In most league matches in the Indoors league, SYAL and the Senior Men's league clubs are docked points for not supplying the required number (usually three) officials. The CSS league in which we took part on Sunday there is a slight variation: clubs are indeed docked points for not havaing enough official but they are awarded 50 points for every graded official they have. So with five officials there are 250 points to be gained before an athlete steps on to the track, or conversely, the youngsters have to win five events before they are even with another club with an extra official. On Sunday we had two graded officials in Raymond Farrell and myself (100 points) and we had six officials in total which meant that we were not losing points on that front.
Becoming a graded official is not difficult: have a look at the current issue of PB the Scottish Athletics magazine on page 28. If you have some experience or know what event you want to specialise in then contact Shona Malcolm. The courses are free, the first one takes less than one day and you are then able to help out at meetings where the chief official at your event will be at least grade two. Then if you help out in CSS league for the club, we gain 50 points. It is an enjoyable course and on a good day it can be good fun as well.
Even if this is not for you, remember that Phil needs at least three officials for all leagues except the CSS where he needs five in total and a volunteer is better than two pressed men!
Showing posts with label Officials. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Officials. Show all posts
Sunday, 25 April 2010
Friday, 11 December 2009
The Herald Today (Friday)
On the back page of today's 'Herald' there is a big article about the excellent Shona Malcolm. Shona was a good athlete who started helping the young ones at her club when she was still competing, then became a coach. The coaching was extended into working with the disabled and she has had some success with her athletes in all categories. Nowadays however she is maybe best known as an official and is to be seen working at YAL, SAL and Indoor meetings as well as at all the major championships. On many an occasion she is out on both Saturday and Sunday in the same weekend.
There used to be many like her who filled more than one role in the club and in athletics who didn't think they were doing anything unusual. They weren't for their time - it is maybe the current situation in all clubs and across the British Isles which makes it seem so nowadays. We always had officials and coaches from two broad groups - former athletes and parents. Some parents came into the sport when their children were active but then left again when the child moved on to some other activity. There were many cases however where it seems looking back that they were using the child as a way to get into the sport themselves. Bob and Ishbel Peel came into the sport when their daughter Moira was competing for the club and stayed to become top officials in the sport well after Moira had left it. Jim Sweeney came along with his son Steven and watched what was going on and then one Sunday we turned up at Mountblow to go for a run and there were some clothes already hanging in the dressing room - Jim had beaten us to it and was out for a run. Jim went on to become club president. Isobel and Scott Govan would never have come into officiating had their two sons not been involved but it was not long before they themselves had a career as officials independent of anything that Mark and Donald were involved in.
So - don't be backward in coming forward. If you are interested in becoming official officials speak to Donald or Phil or email me and we will help you get the kind of job - track or field, wind gauge operator or starter or whatever sorted out. The club needs officials, the sport needs officials and with the Games in Scotland in 2014 there is a direct career path open to any new official who is competent.
There used to be many like her who filled more than one role in the club and in athletics who didn't think they were doing anything unusual. They weren't for their time - it is maybe the current situation in all clubs and across the British Isles which makes it seem so nowadays. We always had officials and coaches from two broad groups - former athletes and parents. Some parents came into the sport when their children were active but then left again when the child moved on to some other activity. There were many cases however where it seems looking back that they were using the child as a way to get into the sport themselves. Bob and Ishbel Peel came into the sport when their daughter Moira was competing for the club and stayed to become top officials in the sport well after Moira had left it. Jim Sweeney came along with his son Steven and watched what was going on and then one Sunday we turned up at Mountblow to go for a run and there were some clothes already hanging in the dressing room - Jim had beaten us to it and was out for a run. Jim went on to become club president. Isobel and Scott Govan would never have come into officiating had their two sons not been involved but it was not long before they themselves had a career as officials independent of anything that Mark and Donald were involved in.
So - don't be backward in coming forward. If you are interested in becoming official officials speak to Donald or Phil or email me and we will help you get the kind of job - track or field, wind gauge operator or starter or whatever sorted out. The club needs officials, the sport needs officials and with the Games in Scotland in 2014 there is a direct career path open to any new official who is competent.
