Local high school track and field meets such as the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) and Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) athletics championships feature hundreds of young athletes, and usually take place over a three to five day period. Both feature a number of track and field events, and both can prove to be an overwhelming task, in terms of officiating, if an adequate number of certified officials aren’t in place.
Newly elected Bahamas Association of Certified Officials (BACO) President Ray Hepburn said yesterday that, he’s seen how hectic things can get with a limited staff, and has made preparations for both of the major high school meets this month.
First up will be the GSSSA athletics championships that take place February 16-19. The BAISS meet is set for February 24-26. Both will be staged at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium.
“We’ve made the necessary requests for our officials to get time off for these events,” said Hepburn. “It’s difficult for officials to take time off two weeks in a row, because some employers aren’t as flexible, but right now it doesn’t seem to be an issue, because all of the letters have gone out, particularly to Mr. Sands (Director of Education Lionel Sands), who is responsible for all of the teachers who will have to take time off. Hopefully there will be no deficiencies. We have about 40-50 officials available to work both events this year.”
Technical director of the meet Fritz Grant and his team, along with BACO, will look to weed out any dishonest practices that they’ve had in the past, particularly the running of athletes in the wrong divisions (switching bibs).
“The entire planning committee has put measures in place to deal with this,” he said. “There’s also a hefty fine that goes along with getting caught. Hopefully we will have a fair meet and everyone will be honest and do what they’re here to do. We as leaders and coaches are supposed to set examples for the kids, and if we’re not doing that, we’re failing. We want to not only produce good athletes, but also good citizens in general. I would entreat everyone to do their part and let the athletes performances speak for them.”
Both meets will serve as a CARIFTA qualifier and are recognized and endorsed by the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA).
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