I think Jeff dealt with the issue appropriately. When the person (offender) is willing to stop when the rule is pointed out, why would you want to escalate and kick them out. You know where I work we have a policy for everything - but we quickly learn they are only guidelines. Remember most of the people you are talking about KICKING out are the parents, who without them the kids would not be there, and coaches - who are doing this for nothing in most cases. A lot of these coaches do not even have kids there or stay hours after there kid is done to coach someone else's kid. People should just relax, deal with the issues that come up at the lowest level possible. Some sound like the spectators are inmates, well I work with inmates and we are encouraged to handle minor infractions informally if possible, like Jeff did. Or maybe we could just take Nix's approach of kicking people out one step further and just shoot a few offenders. Shoot the first person with a coke in the gym and there would probably not be anymore offenders. And, I cannot believe someone suggested we start 'shaking people down' as they go in the gyms. You are in there all day, and if you leave your seat you lose it. Of course there is going to be food in the gyms. It would be nice if people would clean up there mess. We have enough shaking down at state.

I am just joking on shooting, I just think we should relax on this and let Jeff know he was right in how he handled it.

use paintball guns, they hurt but without killing anyone and you still get the point across.

Expo Center employee! Old habits are hard to break.

old habits are hard to break is a crock. you chew because you want to. you smoke because you want to. i wanted to so i did it. now i dont want to so i dont. so sick of excuses for this and for that. you dont need to tell someone not to do it. thats the choice they make. now if the rule applies no chewing, smoking, food, drinks in the gym, no standing at matside then the tournament directors need to take care of that with no hassles.

All,

I dont feel that I handled it right.

I had already given a warning, as I do every year in the coaches meeting. And with that, I should have let the coach, ( who walked directly in front of me while spitting into a small water bottle ) know that he was being ejected for a violation of the rules as stated in the rule book. Instead I only made him get rid of it and he was then able to return to coaching.

It is my opinion that many coaches, referees and tournament directors do not even know that there is even a rule to eliminate those who are guilty of this action.

It is my hope that any from here on out will be dealt with as the rule book states!


Jeff

If the coaches are going to be ejected then so should anyone chewing in the gym. Do you think that the only people chewing are the coaches? Don't forget about the refs, table workers, janitors, security and so on. I HAVE SEEN ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS USING AT TOURNAMENTS. I HAVE BUMMED DIPPS AND ALSO LET OTHERS BUMM DIPS. I chew. BUT, everytime before heading to the mat I spit it out. (gets really expensive, but thats my choice) The refs don't, the table workers dont and the security officers don't. With the shortages of refs this year if you enforce this rule with all and by the letter of the law soem tournaments will go on till midnight. So as some have said, CHOOSE your battles wisely. I am NOT condoning it in any way, just saying you may be opening a big can of worms.

WELL SAID WOOD, JOHN I WAS NOT SAYING SHAKE EVERYONE DOWN JUST LOOK IN THEIR HANDS TO SEE IF THEY ARE CARRYING A CUP OR BOTTLE OR WHATEVER YOU DONT HAVE TO PAT THEM DOWN LIKE INMATES, BUT IF ANYONE NEEDS A PERSON TO PAT PEOPLE DOWN I DO IT ON A DAILY BASIS, IM PRETTY GOOD AT IT AND IM FOR HIRE....LOL

I think it's really simple. Coaches were warned at the meeting. It's against the rules and sets a poor example for kids. If you're selfish enough to where you don't care about the rule book or the example you're setting for kids, then you should accept the consequences of getting the boot when you intentionally defy the rule book.

People against ejections: You would stand a better chance of swaying people's opinions if you gave examples of rules in the rulebook that we regularly choose not to follow rather than just saying "choose your battles because we don't want to be there all day." What other battles are we choosing??

Choosing a battle?.... Thats about the most ridiculous thing I have heard. That has nothing to do with this.

If you are at the Mill Valley Invitational next year I will announce that anyone who is found using any tobacco products will be ejected from the tournament.

I dont care if they are a wrestler, coach, table worker, or a referee. This will also apply to a spectator as well, as I have cleaned up a number of spit messes simply because some were even too lazy to get the uncapped bottle or cup to a nearby trash can. And you guessed it the cup got tipped over at some point during the day...

Jeff

no means no in america just ask mike tyson. very simple no tobacco means no tobacco. no matter how you try to bend the rule no means no.

Yeah but Mike chews ears not tobacco and I'm pretty sure ears aren't habit forming!

I have been to a tourny where the tourny Direcdtor warned about the use of tobacco while putting a large dip in.
So did that mean no or yes? Or maybe just, ahhhhhh i dont know im confused.

i'm confused on that as well, that must mean no in another language.

Jeff,

I applaud you on a well run tournament. I was in the coaches' meeting when you said that chewing would not be allowed in the gym and that anyone caught would be ejected from the tournament. Although I remember hearing something similar to this at one or two tournaments over the years, this was different. You were very clear about cause and effect (cause: you use chewing tobacco in the building, effect: you get ejected from the tournament).

Coaches, referees, security, fans - think of a tournament like a day at work (often a long day). You deserve to take a couple of breaks throughout the day in addition to a lunch break. If the need arises to take a dip, go to your car/truck, climb inside, turn on a little music, put a pinch in between your cheek and gum, and kick back a relax for a few minutes. Problem solved.

Surprised to see a referee in the coaches meeting at Gardner with a HUGE dip in his mouth I wont name a name even though I would love to

first initial between h and l

last initial between a and e??

It was good to see one particular coach with a big wad of gum instead!!! :-)

He did seem a little agitated when I walked by him though.


You know who you are.

first initial r
last initial b

If your going to be a snitch be a good one & say the mans name. I dont chew but you that do can put in a dip in front of me & I wont blow the whistle on ya.

Will the Full Nelson and Body slams be legal too??

How 'bout we all just buy a cage too.

We dont need no stinkin' rule book!



Jeff