You have to be a subscriber to read the front-page online story.
There is an extra variable needed for success at the University Interscholastic League swimming state championships. Besides the training and desire that lead to perfectly choreographed swims, so much depends on the machines, the electronic timing systems.
I learned something today...
We should not call them "touchpads". I'm going to try to remember to call them "presspads".
19 comments:
Front page of the Dallas Morning News. This is a good article.
Press??? Not Touch???? You have to be kidding me. Don't I recall a super slow mo video of Michael Phelps out-TOUCHING in the 50 fly at the Olympics? Very nice article. Hopefully someone will listen.
For the UIL to say that 1. they don't take protests and then 2. well we can't entertain a protest after 48 hours REEKS of backpedaling. Fact is, Coach Murphy spoke to them in person at the meet, then submitted a formal protest but the UIL indicated that it was submitted FIFTEEN MINUTES LATE or something ridiculous like that. One parent was told that no protests were allowed. And wasn't there a protest that overturned a state championship that happend 9 months after the fact. The UIL can and should overturn this call. Just look at the video/photos online and in the paper. Good article, well written - and Button - your blog is mentioned - maybe you will increase your readership on your "self proclaimed crappy" site.
If a swimmer coming to the wall on a relay does not have to touch the pad - but only touch the end, then how can there always be a calculated reaction time?
'maybe you will increase your readership on your "self proclaimed crappy" site.'
not sure i could handle it. would mean i'd feel the need to make it less crappy. i'm already under enough pressure with my audience of regular 23 readers as it is...
Same DMN newspaper indicates that the Legislative Council for the UIL is interviewing three people for the Athletic Director slot. Two of the three have not addressed this issue and keep hiding behind the "rule" when they had other avenues (and still have other avenues) to make things right. Only P. C. has the right qualifications.
very nice balanced article. The fact is that the meet officials/administrators were neglectful in not realizing that there were equipment failures. When you see the tape output from the Daktronics system, it is clear the system malfunctioned. That they did not take the time to look at that after Coach Murphy protested is truly a travesty for the kids and the program. I'm assuming the same thing happened for Highland Park.
There are rules that clearly would have allowed them to make a different decision. It is also clear from correspondence that Swigon did not understand all of the rules.
Also, Neely continues to say that you may not protest an officials decision. However, Coach was protesting equipment failure and administrative error....and it states clearly in the rules that you may do so.
"A participant school may protest an act or omission that is a violation of the Constitution and/or Contest rules"
Heard that maybe there was an open records request on this relay that was very eye opening - added pad touches, lots of extra reaction times and an official that may not know what rules he falls under... any news on that? Anyone care to comment?
Factually correct, protests can be made on administrative decisions, not on judgement calls. Nice job Button, you have given light to something that many want to sweep under the rug. this will not go away...
Yes there was an open records request. I personally reviewed the Daktronics output for the 5A 400 free relay. Shocking results really. There were 8 extra reaction times for the leg of the race for swimmer #3 (so how can you say she left early when in fact she may have left late, albeit very late?), there is a missing split and then there was a manually added touch by the timing console operator, there was a touch that apparently was not manually added but was physically impossible - unless a high school swimmer could do a 50 free in 20.17 seconds (and yes, I did take into account that the manually added touch should not be used for calculations). Also note - in the same heat lane 4 had a reaction time 5 seconds prior to a pad touch and then another reaction time 2 seconds after. Again - which time did the person leave the block? No DQ but the official was probably consulted and probably indicated that there was no false start - or did the timing console operator just ignore the machine since there was no official with a dq slip? I'm told that when one lane's output/reaction time is not used, the officials are not supposed to use ANY for the entire heat - which would have nullified the SOCA DQ- but I'm not a rules expert. Also note in the same heat - there is a swimmer in lane one who has a 50 split of 16 seconds - it is also listed in the official results. Again - clearly the pad erred - otherwise this girl would be heading to the Olympics!!! How anyone can say that the meet committee/officials/head referee did the due diligence necessary is beyond me. There was clearly equipment malfunction which null and voids the "manufacturer's starting point" and therefore the reaction times cannot be used. If the UIL claims - as they do in their Statement of Purpose: The University Interscholastic League believes that most students enjoy the pursuit of excellence and seek opportunities to test themselves against their own accomplishments and those of their peers,
that such opportunities are best provided through properly conducted and equitably administered competitive activities, that the classroom is enriched by the flow of student energy into the more intensified arena of competition and back into the classroom.
