Frustrated
 

First, sorry for the length of the post. I am getting up there in years compared to most of the officials in our association. As some of you may know, I had to take several years off for health reasons and last season was my first season back. The schedule was about what I expected last year but I did have a few games in, what many in my association would call, the good category. I try to keep my expectations realistic. I am overweight as a result of the health issues and years of having extreme limits on my physical activity but since I was cleared to resume officiating I have lost about half the weight I need to lose and am still losing.

During the off season I attended numerous camps and the majority of the feedback was positive. The most consistent negative comments my lack of athletic appearance and needing to get faster. Face it, like many will never be 6’-6”, I will never be fleet of foot. However I constantly hear I make the calls that need to be made so apparently I have learned to compensate for the lack of speed by getting a good look when “getting beat”.

At my last camp my assignor was there and we visited for a while. I told him that I understood it was in his, and the associations, best interest to put the best officials possible in every game and that if I was not happy with my schedule I only needed to look in the mirror. Then I asked “What two or three things do I need to improve in order for it to be possible for you to give me a better schedule?” He assured me he had no problem with me and that I was on the list of people he wanted to watch during the camp. He also said that he was concerned last year about my return and wanted to see how it went. I noticed him sitting next to the clinician during two of my three games at the camp. In both those games I got rave reviews from the clinician (one that has known me for years even said it was the best work he had ever seen from me).

At our first association meeting the assignor called about 15 names and had those people stand, then told them their ratings had increased because of what they showed at camp. I was not one of them but all of them were young and I figured it was just his way of encouraging newer officials.

Today the first wave of game assignments were released and despite my disappointment I accepted all the games. Honestly, this first wave is “worse” than the first wave last year. I can keep losing weight and keep working out so even after two fast paced boys games I am still “keeping up” as well as others. However, I cannot get younger and cannot get that much faster.

I will see how the remainder of the year’s schedule ends up but if this is an indication I may have to do a re-evaluation at the end of the year. I love officiating…but I have little, if any, desire to leave work early and drive all over a major metropolitan area to work these types of games.

Sorry…just needed to vent.

I wouldn't get discouraged so soon...there are only so many "good" games, and most of the time an excess of referees that truly deserve them. I myself am a younger official so each season I feel I have improved drastically, and I remember being very disappointed at the first "wave" last season. By the end I had achieved an improved schedule over the prior year, which is all I could ask for. Sounds like you've put in some good work....don't worry that the fouls are 6-1 against your team right now, they always even out by the end of the game!

The Picture of Dorian Gray ...
 

You can't get younger, but you can lose the rest of the weight that you wanted to lose. Keep a positive attitude. The kids, and coaches, in those "B" games, will appreciate a good "A" official.

Some of the best games I've ever worked were games that other officials thought were 'beneath them'

Dont let other people's classification of the game determine your level of enjoyment, enthusiasm or effort. For you, it is the best game of the night.

I frequently find myself in your position, except it's because of moving (due to military obligations) rather than injury. Regardless, the lip service paid by assignors during the summer versus the schedule you ultimately get....well, it just sucks. No way to sugar coat it. One day I hope that an assignor will just be honest with me when I'm the new guy and say:

"Hey, new guy, you're pretty good but there are board rules and/or hierarchical sensitivities that leave you with a 0% chance of a varsity schedule unless you can provide proof of a collegiate schedule. Any questions? Oh, and I like your shoes."

In any case, I've come to realize I have no control over my schedule outside of the product I put on the court. So I put the best product out there that I can every time, regardless of level. And I have fun doing it. Most epic game I ever worked was a varsity game, but #'s 2, 3, 4 and 5 on my all time list were 8th grade/frosh/JV/5th grade (AAU). Lots more varsity games that I don't remember nearly as well.

It's all about the lens you view your assignment through. If it's fun, keep doing it. When it's not fun anymore, that's ok, but stop doing it.

Without seeing you work and compare you to others, really hard to know what is the issue. But it is not uncommon to feel you are better than what others perceive you to be. Also this thing comes with some disappointment on many levels. The best thing I can tell you is to keep working and wait for the entire schedule to come out. Maybe, just maybe that is the worst of the assignments. You also never know until you work the games anyway. Ultimately be patient if it is this year or next.

