Recruit, Retain and Respect

These three words can spell success or failure for our association. Simple phrases but not to be taken lightly.

Recruitment, a never ending key component to ensure that we have a good mix of new and experienced officials. But what does it say to an association, who recruits but does not properly train, who allows new officials to make errors but not receive constructive criticism, who only schedules new officials to work at the last minute or not at all. We wonder why for every group of new recruits, we can only keep one or two the following season.

Retaining officials is the next important component to a successful organization. Even when you invest time and energy into training, you need consitently mentor the new recruit to foster a better official. We must work as a team on and off the field and when we leave someone out, they will decide there services are not required, or look for other associations to join. Rentention is achieved in many ways, continued education, evaluation and support. We must remember to do this every chance we get.

Lastly RESPECT.

Respect comes in many sources, the players on field, the coaches,convenors, parents, spectators as well as fellow officials. The most important type of respect comes from WITHIN.

If you do not respect yourself enough, it is shown by the way you act as an official. When we start to let our appearance get sloppy or dirty, and our attitude become sarcastic and negative, our performance level drops accordingly. It is impartive that as officials we look in the mirror before we begin each game and say Are You Ready!

Over the last year I have noted instances of disrespect from our leagues, our players and fellow officials. This can only result in our failure to be the best officials association in Ontario.

So it is up to you to decide ARE YOU READY to meet the challenge of being an official or do you want to be remembered as someone who could care less about why we wear the stripes. The choice is yours.

Keep in Touch
Doug #2

Accountability

Tarry a little, there is something else.
This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood;
The words expressly are a pound of flesh.
Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh
Merchant of Venice William Shakespeare

A pound of flesh as reward for a mistake. We live in turbulent times and as the world experiences economical, environmental, and moral disasters, the end result after the bail outs, clean ups and court judgements is usually who is accountable. The cry for retribution is loud and strong. Problem is, we give the naa sayers and mud slingers too much air time. If we just investigate the facts, review the data and make strong changes, things would only get better. Unfortunately, there are those who want to continue on their soap box and beat a dead horse (you know the meat does not get any better)
The other day I received an email from a league representative asking for clarification of a rule application. Seems basic, but as I am reading the email, I soon realize that the author is not merely looking for clarification, but also playing judge, jury and executioner.

Now I stand before you to say that SOTFOA is open to concrete suggestions, but slamming or trash talking our officials will never be tolerated. Every request of this nature is followed up by your executive to a point. Again just the facts ma am... just the facts. Remember you can please some of the people all the time, but those who whine will never be truly satisfied.

With two tournaments under our belt and Kingston around the corner, we have noted that there is a strong need to address the health and safety of officials working. I will be drafting a policy to submit to TFONT, to firstly address the basic bodily needs for officials working (and no I will not be hiring escorts) but food, refreshments, and wee breaks.

Secondly a RIC manual will be drafted to ensure all RIC's understand their roles. My counterpart in Ottawa does a great job to date, but we need to ensure whomever takes this role, understands the expectations from their fellow officials.
Well better get moving on for now
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Stripes #2

Where oh Where has My Little Doug Gone

Oh where oh where can he be...
very busy thats where.

Well, we are off to the races, BMFA minor, Golden Horseshoe, Milton and Oakville Minor are all out of the gates and rounding the first turn. Two TFONT tourneys done, thanks to all who have helped out. Sadly this will be the last year for the Earlybird in Burlington, process change and apathy on the part of the City to provide service to a long standing customer. Too bad. Just another example of the changes coming from City Hall. Starts at the top of the heap...if you get my drift.
Looks like it will be spring in sunny Oshawa or Peterborough, I like Oshawa, closer to home, less blackflies and I here they have a hooker problem downtown...but they offered a sweet deal to TFONT. Maybe in time the old COB will have the opportunity to bring back the tournament in the future. Rumour has it that GHTFA will offer they own mini tourney, trouble will be who will officate. Oh well thats next year.
As for the here and now, we have been very busy. Hamilton tourney went off with minimal issues, the weather was great and the games exciting.

We started a new recruitment process this year with BMFA and brought on 8 kids to help on the sidelines. All of these guys are doing a great job. Hopefully we will keep a few for other leagues in the process.
Our guys are helping George in Mississauga during the week. George is very thankful.
I am still holding on the ultimate goal for SOTFOA to become the umbrella association for officials in Southern Ontario. If your going to dream...dream BIG!

