Dear Editor:
After reading “Clearfield Volleyball Coaches Receive Support Following Heated Game” in the Oct. 22 edition of Gant News, I felt compelled to write. I believe that I have a unique perspective on this issue.
I coached boys and girls tennis at CHS for a total of 35 seasons. Also, I have been a certified tennis official for 21 years, having officiated from local District 9 tennis up to the NCAA Tournament. I have been on both sides of the fence, so to speak.
That said, I was not in attendance at the volleyball match in question. I am merely mentioning the proper protocol that ideally would have been followed.
Perhaps the officiating in that volleyball match was subpar. It does sound as if the officials in question may have interjected their personalities into the officiating, which if true, is terrible officiating practice.
The best officials are those who work the contest, make sure that there is a level playing field, and the next day, no one can remember who officiated that contest. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen.
In that situation, a high school coach’s first contact should be with his/her Athletic Director. This ensures that a proper chain of command is followed, beginning with the AD, ultimately ending with the District Superintendent.
The media is not the correct forum to air displeasure with officiating. From reading an account of the match in question in the local media the day after that match, that is what the coach chose to do. Such behavior only serves to undermine the authority of the Athletic Director.
If indeed the officiating was suspect, then the Athletic Director can simply refuse to hire those officials in the future. Moreover, the AD has the wherewithal to lodge a complaint with the local PIAA District.
If the AD chooses to do so, the coach in question could face discipline for airing the complaint in public. The official(s) in question could face their own sanctions from the PIAA.
The Gant News article also contained comments from a concerned parent, and from a PIAA official who was in attendance that evening.
The rulebook I study and consult explicitly states that an official should not criticize another official in public, including in the media.
I was astonished that the official quoted in the Gant article chose to do so. If I were to do such a thing, I would expect a letter from the PIAA, the Big Ten, etc., stating that my services were no longer wanted.
There is another issue in play here. I am a huge fan of high school sports. I feel that they can teach very valuable lessons to our young adults, and can instill important values.
Out in the world, life is sometimes unfair. Those who have acquired a solid core of values push though such issues, and move on.
Sports can prepare us for the unfairness that life can bring. The true value of a high school sports program lies in that realm. Its value surpasses success on the field, court or mat.
There was a lesson to be learned here, and it was not. This is why the aforementioned article concerned me.
I was also puzzled by the CASD Superintendent’s comment of “They just had a heated match.” Maybe so, but that sounds like an answer from someone who hopes the situation would go away. In this digital age, situations don’t easily go away.
Mike Sciabica
Clearfield