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  You are here:  AllExperts > Sports > Track and Field > Track & Field

Expert Profile: Richard Howland

Expertise:  I am a master USATF Track and Field official and can answer questions about officiating high school (NFHS), college (NCAA), National (USATF) and international in field events. I am not a coach except for other officials. My specialties are the Field events except pole vault.

Experience in the area
I delight in meeting athletes from all backgrounds and ages. I have even officiated field events for a one hundred year old long jumper as well as many "Master" and "Senior" athletes. Special olympics is a great event for officials to volunteer and see the essence of good sport on the faces of the athletes. After thirty three years as a trial lawyer in Massachusetts with a focus on sports law, among others, I retired and devote much of my time to officiating. I referee soccer, time football, officiate swimming and diving, and officiate and start all events in track and field. My special focus in field events. In high school and college I played soccer, squash and lacrosse, but track was not available in any depth then. Since I was a lawyer I began officiating and training to officiate sports which I could fit into my schedule. I honestly do not remember when I first started track and field officiating, but estimate that I have been very active for at least fifteen years. I regularly officiate all events and levels.

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What do you like about this subject?  Track and field is the sport all people, of any age, weight, height, or disability can enjoy. The joy is in the sport and the challenge of competition. Winning is as much attaining one's own "personal best" as conquering an opponent. The sport involves a great deal of study and science to maximize one's performance. Athletes in the sport must p
What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?  The sport, with all its various events, gets better with every new skill the official learns. Just like the athlete, practice and study make for better officiating and greater fairness to the competitors.
Something controversial or provocative about this subject  The greatest single flaw in officiating is failure to study and understand the rules. Second is the failure to remain focussed on the event and making errors negligently. Rules are different for other levels, venues, nations, and organizers. Indoors and outdoors are seperate rules.
Average Ratings
Prestige Points: 2966
Knowledge   9.81   Best of the best
Clarity of Response   9.74   Best of the best
Timeliness   9.86   Best of the best
Politeness   9.89   Best of the best
Number Of Questions Today
(GMT time)
0
Max Questions to be Asked
(Per Day, in GMT time)
5
Total Questions
(since joining AllExperts)
554
Recent Reviews from Users
KnowlClarityTimePolitenessDate
1006/26/09
1010101006/18/09
1010101006/12/09
1010101005/11/09
1010101005/03/09
User Comments
thank you
(sandeep on 06/26/09)
10x verry much. On paper i have a coach and thats because i'm at a club but her interest in training isn;t that big. thanks againg for your advice. be
(Olescu on 06/18/09)
Thank you! I will start making calls on Monday, btw my husband knows of you as an attorney (he's an assit. clerk mag. in Northampton) but had no idea
(Ann on 06/12/09)
Dear Richard, Thanks for the information. I just did a meet yesterday at Neshaminy H.S. in Langhorne, PA., and they have all the necessary markinks
(Bob on 05/03/09)
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Recent Answers from Richard Howland
2009-06-29  false starts Gary: The rule on False Starts is USATF Rule 162. It is fairly lengthy, but the general sense is: Any competitor in a race who moves such that there is a gain or advantage to that runner, before the...
2009-06-28  800m is this good? Ben: In order to be a safe runner, you need to practice, be guided and observed by a running coach. It is not a good idea to start vigorous running without relearning the sport at the distance you...
2009-06-13  discus private training/tutor western MA. Ann (and Jay): I am not a coach and have not been (in track and field). I am very uneasy about giving any specific advice about training or performance and instead try to guide people to a source of...
2009-06-11  discus private training/tutor western MA. Ann: You might call running track clubs like Sugarloaf runners to see if there is an adult member who does weights. Before the year ends you might call Agawam High School and Minnechaug High School...
2009-06-04  Getting faster Jimmy: Starting from the top, coaches actually have an important place in the sports world and you are a person who could use one. The problem is this: running is a very individual activity and each...
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