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Officials
I have just noted the replies to the blog on the Parkrun from Marie and Christine. I totally agree with them that all events need officials, stewards, trail markers and helpers generally and it is great to see them doing it. It has been a wee disappointment that the club has not had as many officials as in the past and that we have not always had our quota of helpers at things like County Championships. This is not of course limited to Clydesdale Harriers - all or most clubs have more difficulties providing the workers at events.
I'm still going through James P Shields's papers and this week it was a collection of Athletics Weekly magazines for 1975 and 1976 but more important from the point of view of this discussion there was about 20 or 21 annual SAAA Yearbooks to look at. The SAAA and SWAAA provided different yearbooks and they contained as well as a list of Committee and Sub Committee members, the rules of competition, the laws of the sport, a comprehensive list of coaches with their events, their qualifications and their addresses (and a note that they should always be offered their travelling expenses by the athletes) as well as a list of officials, with their grades and their addreses and telephone numbers. There is no equivalent publication nowadays - the downfall came when they were not encouraged to put in addresses and telephone numbers of individual officials or coaches and the final nail went in when the sport became more professional. The last book I looked at yesterday was for 1982 and the club had four graded officials - David Bowman who was a Grade 1 for Track judging, Throws and jumps; Frank Gemmell who was a Grade 1 Throws Judge; Willie Howie who had a Grade 1 Track Judging qualification and Jim Shields who was like David Grade 1 for all three disciplines. They didn't of course stick to their disciplines - they worked as marksmen, officials or athletes assembly officials and had many other roles. In the 60's men like Johnny Morgan (who was an official starter) and Andy McMillan also were graded officials, in the 70's Bob and Ishbel Peel were both employed in the centre of the arena, in the 80's and 90's Isobel and Scott Govan plus Carole Baillie officiated at summer and winter events as field events officials and in recent years Raymond Farrell and I were timekeepers. That's quite a lot but is only a faction of club members who were prepared to steward, dish out numbers and so on at club, county and district level. The question - to Scottish athletics as well as CH - is "Where have all the officials gone?" For a start the club is required to provide two (only two) for the DAAA Championships on 28th November.
And thanks to Christine and Marie for the work done at the Parkrun!
I'm still going through James P Shields's papers and this week it was a collection of Athletics Weekly magazines for 1975 and 1976 but more important from the point of view of this discussion there was about 20 or 21 annual SAAA Yearbooks to look at. The SAAA and SWAAA provided different yearbooks and they contained as well as a list of Committee and Sub Committee members, the rules of competition, the laws of the sport, a comprehensive list of coaches with their events, their qualifications and their addresses (and a note that they should always be offered their travelling expenses by the athletes) as well as a list of officials, with their grades and their addreses and telephone numbers. There is no equivalent publication nowadays - the downfall came when they were not encouraged to put in addresses and telephone numbers of individual officials or coaches and the final nail went in when the sport became more professional. The last book I looked at yesterday was for 1982 and the club had four graded officials - David Bowman who was a Grade 1 for Track judging, Throws and jumps; Frank Gemmell who was a Grade 1 Throws Judge; Willie Howie who had a Grade 1 Track Judging qualification and Jim Shields who was like David Grade 1 for all three disciplines. They didn't of course stick to their disciplines - they worked as marksmen, officials or athletes assembly officials and had many other roles. In the 60's men like Johnny Morgan (who was an official starter) and Andy McMillan also were graded officials, in the 70's Bob and Ishbel Peel were both employed in the centre of the arena, in the 80's and 90's Isobel and Scott Govan plus Carole Baillie officiated at summer and winter events as field events officials and in recent years Raymond Farrell and I were timekeepers. That's quite a lot but is only a faction of club members who were prepared to steward, dish out numbers and so on at club, county and district level. The question - to Scottish athletics as well as CH - is "Where have all the officials gone?" For a start the club is required to provide two (only two) for the DAAA Championships on 28th November.
And thanks to Christine and Marie for the work done at the Parkrun!
