Colorado Officials Newsletter 2015-4

Sun 5/3/2015 6:40 PM

Hi Folks,

Sorry this is a little late in coming out, but I have been out working track meets the last couple of weekends. The sun is out as I can attest by my sunburn (I prefer to call it an “early season tan”). This is the fourth newsletter of the year, and it is has some useful information. I have also included a copy of the latest outdoor schedule of meets as we know them at this time. As some of the items on the schedule firm up I will update them and put them in future newsletters. As always, make sure you know the proper rules for each meet you are working. At a recent meet, we had high school, NCAA, and Open divisions. That meant we had to have current knowledge of three rulebooks over the course of the meet. The only way to stay on top is to READ, REVIEW, and NEVER BE AFRAID TO CHECK THE RULEBOOK!!!

Upcoming Events - Local

After the Youth Committee’s recent meeting to discuss their outdoor schedule, I have added those meets to the schedule with all of the information available at this point. Keep an eye on these meets as well as any others put on or sanctioned by our association. A complete listing of local Youth and Masters events can be found by selecting the links.

SAFETY

I’m going to foot stomp safety in every one of these newsletters. It was reported in the national news outlets that two officials were struck by javelins during competitions in the last month. One official was struck in the foot as he fell down while backpedaling trying to avoid the javelin. Rule number one: always run towards the sector lines to avoid implements! Running backwards just invites trouble! Most official and volunteers that are struck by implements are injured during warmups. Instead of paying strict attention, we tend to congregate and chat while the athletes warmup. This is the most important time to be alert! Be vigilant and anticipate what can go wrong.

Championship Officiating Opportunities

If you’d like to work a national championship meet to gain experience at that level, and to build your officiating resume, see the information below on championship meets around the country. For details and applications, go to: https://my.usatfofficials.com/applications

- USATF Youth Outdoor national championship, Lisle, IL, Jun 30-Jul 5

- USATF Masters Outdoor national championship, Jacksonville, FL, Jul 23-26

- USATF Junior Olympics national championships, Jacksonville, FL, Jul 27-Aug 2

SafeSport Training

SafeSport training may be required in the near future for all certified officials. Currently coaches are required to get background checks and complete SafeSport training or equivalent as mandated by local governing bodies. Expect USATF to extend this requirement to officials either this year or next. The SafeSport training is a one-time requirement and can be found at: http://safesport.org/ As soon as I find out more details on background checks, I will pass the information along.

In conclusion

We have a great many meets needing officials during this outdoor season. As you can see by the attached schedule, our Youth, Masters, and Open divisions can all use your help at meets all over the state. Have a great outdoor season, and I hope to see you at a meet somewhere soon!

Marty

Martin Johnson

Officials Chair

USA Track & Field, Colorado Association

(719)209-1892 (cell)