[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally posted by refnrev
Last week I got a call from a coach/AD from a small school about 20 miles away asking about a date for an upcoming conference championship tourney. Seems at the first of the year they made a contract with a first year official who I've heard hasn't performed too well on the court. This coach/AD is a class act and has very little bad to say about anyone, but has caught lots of flack from parents, fans because of this guy's performance. This is a conference with very small rural schools and all they have are volleyball and basketball so their conference tourneys are real imprtant to these folks. The administration was going to cancel this guy's contract and wanted me to come.
I told her I had a 5/6 girls game(something I only do 2 or 3 of a year out of loyalty for schools that gave me games when I was first getting started) at a nearby school that night. I couldn't cancel but would be glad to switch with the other ref if he'd be willing to do so.
To make a long story longer, the principal called and explained to him that they needed someone with a little more experience for a conference championship tourney and that they had someone who would switch games with him. At first he agreed, then called the school back and told them he had a contract with them and he was coming.
I was surprised because I personally don't want to go to a school that I know doesn't want me or thinks I'm not ready.
Would you have offered the switch like I did, or do you think that was out of line? What would you have done if you were him?

The Coach/AD is not a class act. She told you she did not like the original official that she had contracted for the game and is giving you all of this information. Based upon that information alone I would have told the AD that I was not open. All you would have had to do is tell you are not available. Why not officiate the game? Even if you were open it would be unethical and unprofessiona for you take the place of an official to which the school still had a contractural obligation. The school felt it made a mistake hiring the official. The school may well have made a mistake, but the school first needs to take care of its obligation to the originally contracted official before looking for a new one.

MTD, Sr.