The many goals set by the UIL each year are based on providing high quality service to member schools. Bringing comprehensive programs to students is an exciting but ever-challenging task for local schools. The logistics of staffing, training, transporting, certifying and accommodating student participants is a remarkable achievement.
All the hard work, attention to detail and commitment by dedicated professionals sometimes goes unnoticed or — in some schools — is taken for granted. It is significant that thousands of directors, coaches and sponsors continue to operate in a selfless manner. For them, the intrinsic values of seeing young people grow and mature far outshine monetary compensation.
At the UIL we will work harder to provide prompt and accurate response to inquiries from the schools and the public. This includes a professional attitude by our staff to the occasional complaints we receive. Our conversations will inform how rules can be changed as well as the logic of why they must be enforced. Our web-site will be updated and improved so most information about the UIL will be available. Equally important is for parents and public to have access to the same information. The more knowledgeable these individuals are, the more apparent becomes the mission of your organization — the UIL.
We hope they can appreciate, if not always agree with, the process of rule-making and enforcement — why rules are necessary, and why penalty enforcement is a must. It will help them know that rules are constantly evolving to meet the needs of equitable competition. They will be surprised to learn that almost every rule has exceptions or redemption facets, and that all penalties do not necessarily result in forfeiture or ineligibility. Our wish is that the public will see the spirit behind the structure and the abiding purpose of equitable competition. In a society that shows abundant bias toward the powerful and wealthy, it is important that UIL rules apply uniformly to the privileged and unprivileged. Our goals for music include, but are not limited to, the important balance between music education and performance.
The lifelong value and appreciation of music is not confined to ranking and winning but includes a blend of individual skills and discoveries mixed with larger group participation. Just as in non-music activities, there must be achievement and importance attached to effort and non-winning conditions. Participating in music competition, as well as in athletics, can become a negative experience without proper direction, balance and philosophy. The UIL music program is under superb leadership with ongoing review and vision.
Athletic programs have more rules than any area of our sponsorship — eligibility, playing, penalties and, sadly, more over-emphasis on students specializing in one sport. Coaches aren’t leading this movement, parents are. And club coaches are fueling this fire. There is so much non-school play that school seasons are becoming less significant. With year-round play, other issues emerge, many of them dealing with safety. The athletic staff at UIL is doing a marvelous job with the Medical Advisory Committee to study the implications of injuries, the impact of environmental factors, and precautions for added safety. Scrutiny on athletics has grown from simple emphasis on football to the entire range of athletic endeavor. Texas is determined to lead the nation in its efforts to make athletics safer for current and future athletes.
Emphasis on elementary and junior high academic activities remains a strong goal this year, especially in areas of the state which traditionally have had little or no participation. Why this emphasis? Because we know there is genuine interest and unrealized talent in those schools. There are too many youngsters who have not had the opportunity to discover an interest in self-expression, and if they do not have the opportunity in their adolescent years, the chance may never come. This is not a farm system for the high schools. It is a program with significant merit of its own.
One of the strongest aspects of your UIL programs is the many regional competitions in academics and athletics. Yet these competitions remain a continuing problem for some schools. Never a year passes without a major error or omission at regional events. Our challenge is to connect the superintendents of schools with the regional directors so provisions for proper scheduling, judging and officiating will be in place. Regional directors will welcome the expertise and help. It will be far better to plan in advance than to culminate regional meets with bitterness and protest. By the way, most of the college faculty provide their services free or without significant remuneration.The schools they serve need to show better appreciation.
We hope to have an electronic reporting system for entry and reporting results in place this year for academic events and immediately thereafter for athletics. This will expedite a smoother administration of all regional meets. Our staff will generate better state meets — not totally problem-free, but better each year. You can help us by telling us what we need to do better. Pats on the back are always appreciated, but we also need your critique.
Officials will never be perfect. Theirs is a journey of controversy, emotion and conflict. I think they are better than ever but also under fire more than ever before. We intend to work with you and the Texas Association of Sports Officials to recruit more officials. Dr. Charles Breithaupt has made it a priority and has the support of TASO in all sports, to push hard for improved officiating. The TADA (Texas Athletic Directors Association) is working with the coaches associations to improve officiating and conditions for officials. This is one of our most critical projects.
Finally, the most important condition that must be on everybody’s mind: the economy. Schools are in a financial crisis. In 2003-2004 the grandest task for school administrators will be to maintain a meaningful school budget. They are to be commended for saving most activities from major cuts. Unfortunately, the economic situation for many schools will be worse in 2004-2005. The legislature can offer relief during the next session, but that’s two years away. What can we do to help assure meaningful funding? The Legislative Council in October will have critical discussions with intent on preserving extracurricular experiences. We can look at other states with similar problems and learn some helpful tips. We can also learn which strategies have backfired. Working together will be the key. That tactic has seen good track records before. Our parents and grandparents found a way in war and depression. Our problems pale when compared to theirs. Just like my dad told me once when I was fretting about him losing his job. “Son, we’ll work through this. Right now, you just make your grades and behave. That’s your job. I’ll figure out mine.”
I did, and he did!