This is for all you administrators out there–I recently have run across (repeatedly I might add) an issue I like to call OLS–Over-legislative syndrome. It works like this; An event is moving along with no problems. Everything seems to be running smoothly until the OLS…..
Some examples: Major sponsor donates to the tournament and gets hassled for their hospitality badge…..really? They didn’t have the badge on? Is that a major problem? OLS strikes!
Major athlete is begged to come to the tournament. Athlete comes to tournament and tournament committee uses the name to get more entries. Athlete shows up and is asked for their credentials. OLS strikes again!
Ref in finals realizes both athletes are running on fumes. Both are taking more than ten seconds to put the ball in play. Nobody is complaining. Leave it alone unless one athlete is in shape and the other one is not or one is complaining; then enforce the rules. Do not be guilty of OLS!
What should be thought through is what is a battle worth fighting and a battle not worth fighting? What battles are for the good of the sport and what battles are fought over control of the sport; often at the detriment to the sport.
It amazes me the things that are looked over such as coaching against players on the same team, incompetent and inexperienced political appointments, unethical recruiting for monetary gain etc.
Not all rules should be enforced equally. It has been my experience that not all athletes or sponsors should be treated equally either.