How can they say this was properly conducted and equitably administered??? If the equipment they use fails and if there is evidence (not just video but evidence with their own equipment data outputs) of such failure, then they must do what is right for the athletes. There is no reason this DQ should not be overturned. And there is no reason we should follow this protocol when in fact we know equipment is not always perfect.
Very nice article by Mark Dent at DMN - maybe he should be UIL AD - he knows more about the rules now than the UIL people after his research. Funny how, given the opportunity, they all pass the buck. They need to be held more accountable than just to be able to say that "it's an unfortunate incident". Face it, the rest of us can't pass off big mistakes in our jobs like that without consequences or even an attempt at correcting them.
Is the scheduled TISCA meeting open to the public? If this is being discussed, perhaps the Coach presenting could use some support...
Don't know about the 2 of 3, but PC at least has been greatly involved in the state swimming meet and knows the players and the environment. But he did the "rule" crawfishing tap dance when that AISD school stole a state champ from Churchill with all SORTS of evidence of residence and eligibility gymnastics. So...
Think "slug-pads" or "smash-pads" would be better. Or maybe just "crappy-pads."
The cheating that was brought to light took a long time to get caught and the cheater's victory overturned, but it DID happen eventually. Unfortunately, some of the kids on the TRUE winning team were off at college by that time.
Did I miss anything?
Hey, Deerslayer, did you leave a coozie with an empty Lipton citrus green tea bottle in it in my luxury vehicle this past weekend? If you did... THANKS!
Button, when did you hit 20 readers? Awesome! I'm up to 7! We obscure bloggers absolutely ROCK!
'Think "slug-pads" or "smash-pads" would be better. Or maybe just "crappy-pads."'
last one is too close to crabby-patties. nickelodeon would sue for sure.
OK - so if 3 of 3 are not the worlds best choice - is there a write in candidate?? Just kidding. It is a shame that there is controversy or scandal in any high school or collegiate event. These athletes work very hard - all sports (even golf hahaha). But when faced with admitting mistakes were made - then I will always vote for the person that stood up and said - there was something we could have done better and I will take responsibility for my employees' actions.
Yup, Lion King, it was mine, but now yours, enjoy. That Lipton DIET Green Tea is really good, and no carbs. I say we try a write-in campaign for Trump. And ask for birth certs from everyone involved. I can not believe they would not even check for a malfunction,(huge mistake #1), or allow for a meet jury to review all of the fact and evidence concerning this incident(huge mistake #2). This was not about overturning anyones call, it is about checking the data for incorrect data, obvious incorrect data... That is how things are done when the athletes interests are put first, all athletes. This is not a just a SOCA or HP issue, although they were extremely punished, it an athlete's rights issue. Those swimmers right to fair competition was denied, and by whom???? Whoever the officials were who made the decision, and the UIL is complicit for not keeping the playing field level for every athlete. Who is next??? Is it your team, or mine?
Anyone ever seen this post? Sounds like the Canadians know more than we do!
https://www.swimming.ca/ElectronicRelayTakeovers
Button, you are the BEST. Your
"self-proclaimed crappy site" has given many a forum to discuss swimming stuff, and find, or seek to find things that are best for the athletes. Isn't that what we do???? My hat is off to you...and I like your crappy little site.
Button, love your blog. I read it first thing every day. Well, maybe not first thing. But before practice for sure. When you don't post my life is empty. However, terminology wise the correct name is touch pad, always has been, always will be. Even back in the day when you really had to punch the thing, it was still a touch pad. The whole plunger terminology for a back up button mystifies me as well. You of all people, I would think, would endorse, back up button as the standard. Finally, is great to see a former Cy-Fair guy make it big. How is Trahan doing? BFND
Post a Comment