Peace

Well said Billy. We need a 'like' button!

There have been studies that show approximately 80% of people in a given area believe they are above average. In some areas, like sports, that number is likely higher. That means at least 30% of the officials are certainly wrong. They're in the wrong half. And it really suggests even more overestimate their abilities because just putting yourself in the right half doesn't mean a person puts themselves at the right point in the right half...they would tend to overestimate that too.

You must do not work many of those games. ;)

Peace

A Prairie Home Companion ...
 

"Well, that's the news from Lake Wobegon, where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average." (Garrison Keillor)

Where's that "like" button? :)

That contest is the most important one of the night for those athletes, those coaches, those parents, and those fans. They deserve my best effort.

Not always true, but we often say this on some level. I have had coaches at the lower level in multiple sports not want to treat these levels as the same as the higher levels for multiple reasons. Often times lower level ball is a place where kids will never play beyond that level. There are coaches that know this and even want officials to not enforce certain rules or make accommodations because it is not that "serious." We should give our best effort, but let us not act like every level is treated the same. This to me is about as silly of a statement as when we say, "We do this for the kids" when we are working games.

Peace

Have to admit, it's times like these I'm glad I live where each league has its own assigner. Cause one of the assigners here doesn't really care for me that much and I'd hate for my schedule to be dictated entirely based on his whims.

I've given up the whole "have to work the best games each night" mentality. In about 2009, I worked the "game of the century" as they called it on the local news. A season later, nobody remembers that game, let alone who worked it. It just doesn't matter in the end.

I work good games, average games, awful games. As long as my game starts at 7:30PM, there's a pep band, and the anthem is played, I'm happy. Oh, and 3-person crew.....I don't work 2-person anymore.

In my state, all varsity games are assigned out of the Columbia SCHSL office based on your rating and rating alone. We're only allowed two nights of varsity per week (almost always doubleheaders, girls then boys). We get all our sub-varsity assignments from our district director. The only way to get "better" varsity assignments is to get better ratings from your peers, do better on the exam, and get full experience points by staying in the league for five years.

I give my best effort, but oh how I wish I wouldn't have to work girls basketball.

That is the worst system I've ever heard of.

How does a statement that they deserve my best effort become "every level should be treated the same"?

I hate this phrase too. But, I didn't say either of these things.

It is certainly not ideal from my perspective. However, I as well as many other officials also work with the SC Independent School Association (SCISA), which has its own officials association and its own method of assigning games, more based on merit and actually being a good official than on a number. Sometimes the SCHSL gets mad at us for taking assignments in SCISA and having to block certain dates in Arbiter–I thought we were independent contractors. :rolleyes:

Off-topic, but I am surprised how many independent associations are still out there. Two years after I left Wisconsin to go to college, the old WISAA folded and merged with the WIAA. At the time I was told we were the second-to-last state to still have an independent schools league. I now know that whoever told me that was full of bologna. Seems like more than half of the eastern seaboard states still have independent leagues. The question is.....why? Why did mergers occur everywhere west of the Appalachans, but not so much on the east coast?

Yup. Can only work 2 nights a week -- that's complete bologna and restraint of trade.

To the OP, there a few other things you might consider as well:

1. Is there possibly an ulterior motive behind the assignments? For example, are you being assigned with newer officials that could benefit from your experience? Are you being assigned to games that where the product isn't particularly pretty because other less experienced officials have failed to manage the game properly. Even if the reason you're getting these games isn't obvious, look for something adds a little more of a challenge for you.

2. Is you assignor possibly still concerned about your health? You mentioned that your assignor expressed concern when you returned last year, but I couldn't ascertain if you meant he was concerned about your performance or health. You said he assured you he didn't have a problem with you, but that doesn't indicate to me that his concern has gone away either. If his concern is about your health, he may still worry that higher level games, which can be faster paced, may be too much for you. His motivation may not be to hold you out of those games due to a lack of speed, but for fear of how your health might be impacted. If there is any chance that is the case, I'd recommend discussing that with him and being as open as you can with him about your health status. It may be that simple, or he may be concerned enough to want some kind of a statement from your doctor.

