Knock off WOB situation

Tim P wrote:

2. There is a implicit assumption that at least some if not all games are currently not "...properly organized [and] well ran... all that will be rectified by applying the SAAA formula. All those other organizations out there are doing it wrong.

Coming form the Midwest where most games are independent, I found his assumption arrogant bordering on insulting.

However, if one views providing services to a festival allowing them to host a heavy athletic competition as a business, such as SAAA has stated, this view makes sense. Anybody who helps festivals run heavy atheltics events face increased competition. More throwers have the equipment to provide the same services for an open flight event and when teamed up with other like-minded throwers, can run multiple flight events; there are also those games that buy the equipment and local throwers run the events.

So if it was my business, I would want to control or eliminate the competition by portraying them as unprofessional and the results of their event's as illegitimate. Heck, I would push for a national governing body, which could than make it even easier to eliminate the riff-raff coompetition. Sounds like a different version of capitalism than the one invoked earlier in this tread by SAAA!

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I, however, do not view it as a business. I view it as growing the sport and helping other people put on events, as other ADs have and regularly do help me. In the end, we all benefit because a larger atheltic count fills the flights, which cover more of the cost; provides a larger pool of people to draw potential judges from; and allows fesitvals to host more divisions that would not normally fill a flight (lightweights, masters women, junior, ....) I guess that makes me a communist rather than a capitalist.

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I do not have a dog in this dispute. I would not have posted above if it were not for a California athlete grilling me mid-last-season about the legality of my implements -- I do not mind questions and perhaps it was the electronic loss of human communication, I just wondered where some of the attitude came from ... a ripple effect?

I do agree with SAAA concerns about liability insurance issues. If a field is set up badly, the chances of an unfortunate incident increases. All rates, whether the risk profile is reviewed or not, will go up, if something bad happens.

A proactive step for SAAA and all others who run events is education on field setup. If others are are perceived to be unprofessional, then we all need to educate them and raise their standards. otherwise we all suffer through higher liability rates. Safety is all of our concern.

I know the Canadian federation has a great website on this issue: http://canadianscottishathleticfederation.ca/index.cfm?page=games_setup

This website is a great primer -- I also learned from being pulled to the side and queried about a few layouts and suggestions of improvements for the next year.

Edited by McSanta - 4/08/13 at 8:16am

Mark McVey

"The work of science is to substitute facts for appearances and demonstrations for impressions." -John Ruskin

B: Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?
P: I think so, Brain, but can the Gummi Worms really live in peace with the Marshmallow Chicks?

Over Fork Over

SAAA Chief--"To all the complainers on this page, don't see you putting in any extra time to make the sport better."

Sorry Dave, From day one back in 2002 when i started throwing in the HG, I always was the first to each games, to make sure the field was setup, or help out any way i can. I also was the last one to leave with a few, to help tear down and pack up. I also became a judge to help out the SAAA when they couldn't find any judges, and because of that i couldn't throw some games because you needed judges. Then I become an AD of a small game that was a few years old, and grew it to over 100 Athletes. I even joined the Board as a "Member at Large" I remember weekends i would show up to your house and help make cabers, fix standards, load up the trailer and so on.
My wife would spend Saturday and Sunday from 7AM till end to setup, and assist selling of Tees, and checking in throwers. And where not the only ones, I know of at least 10 that did the same.

Dave what I'm getting at here is, for 10 long years, myself, my wife, and many many friends have went out of there way to "help the SAAA" to make games happen and grow. With out your loyal friends, and the SAAA's loyal friends, the games would never happen.

The reason why athletes show up to throw, it's not because it's a SAAA game, it's not because they will see DAVE SAAA Chief, the reason why athletes show up is for the same reason why they show up to other organization's games. for the love of the sport.

You made a big mistake, and that was not listening to your loyal friends and HG family. Empires do fall, and throwers will still throw.

Dave i don't want anything bad for the SAAA, I just hope you and the SAAA Board takes note of peoples pleas, and suggestions, and think about changing.

This sport is for the Athletes by the Athletes remember?

Roflmao, i love PhotoShop!

Kit, so noted...carry on 

Anybody else notice that SAAA Prez titled changed in each of his last 3 posts?

Jeremy Gillingham

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