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Old Tue Mar 15, 2016, 10:25pm
Raymond Raymond is offline
Courageous When Prudent
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Hampton Roads, VA
Posts: 14,845
Quote:
Originally Posted by crosscountry55 View Post
This is a sticky subject. That said, I can't speak for the VHSL state tournament this year because I didn't go. Locally, there have been only 2-3 women working boys varsity games in the last couple of years, and only a few games per season at that. This is a little disappointing to me, to be honest. I think more have the desire and ability; our board has a healthy number of female officials (I don't know the percentage but overall I think it's about 10%).

That said, I also have to think of this from the mindset of the assignor. Some obstacles will always be there....athleticism, poise, conviction to handle the ever-present sexism of some coaches, etc. Some women (many of them good officials) leave before they advance to varsity because other life priorities take precedence. And frankly some women move into the college women's ranks, and a college paycheck is better than a HS paycheck any day. Once you're doing a nice D3 or D2 women's schedule....and rightfully feeling validated by that....the desire to be validated by doing HS boys basketball may not be as strong anymore.

I don't think we have too many female officials in this forum (perhaps underscoring the issue), but if we do I'd love to hear if my thoughts are accurate or way off base.
My association up in Central VA sent 17 or 18 officials to the Final Four, and 7 crews to the quarter-finals, but not a single one of them was a woman.

Your association easily sent the most female officials to the quarter-final super sites.
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Last edited by Raymond; Tue Mar 15, 2016 at 10:27pm.
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