I agree. Last night for the first time it crossed my mind of when I might be done coaching. I am tired of being yelled at and watching kids being yelled at by officials. First, there are too many stupid you aren't allowed here and you can't do that and blah blah blah rules. There are more you aren't allowed to be here rules than there are actual track and field rules.
The same official that royally botched up the LJ at the District was in charge of the same event at the Regional. While YELLING at a coach who was grabbing the relay cards and a pen from one of the other coaches on his staff for not being allowed in the area, she missed a 6" foul. She was also yelling at kids warming up on the track that had nothing to do with the LJ. I got yelled at, not asked in a normal voice, to get out of the little stands they had by the PV where I had gone to sit after the first flight of the LJ. The LJ and PV are right there together. I had the proper color wrist band for the LJ, but not the PV. I was the only person sitting there at the time and could clearly see the LJ. I didn't want to be in the way at the LJ, but close enough to know what was going on in case my kid made finals.
Electronic devices not allowed! 2 hours before the first event! Once the meet starts, fine, 2 hours before that? Let the kids be kids. Stop threatening them with disqualification for having headphones around their neck 2 hours before the first event on the track. Stop threatening them with disqualification for coming over to ask a coach a question and having a toe in the restricted area. I watched a kid be threatened with DQ for not having his jersey on during warm ups. You can warm up with a T-shirt on over your jersey, but you can't warm up with the same T-shirt and then put your jersey on over top of it for the competition. An in the face yelling and threatening. Meanwhile out at the Shot put and Discus, they are all having a fun time. Team camps next to them. Lax Uniform standards. Clapping and cheering. But step inside the track area and doom and gloom and an "I will DQ you every 3 minutes.
It's a track meet. You should be allowed near the track. People will make mistakes and you can calmly make things right.
They botched the results of the boys 4x200. My kids went on a roller coaster ride where they went from 3rd overall to 5th to 9th. They accepted it and know that fair is fair. Right is right. Clock don't lie.
I watch as kids are great sports cheering for kids from other teams. Respecting great performances and really showing why I love the sport so much. INSPITE of the being yelled at for hours. Let the kids be kids. Let them have fun. Stop yelling at them.
View attachment 82099Make sense of the NOTES.