truthsquad

I don't know who Eric is, but one of the Soddy coaches had Don Barnett cornered right off the side of that mat passionately stating his case immediately following the match. Anyone that was around the mat at the time can confirm this. He most certainly did not blame his kid! So to my point, why not eliminate this issue? Wouldn't it be better to not have to worry about someone making the wrong call, not because of judgement, but because of ignorance? Why not agree to support a system that only hires certified refs...and not the Blue Shirt Certification that obviously is a joke.

WrestlingGod---Amen! This is exactly the point I am trying to make!!!!! They try to develop these "AAU Refs" and create more harm than good. What constitutes an AAU certified ref--Don watching you ref one match on a Friday evening in November--BAM! Here's your blue shirt, good luck!

Bosken--you are much more "honorable" on the message board in your process and methods than you were on Saturday when you took the young lady (ref) to the table and sat in the corner shaking your head and throwing up your arms during the matches I saw. I guess it worked out ok because your kid came out on top and everything worked out. SAC--I appreciate that they 'want' to improve, and I have offered suggestions multiple times. I'm not in the inner circle like the Foremans, Boskens, Sutherlands, Satterfield, and Fryes of the world so my opinion is not valued. I HAVE offered to help run tournaments, my help has been declined. I'm here for the kids, I want them to have a positive experience and grow, I'm offering suggestions for improvement. I don't understand why you all that kiss up to the powers that be always circle your wagons when someone tries to offer suggestions for improvement. You cannot in good conscious believe that the officials used on Saturday were good for the sports improvement.

Heresyourstupidsign--you call me out for using a screen name? Is Heresyourstupidsign what your momma named you? Wow--talk about the pot calling the kettle black. And NO, refs are not paid the same. Look it up before you speak. I guess you can't spell heresyourstupidsign without stupid right? And yes I've run paperless tournaments with more than one system. I DO understand how it works. I DO understand the Tulsa system and I also realize that suggestions for improvement DO help only if one listens and incorporates the suggestions. Sommers--your opinion is so irrelevant to most on here, I won't even comment on your worthless drivel of a post. Bosken--of course you didn't complain and therefore those at Team TN think its ok that they have subpar officials at a tournament. Don't tell me wins and losses don't matter!! Even at 3rd grade. When a referee takes a match from them because THEY DON'T Know the rules, even in 3rd grade don't you think that leaves a mark? How do you address that in your room? "I'm sorry guys, the leadership of our sport doesn't believe you are worth spending a little extra money for certified referees, they don't believe you will notice that this kid in leopard print pants officiating your matches really don't know the rules that you as a wrestler are expected to follow, you know, the rules you learned as a 1st grader." Enlighten me here and explain WHY Team TN has such tight controls over everything right down to the font a tournament director can use on their flyer, but they can't get someone that knows the rules to officiate a match. Prove me wrong.

Right SAC-lets just ignore everything bad and expect it to improve...that always works. As for hosting, been doing it for 16 years now. If you've been to many wrestling tournaments in TN or GA you've probably attended one that I've ran. And guess what, when people offer suggestions we listen and improve.

Bosken--I saw you at the table more than once with a ref arguing a call! If it didn't matter, THEN WHY DID YOU GO TO THE TABLE AND ARGUE, after all they have to start someplace right? And I bet if you ask the fine folks from Soddy they would agree that they don't want a ref or table worker training on their kids, especially without supervison. This was a TOP 100 tournament and supposed to be the showcase in the state--we shouldn't be training new refs without supervision. Why not let those refs train at beginners tournaments and everyone can learn together. Would you feel comfortable with the female ref you were arguing with calling your child's finals match at state? This is precisely the problem with TN AAU. There is too much glad handing and lip service because no one wants to upset leadership and therefore we never improve. Do you seriously think its a good choice to have kids running tables and officiating our matches?

Sorry for posting here, but no one reads the travel teams forum, anyway most people involved with TN high school wrestling is also involved with AAU so why not let everyone see. Team TN AAU has once again disappointed. Great attempt at this TOP 100 tournament held on Saturday at Pigeon Forge, but again failed to live up to the expectations of many. Team TN leadership spends so much time mandating what other teams do within the TN AAU group with respect to hosting and running tournaments, but then when it comes their own tournament, its a mockery of what a real tournament should be. Problems: 1 - Referees!!! Seriously?? You have high schoolers who have no idea as to some of the rules of wrestlering officiating matches without supervision? In a Top 100 tournament? A few times I saw coaches have to run onto the mat to stop the action for illegal headlocks and full nelsons because the "referees" didn't understand the rules. This is absolutely unacceptable. The whole AAU Ref thing is not working, just spend the extra money and get TSSAA refs and save yourself and the rest of us these problems. 2 - Kids working tables. So you're telling me you couldn't find enough help to get at lease adult at each table? Bad decision.\ 3 - Great choice to finally embrace Trackwrestilng, but there is a feature in the system to allow you to display a mat call board with upcoming matches. Your 15" monitor on the side was not very helpful when it only showed the current match on the mat. I even offered a suggestion and instructions on how to make the board show up coming matches, but my suggestion fell on deaf ears. And maybe consider a projector, like is usually used at state. 3 - Splitting gyms. I understand the reasoning for time, but teams should have been notified so they could have made arrangements for additional coaches to cover 2 gyms. 4 - Hospitality. What hospitality? What if I don't like Cousin Kevin's Deer Meat Stew. Come on guys! 5 - Satterfield's play by play. Dude! You were so loud and annoying, I couldn't hear myself think. Maybe you should limit your time on the mic to your local karaokee bar. 6 - Starting on time, with weigh ins on Friday and morning sessions ending well before the afternoon, how can you justify starting late? 7 - Finally, You need a better system for voting for your outstanding wrestler and match awards. I saw one coach, who is intimately involved with Team TN turn in more than one ballot and guess what, his son won one of the best match awards. Interesting! Maybe it was legit, and maybe so was Lance Armstrong's 7 titles. Just sayin. Good Points: 1 - Great job for awarding Outstanding Wrestler Awards at each division 2 - Great job for awarding Best match at each division. 3 - Great job of attracting some good talented wrestlers from other parts of the state. Time to look within Team TN and tidy up your own house and not spend so much time telling other teams and clubs how to run their tournaments. And before you shoot the messenger here, I HAVE offered my help and advice--it was politely ignored.