At what point...

[packersowner]

I come to realize this forum is part improving rules/mechanics knowledge, part therapy. This one might be mostly therapy.

I worked with a guy last weekend who is a good official, nice guy, and does a good job, but our chemistry on the court is bad. I feel like we are seeing two different games. Because of how our games are assigned, I only work with him 2 - 3 times a year. I walk away frustrated every time. This past weekend, I finally said him, "Hey Bob, listen you're good official, you call a good game, I recognize you are wanting to move up the ranks. I am not here to hold you back, I do this for the camaraderie and being involved in the game. I'll work hard tonight to do a good job." His response, "Yep, lets have a good game." After the game, we always post game and while he never complains about his partners or calls, I feel the tension.

I feel like no matter what, we just won't be in synch with one another. At what point do I ask our assignor to remove me with the idea that its not personal, just better for the schools if we don't work together? I'm old enough to realize that in life, everything isn't perfect. At the same time I recognize that this isn't ultimately good for our crew or the teams we officiate.

[BryanV21]

I think it's great that you recognize that your partnership with this guy is a detriment to the game. It sounds like you should let the assignor know right away. I don't think you should be removed, just make sure that you two no longer work games together.

Officiating should not be a burden. We don't make nearly enough money to go into a game feeling like "damn, I don't want to do this".

Hopefully you have an assignor that doesn't see this in a negative way.

[ODog]

Just block him. You'll never get another game with him, he'll be none the wiser and your assignor may even be none the wiser.

[SC Official]

Originally Posted by ODog

Just block him. You'll never get another game with him, he'll be none the wiser and your assignor may even be none the wiser.

You do realize that many (most?) assigners don't just allow officials to block partners no questions asked, right?

[Multiple Sports]

Pack,

As a hs assigner I would suggest that you NOT BLOCK partners. This is high school athletics and if you begin to BLOCK partners, you can come across as a bit high maintenance. If you feel things aren't clicking and it makes you feel uncomfortable, then have a conversation with your assigner. I'm sure he will listen and appreciate your concerns as opposed to you just blocking him in the arbiter.

[Danvrapp]

Originally Posted by ODog

Just block him. You'll never get another game with him, he'll be none the wiser and your assignor may even be none the wiser.

Does anyone know...if an official blocks a partner/team/site who--if anyone--sees it? Or, when the assignor tries to assign that official to a specific site or with a specific partner, does Arbiter just splash some type of notification that something was blocked?

Just curious...

[SC Official]

Originally Posted by Danvrapp

Does anyone know...if an official blocks a partner/team/site who--if anyone--sees it? Or, when the assignor tries to assign that official to a specific site or with a specific partner, does Arbiter just splash some type of notification that something was blocked?

Just curious...

Assigners control that functionality on Arbiter. They can change the settings to allow or not allow those types of blocks.

[Danvrapp]

Originally Posted by SC Official

Assigners control that functionality on Arbiter. They can change the settings to allow or not allow those types of blocks.

Right, but if I block some official or some place, does the assignor know who blocked whom or is there a more general message to the effect of "one of these officials is unable to be assigned to this game..."

[griblets]

Communicated like this, how could any assigner not respect your concerns? It gives him/her information needed to make good decisions going forward. And if the assigned with that partner again, I'd make the best of it, knowing that my concerns were heard.

Good luck!

[LRZ]

I am curious: what is the source of the tension? A difference in how tight or loose to call games?

[HokiePaul]

Originally Posted by LRZ

I am curious: what is the source of the tension? A difference in how tight or loose to call games?

That was my question too. The statement "I recognize you are wanting to move up the ranks. I am not here to hold you back, I do this for the camaraderie and being involved in the game." makes me wonder what part of your normal approach is so out of the ordinary that it would hold someone back?

[packersowner]

Originally Posted by HokiePaul

That was my question too. The statement "I recognize you are wanting to move up the ranks. I am not here to hold you back, I do this for the camaraderie and being involved in the game." makes me wonder what part of your normal approach is so out of the ordinary that it would hold someone back?

Appreciate all of the feedback thus far.

In the past he has made comments such as "I'm working on moving up to the next level, high school games are a way for me to get exposure." "We have to do a good job as a crew, we get rated by officials as a group." "Did you like your call on X play? I thought you missed it, those are the kinds of things that for me I have to get right."

We have a number of officials who see high school basketball as a stepping stone. I am okay with that, they have different ambitions in life. I married a pretty girl, have a family and a good career. Basketball is my escape from my boss wanting my TPS reports done sooner. Its 32 minutes on the court, but we all know that if you are invested in it, its pre-game and post game time with our partners. And I spend the majority of my travel to and from games mentally preparing or reviewing. So to JRuts comment, I think its more than just a difference of calls in those 32 minutes.

[LRZ]

Originally Posted by packersowner

In the past he has made comments such as "I'm working on moving up to the next level, high school games are a way for me to get exposure." "We have to do a good job as a crew, we get rated by officials as a group." "Did you like your call on X play? I thought you missed it, those are the kinds of things that for me I have to get right."

OK, now I think I get it--he's passive-aggressively questioning your judgment. I work with some officials like that. I generally can ignore the tacit criticism.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by packersowner

We have a number of officials who see high school basketball as a stepping stone. I am okay with that, they have different ambitions in life. I married a pretty girl, have a family and a good career. Basketball is my escape from my boss wanting my TPS reports done sooner. Its 32 minutes on the court, but we all know that if you are invested in it, its pre-game and post-game time with our partners. And I spend the majority of my travel to and from games mentally preparing or reviewing. So to JRuts comment, I think its more than just a difference of calls in those 32 minutes.

Again, I get it on some level. But if you are only working with a person 2 or 3 times a year, that is not very many times. And even if you pre-game or post-game with someone, that again is not very much time. Actually, I am probably with a person on a varsity game only about a couple of hours that night. In your OP, you did not describe any of the other comments. That is why I was confused what the issue was.

We all have personality conflicts. We all have bad experiences. Kind of comes with the territory. We are dealing with people and people do not always see eye to eye on many things.

I guess if you want to block him, then do that. If you have the ability to do that, then click the button or make the call to make that happen. I just think sometimes that is an extreme way to deal with people that if you do this long enough will be many more people you will not want to work with. Just get through it and go home or like Mick used to say, "Get in, Get Done and Get out." How many games are you working a year and 2 or 3 times are that bad you cannot work less than probably 5 percent of your schedule?

Peace

[ODog]

Some people are just douches and life is too short. Block them. No apologies or explanation necessary. There are many officials and many games. Life will go on for you and for your assignor without you having to do a game with a blocked individual.

And you won't be missing out on anything, because any game this individual(s) does, you wouldn't want to have done with him anyway.

Block ... him.

If your assignor offers the option, take it. If there's a limit to the number of partners you can block, block right up to that limit. You can avoid A LOT of cringing, dread and train-wreck games with weak/obstinate/douche partners this way.

You'll enjoy your seasons a lot more knowing that you'll never get games with these people. Trust me.