Happy New Year! This past weekend marked everyone's excited return to track and field events slowly recovering and emerging from last year's planetary blackout. But it's imperative that the officials not be casual about the fact that the COVID threat hasn't gone anywhere. Officials serve as the meet's ambassadors... supposedly the walking, talking example of the power of "safety" over "competition". Not just safety of one person or group, but safety of everyone. So as we wander through this new rough terrain of track and field during a pandemic, remember: if you spot an athlete, coach, volunteer, spectator or fellow official being thoughtless about maintaining COVID safety protocols, it is your mandated responsibility to not remain silent about it for fear of hurting someone's feelings. Failure to do so, and being even momentarily relaxed about the strict COVID protocols entrusted to us is inexcusable, and threatens to collapse what we've worked so hard to emerge from.
COVID protocols should be treated just like rules, and officials need to be educated in these rules. Each official must read up on it, and be prepared to educate others on in. And if an official isn't sure about something, ask the lead official. If the lead official isn't sure, ask the meet director. But most importantly, officials must not sit silent and ignorant with health and safety hanging in the balance. As one of the largest officials associations in the country, all eyes are on us. Good luck, and let's have an amazing season!
