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I am an intramural official.
I am also the sports editor of my university's newspaper.
Looking at this column from both ends, this guy is a moron he doesn't understand officiating and his journalistic skills leave much to be desired. He is correct about a good number of intramural officials being relatively incompetent, but he didn't make a very strong argument in his column. He didn't bother to take the time to go see how officials are trained, what the pay is, the crap they put up with every night...and he never mentions that there are a few decent officials on the floor.
At my university, beginning pay for a referee is $5.50 per game, usually 3 games per night in basketball (4 per night in flag football). I think it goes up a little depending on how many years you work, not completely sure.
Basketball training included a 1-hour rules meeting on Monday, a 1-hour mechanics clinic on Tuesday, and a preseason tournament on Friday. The season started the following Monday. It is nearly impossible for new officials that have never put a whistle in their mouths to become the best in the world in that time span.
So yeah, Mr. NC State columnist. There are some lemons out there officiating intramurals. But it looks like there's at least one on the campus newspaper staff, too.
That said I have worked with some officials this year that still have no clue. Just last night, I worked with a guy that doesn't understand that you have to blow your whistle any time there is a foul, violation, time-out, etc. And when he did blow it, I couldn't hear it. And it's not like it was some loud arena, either. I told him about it at halftime, and he said "My whistle has a crack in it." Yeah, so does mine. But you can still hear it if you blow hard!
Got me in trouble on a play last night. Apparently he called a foul on the defense near the top of the key, but no one the players or me heard the whistle. Kid drives to the basket, runs over the defender, I call the charge. He runs over to me, saying, "I already called a foul." Really? I didn't hear a whistle or see a fist in the air.
Night before, same guy. I look up one time, and he's on the same side of the court as me (2-man). How, after four weeks, did this guy not understand that you are always opposite your partner? "I felt like I needed to be on the side the ball was on." Wow.
I know he was trained better than this because I went through the same training. But what can you do about a guy that simply doesn't get it and doesn't care? We're hurting for officials anyway, so firing him really isn't an option. You try to tell him what he's doing wrong, but he doesn't care. And the players are all over you because it's so bad. Not good times.
Only one more week of regular season, then the playoffs start (I have the men's championship game, 3-man crew for that). Soon it will all be over, thank the Good Lord.
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