I love this article linked below and I will happily summarize it as briefly as I can. Avoid using the word “shall” in your drafting. I can’t even count how many times I’ve had to sit through arguments about what “shall” means. Half of the world seems to think it is permissive and the other …
Author Archives: michaelpgibbonscomcastnet
Play the Game 2022 Conference
Attending and speaking at the Play the Game 2022 conference in Odense, Denmark was a great experience! I had the opportunity to speak with and hear from people from all over the world on topics like sports integrity and good governance. I look forward to continuing these discussions after the conference has ended. Anyone interested …
Where Have All the Youth Sports Officials Gone?
April 15, 2022 Abusive behavior is contributing to a steep decline in the nation’s youth and high school sports-officiating ranks. April 15, 2022 The article by Global Sport Matters linked here is yet another one dealing with the shortage in people who are willing to serve as officials at youth contests. This shortage has led …
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FREESTYLE ISN’T FREE
April 2, 2022 The trouble in the medley rule when it comes to freestyle is that the rules that apply to freestyle don’t apply to freestyle in medley. April 2, 2022 Warning: Retired swim meet stroke & turn official rant ahead! When I first trained to be a S&T official the requirements of Freestyle were …
ISL Season 4 On Hold
March 27, 2022 Facing this situation, and given that most of the ISL’s financing originates from Ukraine, we cannot in good faith commit to hosting any commercial matches in 2022. As such, we have made the difficult decision to postpone Season 4 to 2023. March 27, 2022 As a bit of a follow up on …
Minnesota Considers Legislation to Curb Unruly Fan Behavior
March 23, 2022 What’s not OK is when fans use verbal threats, profanities, vulgarities or racial epithets toward officials or players, throw things at them, or get physical with them. March 23, 2022 As a former deck official at swim meets, this article really caught my attention. I have never personally encountered such ill behavior …
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IRS Targets Poor, Lets Rich Slide
March 14, 2022 The figures show that the lowest-income wage earners, defined as those eligible for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, were audited at a rate of 13 per 1,000 returns in 2021. For everyone else, the rate was 2.6 per 1,000 returns. March 14, 2022 The Internal Revenue Service is broken. This isn’t …
International Swimmers’ Alliance Calls for Meaningful Dialogue
February 23, 2022 “Schedule is unsustainable”. February 23, 2022 As the world of swimming continues to evolve and the competition landscape moves and shifts, it is essential that those doing the competing have more say in the schedule of competitions. This statement from the International Swimmers’ Alliance (disclosure: I am a non-athlete Board Member working …
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More Resignations and Shock at IAHS
February 11, 2022 Critics have claimed the Cahill family has far too much control of the society, that mismanagement had occurred, and that a thorough investigation of the non-profit was warranted. February 11, 2022 The latest installment of the saga of the American Irish Historical Society is a bit out left field. (Baseball metaphor intended.) …
NBC Talks about China’s Issues, sort of…
February 4, 2022 Journalist Andy Browne, one of NBC’s China experts, called it “the most sensitive issue” of the Olympics. February 4, 2022 I watched the Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony. I was interested in seeing how NBC would address the multiple political concerns that have been raised with China hosting. During the ceremony, I …