Well back to my real job, for now,
Keep in Touch
Doug #2
SOTFOA

Keep Your Sunnyside UP

Hide the side that is blue. Here we are February and the weatherman has predicited snow, you remember snow, the thick wet heavy short term white stuff. Looks like another winter season of cold and sunny, cold and overcast, and just plain cold. Well good thing we're doing INDOOR. The warm air conditioned climate, bright lights and great playing surface in Oakville makes officating indoor touch a thing of beauty. It helps when the teams are made up of good participants and the league supports the fun of the sport over winning. On February 20th, I will venture down the 401 to Kingston to participate in the Rules committee meeting. So far this year, we have seen rule proposals for procedure- whistle dead and apply the yardage automatically (similiar to tackle) to adding more stop time on the clock and increasing the number of timeouts available. As for process changes, they seem to remain the same. Meeting with representatives from Ottawa, Kingston, Montreal will be rewarding.(We will see if they are talking to me again after my changes in the Nationals, it might be a cold meeting, but we will offer a warm handshake) Any suggestions are heard, rationalize and accepted or declined. In the end, any changes will be posted on TFONT.ca Lets hope for good weather at least for the road trip, maybe I might bring along something special to keep me warm.(and I don't mean a bottle) Personally I am working on my physical and mental state (can not do too much about the latter). My goal is to start the outdoor season in better shape that ending last season. Strong body, strong mind. SOTFOA.ca is attracting many hits, we had a guy from India wanting to sell us footballs. But,we also have attracted some more new officials for 2010 and will be offering training sessions for them. GHTFA will be offering a level 1 clinic in April. Our minor program is looking at offering the older kids a chance to officate games alongside our officials. I am working with BMFA to put together a clinic for the kids. So far we have the same leagues lined up for 2010. EARLYBIRD TOURNAMENT is a go for Burlington in May So remember, check your equipment, watch your waistline, look for the 2010 Rulebook posted on the webpage. Keep in Touch Doug #2

HO HO HO

Hat on Head, nose thats red, glass of wine, feeling fine.
Well another year and we are still moving forward. We continued to provide excellent officials to our fall league in NOMTFA. Thanks to Al and Curth for their assistance and to the guys of NOMTFA for their support.
Winter ball is coming at the Oakville Sports Dome on Third Line (south of Dundas) Monday nights 9 and 10 p.m. So if your interested call Al.
As an association, another learning curve year. We continued to support our Mississauga Officials by supplying officials whenever we could. As we move ahead we need to key our eye on our goal and to start this process will try to build a formal alliance with George and the boys to the east. As for our friends to the south, they managed their own schedule.(I believe the HTFA provided assistance similiar to GHTFA)
So what does 2010 bring, hopefully a mutual agreement between the Mississauga Guys and Hamilton Boys to establish rates and league distribution.
On the topic of leagues, we need to expand and in the past have been approached by leagues in Georgetown, London and Kitchener, so who knows.
Once again a man is not an island so my thanks to Al, Ernie, Curth, Rob, and Brian for your support of our program.
Till next year
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Cheers
Keep in Touch
Doug #2

TRADITION...Tradition!

Tradition has been the bases of many organizations. Honouring your senior members or following the process set down year after year. The only opposition to tradition is change.

But change breeds fresh ideas, new approaches and opportunities. The downside to changing the status quo is you do no make any friends. Those who believe that tradition rules, will be upset, those who do not agree with your logic feel they can do better. In end you weigh the pros and cons and you make a decision.

This year in the Nationals, a new approach was taken. Unfortunately it was poorly supported by the very officials it was meant to help.

Success is measured not only by positive results, but by the future support of others. Success is not a final outcome but measured by the challenges faced to achieve it. If you never try something new, you will grow old and into oblivion.

We need to keep trying new things and embrace change. We must to be able to achieve our goals and ensure we provide the best service possible to all of our clients. Keep looking to the horizon and celebrate each sunrise and sunset.

The past is behind us, tomorrow is a million miles away, so rejoice and take each day like it is your last. Don't resist change BE IT!
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Doug #2

It has been awhile

Wow, time flies, here we are Nationals complete, Golden Horseshoe Touch done, Milton Done, we are into playoffs with NOMTFA

So my thanks to Al, Barry, Damien, Dave, Brian, Derby, Brian D, for your help at the Nationals in Unionville, overall everything when great.
Congrats to Brian Weber for referreeing the Men's AA Final, great game good work

As for our Golden Horseshoe Touch Football Finals, we shared the lineup with the GHTFA officials. In the spring we trained 65 players to be officials, and although this process might mean the end of SOTFOA working GHTFA, it is a necessary part of the process to ensure enough officials during the season. Time will tell

SOTFOA continues to move forwars in same bounds, but forward is the progress. As people get older, opportunities happen
We are watching the big picture and will keep our eyes on the prize.
Keep in Touch
Doug #2
SOTFOA PRESIDENT