Way off track

[Starman]

You young-uns really don't know how lucky you have it.

I would say probably half our track coaches do their meets on computer these days and either e-mail or fax them in, or else read them off a printed sheet.

In the olden days (IN MYY DAYYYY....) when I started some 25 years ago, everything was hand-written. Everything. Usually in pencil. Or crayon. Or sloppy magic-marker. In the rain.

And everything was added up on the spot by coaches, or assistant coaches, or parents, or kids, or little brothers. In pencil. Or crayon. In the rain. Hell, it was a big deal when some guys brought pocket calculators.

Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiittt. : : :

Ironically (not really) it's some of the most bungling and sloppy coaches who were the first and most ardent converts to doing stuff on computer. Saves them having to write in the names again and again.

 

[flexmaster33]

No doubt...out this way...all our local schools have purchased software and automatic timing systems, so all I need to do is hit the press box before a meet and let them know I'm there and wanting a copy of results afterward.

Then I can go down on the field, look for the good stories of the day and know I have the nuts and bolts waiting for me on my way to the car. Sounds like this isn't the case in other parts of the country, and yes, that would stink.

 

[jeffersonfranklin]

Not a big fan of spring sports, period.

 

[slappy4428]

"Coach, if you don't have the times, then we can't take the results. It's our policy."
And Jeff, spring sports coaches are the worst. Period.

 

[Tarheel316]

Nothing worse in the call-taking world than track stats. Too many events. Too many names. And then just when you think you're done, the voice on the other line says, "And now for the girls' results ...."

On this, I absolutely concur.

 

[Mark2010]

I enjoy covering track live, but don't want anything to do with it over the phone.

No way in hell will I take this stuff over the phone. I'm nowhere near good enough of a typist and I have other things to do rather than being on the phone for half an hour at a time.

I tell coaches they need to email results. Easier for me to format, or even retype them, if necessary. In this day and agate, nearly everyone has access to a computer and many places actually have computer programs used to tabulate results.

Even if the results are in a different format than what I need, I'd prefer to retype them off a sheet in front of me than try to do it with one hanbd holding a telephone receiver.