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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.
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.
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
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.
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.
| User | Date | K | C | T | P | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ray | 09/18/09 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Richard Howland was very helpful and understanding ..... |
| Martin | 08/14/09 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Thank you so much, this advice really ..... |
| wes | 08/12/09 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 10 | |
| Jon | 07/17/09 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Informative and exacting. Thank you. |
| sandeep | 06/26/09 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 8 | thank you |
Dear Tanner: The system says that for some reason my answer of last week did not go out. I am sorry as such things are not my custom. First remember that I am an official and not a coach. Second
Lindsey: First you need to remember that I am an official and not a coach of track and field or running and never have been. On the other hand I have been involved with sports since 1952 and well share
Dear Trevor: I am an official and not a coach and do not want you to misunderstand my answer. Because I have received many inquiries which are really coaching related, I have looked for sources which
Jason: I am told that you did not get my answer last week. We had electrical issues here and perhaps it never made it out. Crafting workouts and training programs for any athlete really needs to
Dear Justin: All running,actually all athletic events, are totally personal. A coach is needed to observe and propose variations on a person's performance until the two or more find a formula that
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