Pink cancer pins

[rockyroad]

And all of you need to understand that this is a progression...the first time the local association bucked the State, they were warned. The second time, there were meetings. The third time...it goes on. The loss of possible play-off berths is a progressive consequence. They knew it and bucked the State anyway.

Look, our local football and basketball associations in this part of the State do the pink whistles and blue flags and all of thet - but we go through the proper channels and get the proper waivers. These clowns have been telling the State to stick it for the last few years, and it has built up to this point. This is not some knee-jerk reaction by some bureaucrat, no matter how badly some of you may want to make it seem like that.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

And all of you need to understand that this is a progression...the first time the local association bucked the State, they were warned. The second time, there were meetings. The third time...it goes on. The loss of possible play-off berths is a progressive consequence. They knew it and bucked the State anyway.

Look, our local football and basketball associations in this part of the State do the pink whistles and blue flags and all of thet - but we go through the proper channels and get the proper waivers. These clowns have been telling the State to stick it for the last few years, and it has built up to this point. This is not some knee-jerk reaction by some bureaucrat, no matter how badly some of you may want to make it seem like that.

It looks like one of two things:
1. The state finally got fed up with the behavior with this issue.
2. The state has been following procedure with progressively stronger statements. The locals knew the next step before hand and did this anyway.

If officials can't be expected to follow the proper procedures and rules, who can?

[BktBallRef]

From the NFHS Football Forum:

This paragraph appeared in a newsletter emailed to all Washington State officals 2 days prior to Seattle going off the reservation:

Pink Whistles
Although the idea of officials using pink whistles in tribute to Breast Cancer Awareness is a great idea, the WOA has made the decision that football officials will participate in the Prostate Cancer Awareness efforts, while the volleyball and soccer officials will participate in the Breast Cancer Awareness programs. We hate to say no to such great causes, but it is important that we do not over commit in our support. By doing this, the WOA is supporting a wide variety of events without overtaxing the men and women who are out officiating on a daily basis. Although some may not like the position taken by the WOA, there has to be a line drawn and the WOA feels comfortable with the rational used to reach this decision.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

And all of you need to understand that this is a progression...the first time the local association bucked the State, they were warned. The second time, there were meetings. The third time...it goes on. The loss of possible play-off berths is a progressive consequence. They knew it and bucked the State anyway.

Look, our local football and basketball associations in this part of the State do the pink whistles and blue flags and all of thet - but we go through the proper channels and get the proper waivers. These clowns have been telling the State to stick it for the last few years, and it has built up to this point. This is not some knee-jerk reaction by some bureaucrat, no matter how badly some of you may want to make it seem like that.

Does Washington have a football officials manual that specifies a color of whistle or not? The NFHS manual does not, so if the WIAA (Washington)'s manual does not, Todd is making rules up that don't exist. Someone please answer this question and post the relevant written section of the WOA's manual.

[WAzebra24]

Todd has the head of the WOA has per the WOA By-laws the right to determine the proper uniform fo officials in the state of Washington:

ARTICLE III – UNIFORMS
Section 1. Officials shall wear the uniform as approved by the WOA, including the WOA patch.
Section 2. Uniform exceptions may be requested by Associations/Boards to the WOA Executive Board thirty (30) days prior to each scheduled meeting.

This association was told prior as was the entire state by the WOA in their newsletter not to use the pink whistle. They decided to use the whistles anyway.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by WAzebra24

Todd has the head of the WOA has per the WOA By-laws the right to determine the proper uniform fo officials in the state of Washington:

ARTICLE III – UNIFORMS
Section 1. Officials shall wear the uniform as approved by the WOA, including the WOA patch.
Section 2. Uniform exceptions may be requested by Associations/Boards to the WOA Executive Board thirty (30) days prior to each scheduled meeting.

This association was told prior as was the entire state by the WOA in their newsletter not to use the pink whistle. They decided to use the whistles anyway.

Hi, Todd, question for you. Where are the written details of what is the approved uniform? Or do you get to decide week by week, depending on your current whim?

We'll wear our pink whistles in support of two groups tomorrow night.

[WAzebra24]

Trust me the issue is really about the color of the whistle as is it really about the recent history between the local assocoation and WOA.

I am not Todd just an observer to the events in question.....

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

And all of you need to understand that this is a progression...the first time the local association bucked the State, they were warned. The second time, there were meetings. The third time...it goes on. The loss of possible play-off berths is a progressive consequence. They knew it and bucked the State anyway.

Look, our local football and basketball associations in this part of the State do the pink whistles and blue flags and all of thet - but we go through the proper channels and get the proper waivers. These clowns have been telling the State to stick it for the last few years, and it has built up to this point. This is not some knee-jerk reaction by some bureaucrat, no matter how badly some of you may want to make it seem like that.

If that is the case, the state fell directly into the trap that the local association laid. By not making an exception for something that everyone's in favor of, they acted like jerks, even if their actions were justified.

You can't get past the fact that the proximate cause of their suspension had to do with breast cancer awareness. The state should have taken a pass on this one and dinged them on the next one.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Eastshire

If that is the case, the state fell directly into the trap that the local association laid. By not making an exception for something that everyone's in favor of, they acted like jerks, even if their actions were justified.

You can't get past the fact that the proximate cause of their suspension had to do with breast cancer awareness. The state should have taken a pass on this one and dinged them on the next one.

No one has a problem with an official using the media to make the state look like jerks?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

No one has a problem with an official using the media to make the state look like jerks?

Nope. Not when the state makes a poor choice of a situation to demonstrate its authoritah.

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

No one has a problem with an official using the media to make the state look like jerks?

The state made itself look like a jerk. The media just let us know about it.

[asdf]

How about this gem from Stordahl...

"There's one person who has the authority to make that decision, and it's not PNFOA." Stordahl says he already turned down three other referee groups that wanted to use the whistles.

It's good to be the king....

[rockyroad]

Ok, so some of you just don't get it. If you ever move to Washington, you will fit right in with the PNFOA.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

Ok, so some of you just don't get it. If you ever move to Washington, you will fit right in with the PNFOA.

Rocky,

With all due respect I am not sure what the big issue is. And if they feel they are standing on solid ground and worrying about what color the whistles are, then why would they change their stance and back off?

I know many officials that have personally sent Todd emails. If he is right he should stand his ground.

HS sports are about the community and officials are an extension of that community. Is this really an issue the WOA has to make a big deal? Of all things this is it? And you have not said anything that changes that fact. If the WOA is right they should stand their ground.

Peace

[Rich]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

Ok, so some of you just don't get it. If you ever move to Washington, you will fit right in with the PNFOA.

I'm sure there are many officials in WA that feel exactly the same way and quietly comply just because they would rather not get on this guy's bad side. Good on that group for being willing to take a stand over something they feel is important, for whatever reason.

And nope, I don't get it. This isn't basketball. People in football use black whistles, metal whistles, and metal whistles with white tips. Not everyone on the same crew uses the same whistle -- it's personal preference. I've used a Thunderer (metal with white rubber tip) and while I've gone back to a Fox 40, I wouldn't keep someone on my crew from using one if they like it best. Most people don't give a flying fig about the color of whistle for a football official. That's why it's not even specified in the NFHS manual.

Next someone will say that a specific crew card and a certain type of pen or pencil is required, too.