Sunday, 17 May 2009
Young Athletes League
The Second Young Athletes League took place on Sunday afternoon at Grangemouth on a sunny but kinda windy afternoon. The athletes - boys and girls - all performed well with the only problem being the lack of numbers - especially at Under 17 level. There was a longish delay at the start (it was made up during the afternoon and the real finishing time was kept to) because of a lack of timekeepers. There were only two there, myself and Willie Sharp from Falkirk Victoria who along with Willie Day used to run in all the road races against guys like Phil and myself. You can tell that he is not a spring chicken!!! He has been timekeeping for about 20 years and at one time was a highly qualified timekeeper but as time passed he just didn't keep up with the re-qualifying. I've only been timekeeping officially for four or five years. Neither of us is qualified to be a chief timekeeper. So there was a situation where the meeting could have gone ahead without times for the runners. SO -
since the photo electric timing was there, we both went up to the box to provide backup for the technology. Just as well we did - on many occasions, and I do mean MANY, the machine did not start with the gun. What happens then? The manual timers (me and Willie) had watches running, they start the automatic timing which records the differences between the finishers, they then take our time and using the differences picked up by the electronics calculate the actual times for the runners. Most races were actually 100% automatic photo electric times.
It does highlight however the need for officials. I have mentioned this before in the blog - it is not difficult to become an official. You simply do the one day course in September or October, get your officials log book and start working at meetings which you select to do yourself. There is a real shortage - for instance there are only ten fully qualified starters in Scotland! What a dire situation.
They are also looking for officials for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and it's not too late for anyone wanting to have a go at working there. In 1966 I was coaching only girls in the club and before I got married in July I had a team of six or seven working with the girls. Bob and Ishbel Peel from Cowal View came along to help out and then qualified as officials - Bob as starter and Ishbel as a place recorder. They were both working officially at the Commonwealth Games at Meadowbank in Edinburgh in 1970. Free blazers and flannels/skirt, expenses to Edinburgh and attendance at the Dinner. The situation in the country now is worse than it was then so if anybody out there is interested ......................
since the photo electric timing was there, we both went up to the box to provide backup for the technology. Just as well we did - on many occasions, and I do mean MANY, the machine did not start with the gun. What happens then? The manual timers (me and Willie) had watches running, they start the automatic timing which records the differences between the finishers, they then take our time and using the differences picked up by the electronics calculate the actual times for the runners. Most races were actually 100% automatic photo electric times.
It does highlight however the need for officials. I have mentioned this before in the blog - it is not difficult to become an official. You simply do the one day course in September or October, get your officials log book and start working at meetings which you select to do yourself. There is a real shortage - for instance there are only ten fully qualified starters in Scotland! What a dire situation.
They are also looking for officials for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and it's not too late for anyone wanting to have a go at working there. In 1966 I was coaching only girls in the club and before I got married in July I had a team of six or seven working with the girls. Bob and Ishbel Peel from Cowal View came along to help out and then qualified as officials - Bob as starter and Ishbel as a place recorder. They were both working officially at the Commonwealth Games at Meadowbank in Edinburgh in 1970. Free blazers and flannels/skirt, expenses to Edinburgh and attendance at the Dinner. The situation in the country now is worse than it was then so if anybody out there is interested ......................
Monday, 20 April 2009
Officials
The following advert appeared on the back page of the Men's League programme:
ATHLETICS NEEDS YOU FOR 2014!!! If you are reading this and not actively competing or officiating, then we need your help! There are many ways to get involved with athletics events and enjoy a rewarding experience as an official.
We urgently require new track and field officials in the build up to Glasgow hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Previous experience is not required as free training and guidance will be provided. Be part of a winning team and be part of our future success! Want to know more? Email volunteer@scottishathletics.org.uk
Or you could just tell Donald that you want to help out at League Meetings and if you like it then go on to do the relevant training. It's straightforward and not too complicated. Two Clydesdale Harriers who joined the club as parents of a secondary schoolgirl in 1966 were officials at the 1970 Games in Edinburgh!
ATHLETICS NEEDS YOU FOR 2014!!! If you are reading this and not actively competing or officiating, then we need your help! There are many ways to get involved with athletics events and enjoy a rewarding experience as an official.
We urgently require new track and field officials in the build up to Glasgow hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Previous experience is not required as free training and guidance will be provided. Be part of a winning team and be part of our future success! Want to know more? Email volunteer@scottishathletics.org.uk
Or you could just tell Donald that you want to help out at League Meetings and if you like it then go on to do the relevant training. It's straightforward and not too complicated. Two Clydesdale Harriers who joined the club as parents of a secondary schoolgirl in 1966 were officials at the 1970 Games in Edinburgh!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
