We all become frustrated at times with the way things are run, officiating, etc. but...I offer the following thoughts. One, there are very few facilities that can comfortably host a tournament of this size. Money and availability become factors. Second I would welcome every club to go to the yearly planning meeting in October. This is where we vote on officers, tourney sites, etc. I was there and only one or two clubs is willing to host a tournament like this. Everyone wants to look at the faults, and yes there are some but very few are williing to put in the work to host a district tournament. As for officiating I was a referee for 8 yrs. and refereed at the high school state level as well as kids, and kids is by far more difficult. The same conditions that you have went to great lenghts to detail how terrible they were, effect the referees. I.E. people right in the mats, too close conditions, extremely long tournaments, etc.

I only ask that we realize that everyone is trying to provide for these kids, until you have hosted a tournament of this nature or refereed at this level you have no real understanding. Is it frustating, you bet! Were the conditions crowded, you bet! Were mistakes made, you bet! I only suggest that we all continue to try to make things better, and that if you really believe that you could do it better come to the meeting next October and volunteer.