Timing Issues and Handling of Social Media Concern

As a coach I try and spend my time purely and solely on the improvement the athletes under my instructions.  Although occasionally you need to get involved in the other side of the sport, including officialdom and politics, if you believe it is for the benefit of the athletes in your care.

The sport has had a bit of an issue with a timing mechanism.  This issue has spread a bit by wild fire when the official results appeared to be slower than the training times, hand times and video analysis suggested of athletes.  These comments moved on to social media, mainly Facebook, and where fuelled by the sprint fraternity, of which I am one, with athletes performing three tenths of second slower in similar conditions  than they did in previous weeks.

I personally was involved in these conversations, trying to ask questions and be positive as the last thing I want to happen is for the volunteer officials to leave the sport (some of them are also friends).  Below is a release by the organising body, refuting these claims.  I will add my thoughts to this afterwards.

Athletics South make the following statement in response to a number of social media comments by some self-appointed experts.  Athletics South values competitors and officials and regularly checks all track and field equipment.

Considerable time and money is spent on purchasing and correctly maintaining all equipment.  Athletics South make no official comments regarding meets and procedures by Clubs, Officials or Branches in other locations. Athletics South will continue to assist in attracting Athletes and Officials in growing the sport throughout the State.

It is true that at the Briggs Track Classic on February 4th 2012 our Timing equipment failed the “zero test” and our equipment was only used as the “second system” for the meet.  Investigations into our timing equipment failure were carried out on Monday 6th February with Omega and it was revealed that an adjustment was effected some days before and unfortunately was not re adjusted for the Briggs meet.

This adjustment was corrected on the evening of 6th February and a “zero test” was recorded.  Since this problem was rectified it is producing “true times” for our athletes and any visiting athletes.

Please find the print out of the “zero test” reading which will be carried out each week prior to competition between now and the end of the season.

Athletics South has kept Athletics Tasmania fully informed of the above process.

This release was sent to the clubs and coaches by e-mail as well as being posted on the website.

My initial response to this release is one of disappointment, as the release has negative connotations to it, and could have been a more positive response by the board.

The most positive part out of this exercise was one of the officials who are involved in the timing equipment offered to go through it to help all concerned people to let them become better educated.  Unfortunately, only one person turned up a little late, but was put off by a big sign on the door saying (in my words) officials only to enter.

The sport involves a lot of different groups of people, not one of them is more important or less important than the other.  If someone has a concern it should be addressed in a positive constructive manner to help the sport move forward, and not a response that leaves me feeling concern about sending any queries or complaints to the board.

I hope that is not the case.

This blog is by no means having a shot at the board, sport of people involved.  It is a blog about something that concerns me about the sport I love and have been involved in for 23 years, as a competitor, supporter, board member, administrator and coach.