[DMRefGal]

I posted this on another thread, but it seems to fit better here, so I am copying it to here - rather long - sorry. I really didn't realize this was as big a problem as it is -- I started a thread on our local association website so that guilty parties may know what they cause by their untimely arrivals. As an aside, worked at the same gym tonight -- Freshman G/B -- many of the same fans, scorers, etc. AD told me V coach told him if AD saw me before he did to let me know I did a great job and no comments which he made were directed to me. Guess he was pretty upset that I might be upset (which I was). Hate it when you strive to gain coaches' confidence that you will work hard, call your best game, and be impartial and fair to both teams, and have it blemished by someone else or a horrible decision by management, tardy official, etc. Here is my previous post:

Larry, I had a similar situation, except everything went well until my partner showed up. (He told me later he had "spaced off" that he had a game.) Was working a sophomore boys game prior to B/G Varsity. Have worked many games for both coaches (my daughter graduated from one of the schools last year (H)). When it was apparent that my partner was not going to show, they both agreed that I would work the game myself and they would instruct their kids to "play clean". From the outset, it was a great game. Caught the reach ins on top got some fouls on rebounds and shots underneath. At the end of the half, had 9 fouls against one team, 8 against the other - V leading H by 16. When I got to the locker room, one of the varsity officials who I have worked many games with was there getting ready for the varsity game. He offered to do the second half with me. The AD went to the table with me with 3:00 left at half, told the coaches the V official would work, but we would have to wait a minute or two for him to finish dressing. Both coaches said they wanted me to finish the game alone, they liked the flow of the game, and I was doing a great job (missing a few things, but getting the good stuff). Halfway through the 3rd quarter, I am surprised to see a ref running onto the court and assuming the trail on a transition. I had never seen him before, and that in itself made me nervous. Kept trying to call the same game I had been calling, but he made a couple of "questionable" block-charge calls - the kids seemed to take the attitude that "now there are two, we can start to hammer each other" and the game went to he** after that. By the middle of the 4th quarter, H has closed up the score. A minute left, V takes a shot that bounces off the rim, hits the top of the backboard and comes down - V gets the rebound -- THEN P WHISTLES A VIOLATION -- I was sure the ball did not hit anything else although I was lead and was watching for contact under the basket, but there is nothing up there. H gets the ball, goes to the other end, passes it around and hits a 3 and wins the game!!! V coach was hot and as they entered the locker room yelled at the AD that they never should have let the other official on the floor, since they had already turned down the varsity official. H coach saw me as I was leaving and said I did a great job (of course, he won and shouldn't have and was happy). Did run into the V coach at a tourney the next weekend and he shook my hand and told me that nothing he said was directed towards me. I agonized over that game for several days, but felt better after having seen the V coach. I asked my assignor if I should have gone to the table at the first dead ball and talked to the AD and coaches since we had made the agreement at halftime (and they had passed up a good official), but he said that theoretically 2 officials are better than 1 (although it didn't seem that way that night).

Anyway -- to anyone who might be on here who shows up 5 minutes before time to take the floor or doesn't show up at all and makes your partner a wreck (and perhaps takes him or her out of his or her game before even walking on the court), please decide whether you really want to be an official -- if you don't, don't accept any more assignments -- if you do, take it seriously -- I do, the kids do, and the coaches and fans do also.

Sorry and thanks for letting me vent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!