[Rita C]

One of the schools has the locker room for the officials in a coaches office. Access is through the boys locker room. Game is at 5:45, I arrive at 4:45. Wrestling practice is done at 5:15. This is all in the fieldhouse, a separate building from the gymnasium but attached by a hallway. Wrestlers are gone by halftime.

Needless to say this has been a problem through the years for the female officials. I, personally, have been put in various other offices over the years. (At least four.)

Earlier this season I forgot about the wrestlers because there was no one in the fieldhouse when I arrived. I went straight back to the room and got ready. By the time we were done with pregame, the wrestlers were in the locker room taking showers. My partners made sure they were decent and I went through with my hands as blinders. (The boys loved it. "HEY MISS RITA! WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE!)

The next time I arrived at the school, the site administrator told me the coaches said I had to move to another office. They put me and the other female ref in an office just off the main floor of the main gym. We had to send messengers in to let our partners know that we were there and waiting. And then we wait and wait until the men finally emerge. (My partners came out so late that there were only 8 minutes on the clock when we got on the floor. No pregame.)

The next time I came was a Saturday. No wrestlers. I started to go back to the usual area. One of the basketball coaches came in. In a most ungracious manner, he informed the site manager that I was not to go back there. I was to go to the other office. The site administrator protested, "But there's no wrestlers today!" The coach continued, "Doesn't matter. This is for boys only!"

So this time, I asked the site administrator to let my one male partner know where we were and let him find us, rather than wait outside the locker room door.

One night the varsity officials used "our" room for halftime. They liked being able to watch the clock through the door rather than rely on the site administrator to come let them know when it was almost time to be back on the floor.

I suggested to the school athletic director that this could be an option offered to the officials. That the varsity officials might like to use that room and be able to watch the clock themselves. Her response was, "We want them in the other building so that we don't have to worry about the fans getting to them."

Hello? I guess this doesn't matter if you are a female official? Huh?

Am I out of line in thinking that they should try to find a joint room for all of us? I really feel that these darn female officials are such a pain in the neck for them, that we are an anomaly they will deal with on a case by case basis.

Just venting. And yes, I have been communicating the issue with my assignor.

Rita