Quote:
Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee
They should be horse-whipped.
Horse-whipped, I tell ya!!
How come nobody ever says somebody should be cow-whipped? Or poodle-whipped? I've spent many hours pondering that question. Many, many hours. Almost as many as the number of hours I've spent not worrying if somebody got an OOB call right but didn't point exactly by the manual.
Gnu-whipped?  |
I'm glad you left those poor beavers off your list. I don't know if I could take another mental image of a beaver gettin' whipped.
You know, this is one argument I actually agree with both of you.
Nah, I'm not running for political office, but there really is validity on both sides. First, I agree with you that getting the call right is the most important thing. I even had one supervisor tell me the story about how he was marked down on an evaluation once because he didn't have his thumb tucked in properly when he pointed! And, no mention was given as to whether any of his calls were correct. Since then, when he observes officials, his most important criteria is whether the calls are correct.
There is also a reason we have a specific set of signals and mechanics, so we can effectively communicate with players and coaches, no matter where we are, or what gym we work. Plus, the better we look, the more likely we will be perceived as professional and that we know what we're doing. If I work with an official that is sloppy with their mechanics, how do I know they aren't sloppy with their rules knowledge as well? If they don't want to take the time to learn the proper areas of coverage and signals, chances are they aren't going to know some of the rule basics as well.
That said, if I work with an official for the first time who steps into the circle saying, "Red this way, white that way", chances are they probably also just got there 10 minutes before, already wearing their collared shirt and belted pants, and I know I'm going to have issues all game. But if I work with someone for the first time who got there early, had a good pregame, looks sharp, shoes shined, then steps into the circle and says the same thing - I'm not going to think twice about it.
Procedures, signals, and mechanics are all part of the total picture, along with rules and judgement.