. You are more likely to get the outcome you want with respect, than you are with random rants, and insults.
As always, If you have a question, I will do my best to answer it, or find you the answer if I do not know it.
Good luck to everyone, the season has begun.
I am not the only official working this hard. You would be surprised at the study and work put forth by many of the officials right here in our state. Here is a list of some of the training that has occurred.
Formation of the Team Georgia Wrestling Officials Association.
Online training of new officials by TGWOA.
Training sessions by local GHSA officials associations.
Sharing session with MAWOA, and The Rome Area Officials.
Combined training sessions with all GHSA associations.
3 on sit training sessions by TGWOA
2 onsite Training sessions by MAWOA
A GWOA, and MWOA/TGWOA official(Me) representing Georgia at USA preseason Nationals.
Looking at video (something we can not do in a match) and giving my opinion to parent/coaches striving to learn the sport.
At Fargo this year, there was an emphasis on Coaches and officials being cooperative. Coaches would come to the table with respectful questions, and officials would give complete answers. The tournament not only ran smoothly, but I think the officiating was better than usual. I want to do what I can to carry this over to the folkstyle season.
One of the top coaches in the state told me Saturday that he was going to hold his emotions back, and approach officials with respect this season. His theory is that he is more likely to get the benefit of a doubt in more instances. I am here to tell you that the coach is right on the mark. No matter how you approach an official, they will take it to heart, but if that approach is respectful, they are way less likely to become defensive. You are more likely to get the outcome you want with respect, than you are with random rants, and insults.
As always, If you have a question, I will do my best to answer it, or find you the answer if I do not know it.
Good luck to everyone, the season has begun.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Observations from The Hill
The Collins Hill Preseason Tournament was a training event for the Team Georgia Wrestling Officials Association. There were several points of confusion that I noticed, and want to clear up.
Headgear is mandatory at Team Georgia Folkstyle tournaments.
You can not alter your headgear with tape, but you can tape your fingers, or shoe laces.
There is a fifteen minute rest time between matches.
If you choose to wrestle two brackets, you waive your fifteen minute rest time moving from bracket to bracket.
Figure four to the head, body, and around two legs is illegal.
T-shirts, and underarmour shirts are special equipment. When the head official asks if anyone has special equipment, you need to have it approved.
You get what you give. If you give respect to officials/coaches, you get it back. There is no reason that we can not all treat each other with respect.
No matter how hard you try to be in position, you can not see everything. Sometimes you can not believe what you see, but you have to keep moving forward and make the appropriate call.
It is nice to have extra officials to discuss calls with, and answer questions for coaches, and wrestlers, but that luxury is rare.
Teaching is a great way to learn.
Two best questions of the day.
A young wrestler asked me something about batteries. I don't know what it was, but but I thought it was interesting.
Ronnie Milhof asked, If you are about to get an escape during the ultimate tie breaker, and as you limp your foot out, your shoe comes off, what happens.
My answer was, I would give one point for an escape, and the match would end. The argument could be made that the defensive wrestler would loose a point for being improperly equipped, but I compared it to loosing a headgear. You would keep wrestling to a stopping point.
If you have rules questions, shoot me an email, I will do everything I can to get you the correct answer.
Good luck everyone, it's time to wrestle.
Headgear is mandatory at Team Georgia Folkstyle tournaments.
You can not alter your headgear with tape, but you can tape your fingers, or shoe laces.
There is a fifteen minute rest time between matches.
If you choose to wrestle two brackets, you waive your fifteen minute rest time moving from bracket to bracket.
Figure four to the head, body, and around two legs is illegal.
T-shirts, and underarmour shirts are special equipment. When the head official asks if anyone has special equipment, you need to have it approved.
You get what you give. If you give respect to officials/coaches, you get it back. There is no reason that we can not all treat each other with respect.
No matter how hard you try to be in position, you can not see everything. Sometimes you can not believe what you see, but you have to keep moving forward and make the appropriate call.
It is nice to have extra officials to discuss calls with, and answer questions for coaches, and wrestlers, but that luxury is rare.
Teaching is a great way to learn.
Two best questions of the day.
A young wrestler asked me something about batteries. I don't know what it was, but but I thought it was interesting.
Ronnie Milhof asked, If you are about to get an escape during the ultimate tie breaker, and as you limp your foot out, your shoe comes off, what happens.
My answer was, I would give one point for an escape, and the match would end. The argument could be made that the defensive wrestler would loose a point for being improperly equipped, but I compared it to loosing a headgear. You would keep wrestling to a stopping point.
If you have rules questions, shoot me an email, I will do everything I can to get you the correct answer.
Good luck everyone, it's time to wrestle.
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