A long, long time ago… in the Navy, stationed in Groton at SubBase, I played softball and basketball in the leagues. After realizing I sucked, I took classes to umpire and ref. I sucked at those too. I realized that the same things that make someone good enough to play sports, are the same things refs and umps need. Good hand-eye coordination and quick decision making. I still call them out from the comfort of my couch, but it’s also why I don’t like to be there live. It’s hard to do well.
So have you found your calling? I bet you're great at something.
Never really did racket sports. I still try to play golf, but my ego won’t admit I’m not 27 anymore.
That’s true but all racquet sports are not equal. Tennis is by far the hardest to master, some people just never learn how to control the racquet face or hit with power and still keep the ball from landing in the street. Pickelball has taken off because it’s similar to tennis but using a paddle makes it much easier for the average Joe to control the racquet face and the court is much smaller. It’s funny that a few people “get” the mechanics of tennis right away but others struggle with their serve, forehand, or backhand, no matter how hard they try. I taught tennis for years and it was a joy seeing the lightbulb go on in someone’s head when trying to develop a hard yet controlled serve with the “American twist”. I mean without trying to muscle the ball over net without hitting it 20 feet out. Lol
It's a great question... my only guess is that it's an attempt to standardize qualifications for all coaches/officials across sports. But that's a guess.
Yup. I have to pay for an annual "non-athlete" membership to USA Swimming.
Conn...do/did you play USTA? I was 4.0 for many years...multiple ACL and rotator cuff reconstructs have sidelined me the last few though, hoping to get back into it soon.
Played in college many years ago, worked at Lendl’s club in Weston part time many years ago as well.
True that - tennis to me was magic -developed my left to be equal to my right so didn't have to learn or master American Twist. Just hit power, slice, topspin serves either way and caused more than one player to lose a point complaining to his coach.
Yes, many long years ago! (chorus sings again - many long years ago)
I played NELTA, now USTA NE, as a kid ... never could beat this guy in at least 20 attemps Director of Tennis Glenn Marshall Announces Retirement after 33 Years - University of Connecticut Athletics
I used to officiate FSCL summer club meets in the late 1980's. All I needed was a whistle and an hour seminar. $100-$150 for 3 hours work, the lunch I got served at some of the Greenwich country clubs was worth working for free. These days you need CPR, first aid and a background check, besides the US swimming membership. My cousin is the HS coach of a high-end team in the Hartford area, his son is a star swimmer. I wasn't allowed to give the team a pep talk before a meet because I wasn't properly vetted
If by modern you mean 30+ years ago, then yes
Yup, Murphy. They were doubles partners. He was just a lefty though if I remember correctly.
Interesting, if you played in NELTA tournaments, we may have run into each other!
Diving
What level did you play?
It was the early/mid ‘90s so there wasn’t a rating system (4.0, 3.5, etc) I don’t think but I played mostly B and some A tournaments locally.
