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Regionals can be big nightmare for athletes

By LARRY BUGG
Published April 21, 2005

Dan Epstein is not likely to forget the regional meet last April at Poinciana High School.

"We went from taking six guys to state to just two," said Epstein, the Lecanto boys coach.

He recalled that the Panthers' 4x800 relay team was in a race to try and qualify for state. John Edge, Wayne Saxer and Dustin Elder had run, then the baton was handed off to anchor Nick Norton. He was trying to get Lecanto a fourth-place finish and qualified for state.

Epstein said Norton was running well until a Poinciana athlete happened to run into Norton. The Panther dropped the baton but apparently didn't realize he was missing the stick. Norton crossed the finish line, only then discovering he was without the baton. Frantically, he ran back, picked it up and crossed the line with the stick in hand.

Unfortunately for Lecanto, the relay squad finished fifth.

Epstein pleaded with officials that it wasn't Norton's fault he dropped the baton. The argument fell on deaf ears. The coach said the one official who could have reversed the decision claimed he didn't see the collision. The official happened to be from Poinciana High. Epstein put the protest in writing, but no official was going to budge.

Poinciana's 4x800 team went to state. Lecanto's squad stayed home.

Welcome to regional track, where it can be a cold, cruel world. This is where a teenage athlete is putting his or her heart and soul into trying to run that great race or make the outstanding jump or throw the discus so they can complete the journey to the state championships.

This also is where athletes can find out about sheer ugliness.

Another coach once told of regional misfortune. The first runner of a relay from his boys team finished the handoff and continued running, yelling encouragement to his teammate. The squad later was disqualified.

The reason: teammates are not supposed to run and give encouragement after their legs are finished.

Again, the coach protested but to no avail. The coach said the official later watched another relay commit the same infraction but said nothing.

The officials are adults telling teens that the track workers are acting fairly without prejudice. The kids are getting an education they don't usually receive in school.

Some local officials may want just a little too much for their own athletes to qualify for state. Unfortunately for many athletes, they get just one shot at the "show."

The officials don't have to undergo psychiatric testing to help at these competitions. Many are sincere and honest volunteers hoping to do a good job. Yet, they also may be incompetent as officials.

Some of the rules are questionable. For instance, why should there be punishment for an enthusiastic, adrenaline-filled teen for acting like a cheerleader.

Hello?

Just what are we trying to teach our students with rules like that?

Most coaches are teaching their athletes that hard work will pay off and if they run a great race, they can realize the dream of making it to the state meet. Coaches, though, probably don't warn that some officials can be unfair, enforcing ridiculous rules to benefit their local athletes.

There might be a solution to the problem.

Maybe, the Florida High School Activities Association can train extra officials - non-local people - to work the regionals. Perhaps that would cost too much, but the meets are, after all, important. I have covered many state championships and generally found they are well-run with little or no controversy. Presumably, the best officials work the events. We can only hope that some day, the athletes can be treated fairly and hard work will be rewarded.

- Larry Bugg can be reached at Larrybugg@msn.com

[Last modified April 21, 2005, 01:05:18]