Blogs : Michael McCoy

My Olympic Trials Selection Disappointment

Athletes aren't the only ones looking forward to this weekend's Olympic Trials.  Most USA Track & Field (USATF) certified officials look forward to the Trials as well.  While we aren't competing for a berth to represent our nation at the Olympics, the Trials represent the highest level of officiating one can obtain in this country. 

While it's true one can be selected to actually officiate at the Olympics themselves it's an extremely rare process since the country hosting the Olympics provides the competition officials.  In this case, the competition officials will be Chinese while those officials overseeing the competition will be from a variety of nations under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).  When Atlanta and Los Angeles hosted the Olympic in 1996 and 1984, the competition officials came from the U.S. while overseeing officials (called Technical Officials) came from other countries under both the IOC and IAAF banners.

Anyhow in order for one to officiate at the U.S. Olympic Trials (which chooses the track & field team to compete at the Games), one has to apply then one must be selected.  Unlike the athletes who put their all in all on the track, the field, or the road (in the case of the marathoners and racewalkers) and must make the top three to qualify for the team, those officials chosen to work the Trials (or any national championship under the USATF, USOC, and/or IAAF umbrella) are selected by committee.

The committee (I often think about that scene, "We are the Committee!" declared a member as they assembled in a room to decide the fate of Eric Lindell, in the movie Chariots of Fire) looks through hundreds of applications submitted by officials to decide who is to be select to work the Trials.  All National & Master offiicials in good standing are eligible and encouraged to apply for the Trials.  The application includes a listing of those meets that might enhance your chance of being selected.  National championship events such as the USATF Junior/Senior Championships, the USATF Master's Championships, the USATF Junior Olympic and/or Youth National Championships are considered along with the NCAA National Championships.  Although the NCAA isn't a part of USATF, they are considered because their championships operate similarly to that of any USATF national championships.

The committee deliberates through the process and concludes by naming those officials selected.  This year, in addition to selecting those who would work the Trials (which was the plum assignment in officiating), the committee also selected competition officials for the three other national championships on the USATF calender (the Indoor in Boston, the Indoor Combined-Events in Chapel Hill, and the outdoor Juniors in Columbus).  Once those selections were made, the committee publicized their names on http://usatfofficials.com/

Despite my disappointment (which does happen in life) I've "endeavored to perservere" (that quote by Chief Dan George in the Clint Eastwood movie, The Outlaw Josey Wales, has always stuck with me for some reason...).  Part of that is getting back to the grindstone as far as meets are concerned and showing the powers-that-be I should be selected outright the next Trials roll around (2012).

The 2008 officiating season for me is drawing to a close.  Since I hadn't gotten selected for the Trials, I concluded the season by working both the NCAA Division I & II National Champs and the Nike Outdoor Nationals.  I have one other meet on the horizon but that isn't until Labor Day weekend.  In the meanwhile, I'll be enjoying my upcoming weekends by cool'n in the shade, drinking a little lemonade, and watching both the Trials and the Olympics on TV like most of America.

While I may be disappointed at what transpired, it goes to show that disappointment can occur to anyone not just athletes.  Things happen for a reason.  I'll leave those reasons up to God and move on and enjoy the other aspects of live.

I think my fellow blogger, Brianna Glenn, summed it up best with her Biblical quote:   (Philippians 1:6 … being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.)

All the best to the competing athletes at the Trials in their attempt to fulfill those Olympic aspirations by  living the Nike motto by just "doing it!"

Great verse huh?

10:55 PM, June 25, 2008 .. Posted by missbri

I'm glad you found it applicable as well!