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Old Thu Aug 03, 2006, 01:36pm
RonRef RonRef is offline
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 266
Quote:
Originally Posted by smurf
Seriously Folks,

The officiating where I live has gotten to the point where it's really, really bad. Is there anything a parent/coach can do about it or do we just have to learn to tolerate it?

I know officials are people too, and it's a tough job, but they ARE being paid. We coaches are working for nothing. This past AAU season, it just seemed like the officiating was worse than ever. So far, summer league has been no better.

I'll never forget the game where the one official showed up 30 minutes late. We had scored and the ball was rolling around on the court. So one of our guys picked it up and handed it to their in-bounder. The late official blew his whistle and called us for delay of game. We learned a lesson there, but, I mean, come on, the kid's heart was in the right place. He was just trying to help.

One of my main pet peeves is the refusal of officials to enforce the written rules of the game. I know there's this whole "No harm, no foul" movement, but is it too much too expect officials to enforce the rules as written?

I don't understand why there is any interpretation allowed. It seems like, in any area of life, if you allow individuals to make their own interpretations of rules, all control goes right out the window.

Why, then, do some officials, for example, allow reaches, hand-checks, push-offs, etc. and some not. Why do some call travel on the first step without dribble and others on the second?

Maybe it's not as wide spread everywhere as it is in District 11, but it sure is bad here. Is it because PIAA is not adequately policing and evaluating their officials?

What can coaches, parents, and fans do about it? What is the right approach?
Smurf,

I think one of the problems you have is that a lot of the good offiicals may not work summer AAU games for various reasons. Parents, coaches, poor pay and other issues. Most of the time you might just get those officials that are just there to work 6 games in a row for the money. These AAU tourneys usually pay cash on the spot. Like in every vocation there are good ones and bad ones, and sometimes you maybe getting the young kid that is just starting to learn how to officiate.
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