First, I understand why the KHSAA is doing what they are doing. There has long been a question on who has post-game jurisdiction -- the schools, the refs, or the KHSAA. The KHSAA wanted to make it clear that it is up to the schools to police what goes on after the game, and in most cases, the schools do this. If the KHSAA tells schools to police what happens after the game and that they aren't liable, they are hoping to not be included on the defendant line of a lawsuit when a player gets injured in a fight or when the ACLU sues for a postgame prayer. That part I understand.

 

But don't put out a poorly worded statement that 'directs' schools to no longer have postgame handshakes and when the firestorm comes down, blame social media and regular media for jumping to conclusions over your poorly worded statement.

 

In my world, when my superior issues me a directive, I do it. There aren't any exceptions, unless I want to be sanctioned later. A directive is an instruction or guideline that indicates how to perform an action or reach a goal. When the KHSAA issues a 'directive', I'm thinking he wants you to do it.

 

But don't call out media members on Twitter because they aren't reporting the message the way you intended.

 

Don't tell a state lawmaker that your definition of 'directive' means 'prescription', because people called you out on your statement

 

-- "directive" meaning "prescription" as in fixing problem. If they don't have people to supervise, prescription is don't do it. -- Julian Tackett in a tweet to Rep. Jeff Hoover.

 

 

I think the hastily worded "directive" was put into place in order to precede the district and region soccer tournaments that begin next week.

 

Again, I understand why this was done. But to use a sports analogy, it was poorly executed. And now that people have come out questioning it, the finger-pointing has begun.

 

Just step up and say "This is what should have been said and here is why." And don't give us the "If you had bothered to read the whole thing" disclaimer when you change the link to the updated statement.

 

In essence, I wasn't wrong. The KHSAA did ban postgame handshakes. But they said the schools can opt to have them. So in my eyes, it's the schools that choose to have postgame handshakes because the KHSAA has said not to have them.

 

I understand your point of view on the word directive. Just like you, in my old job a directive meant you did it no questions asked. However, even in the original press release this bullet point was a part of it:

 

• If the decision is made to ignore this directive and participate in some form of organized postgame handshake line/handshake against this recommendation, it is the expressed responsibility of game management and the coaches and administration of the teams to supervise the activity, to report to the KHSAA any incidents that occur.
  

In other words, the KHSAA also called it a recommendation and stated the schools are free to do whatever the see fit.

Should never have said directive and then called it a recommendation

:idunno:So, are we shaking or not? Is it up to the school or not? What the heck, should I stay or should I go?

:idunno:So' date=' are we shaking or not? Is it up to the school or not? What the heck, should I stay or should I go?[/quote']

 

If you stay it will be trouble....if you go it will be double.

As a former FIFA Soccer referee we were in charge from the opening warmups to the final handshake ,and penalties issued during that time would be upheld by the KHSAA . We were not to turn our backs on the teams until they left the area of the field . Parking lots included .

 

WOW!!! They haven't done this kind of stuff for over 20 yrs.

 

That's just down right "old school"....most certainly the right thing to do but old school..LOL

Sooooooooo, do the two coaches of each game meet before the game and say, "hey since we like each other and we know we can handle our programs and we know we are not a bunch of punks, I plan on shaking hands at the end of the game, agreed"

 

I have a feeling this will take place more times than not, just to show the punks and thugs that started this whole thing that they are not going to win, sorta like our whole terrorist thingy, if you crawl into your bomb shelter every time somebody screams bomb then you are going to miss out on alot of nothing. Just sayin

Julian should have simply stated, "I made a mistake in the wording of my original statement. I should have said 'recomendation' instead of using the word 'directive'. Sorry for the misunderstanding. As they say in sports, ''my bad."

 

That way there's no finger pointing, accusations, or blame game. The commissioner comes out of it looking a little better and still gets the proper message to the member schools and the media.

Julian should have simply stated, "I made a mistake in the wording of my original statement. I should have said 'recomendation' instead of using the word 'directive'. Sorry for the misunderstanding. As they say in sports, ''my bad."

 

That way there's no finger pointing, accusations, or blame game. The commissioner comes out of it looking a little better and still gets the proper message to the member schools and the media.

 

We do live in a society of forgiveness, just got to ask for it....LOL

 

However, asking for forgiveness can be a real ego killer and embarrassing moment for folks in high positions...:thumb:

It is a shame that we have an administering body that is in charge of children and the adults who guide children that feels as though its primary objective is to protect itself from legal liability of the actions that can occur due to the competitive natures of its parties of jurisdiction. Rather than create a program and plan to help promotion and education of proper behaviors, it washes its hands of the matter and says, "Y'all figure it out."