3. Lastly, there is simply the issue of maybe other guys have improved to the point of surpassing your skill level. This doesn't mean you are suddenly a bad official. From a statistics perspective, if you take a group people with IQs ranging from 115 to 145, the people with IQs between 115-130 will be the dummies of the group. Mix this group back into the general population where the 115-130 range is a standard deviation from the normal range, and these people are once again on the top end of the scale. If your assignor identified 15 guys that improved their ratings from the previous year, it is possible they've earned the opportunity to get those games. It doesn't mean you aren't still a good official or that you are being held back by your age, weight or speed.

I'll leave you with this last thought...the only way you'll ever get an honest understanding of what is going on is by talking with your assignor. The key to that conversation though is to go into it with pure intentions. If you go into it with the belief that you are being discriminated against because of size, weight or age, that bias will shape the conversation. Ask your assignor if you can schedule some time to talk (face to face is best), let him know what you perceive and how you feel (don't blame, just explain) and then give your assignor an opportunity to respond. Listen with an open mind and be prepared to acknowledge and accept that he may see the situation differently because each of you have different perspectives on the matter because you are invested differently. After hearing him out, you can explain the change you'd like to see (e.g. you being assigned to higher level games or better communication on why you're getting assigned certain games) and then ask him what you can do to help make that happen.

I appears as some may have misunderstood or I did a really poor job in expressing my frustration...probably the later.

I have no thoughts that I am a great official. I am not the best in the chapter but I am certainly not the worse. When I spoke with the assignor I made it very clear I took responsibility for the games on my schedule but he just would not mention things he thought I needed to improve, even after I asked three times. The only things he said were (1) Look around, lots of young slender guys (2) I looked better with the weight loss and looked like I feel better (3) He had no issues with my mechanics or rules knowledge and (4) I was one of the people he wanted to see work. At this point I cannot change his perception of me for this season...just the way it is.

I never said any game was beneath me. In the last year I have worked games for 1st grade boys and girls up to HS varsity level in select tournaments. In every one I do the best I can in that game. Like everyone, some are better than others. I will go work a freshmen girls game between two schools that...well suck...but don't tell me all the games are the same...especially when there are twice as many people on the court as there are in the stands (parents and students).

Since I did not work with any newer officials last year I seriously doubt that is the "motive" behind my schedule and without a doubt others have passed my skill level...just like officials above my skill level retired or moved to strictly college.

Lastly, I know every game at every level deserves a crew of good officials who are working hard. In my opinion, officials typically work the lower level games to improve so they can get a better schedule. When that is no longer happening...well, decisions need to be made.

I will work every game I am given and do my best. When the season is over I will evaluate the schedule and compare it to last year. If things are the same then I just need to decide if I enjoy it enough to do those games the rest of my officiating life. If the answer is yes I renew my membership, if the answer is no I burn the clothes and find something else to do with my time.

One thing I will no longer do is "raise my hand" when there is an urgent need to fill a spot. I have done that in many, many times in the past to help out and (honestly) just in case my name appears on a list of possible officials of basically the same skill for a game and he sees it and thinks "He jumped to my aid several times, I'll give it to him". Either that never happens or I am a schmuck.

I can tell you for certain that GA, SC, NC, and VA all have independent school associations. SCISA has its own officials association, unlike the other three states which, I believe, use the associations that the respective public school leagues use (don't quote me on that).

I don't see a merger happening in South Carolina anytime soon for a couple simple reasons. (1) The smaller public schools do not want to compete against the larger private schools, which they would given the SCHSL setup. (2) The smaller private schools do not want to compete with public schools with exponentially larger student bodies. (3) There's never really been even an allusion to the idea.

It is ridiculous, however, for what it's worth, that is only applicable for varsity assignments. There's no limit on the number of sub-varsity we can work; problem is, typically the sub-varsity games are for the officials that aren't rated high enough to get varsity games. Additionally, sub-varsity is 2-man statewide.

The solution to get more varsity games is to work in SCISA. But the SCHSL/SCBOA whines and has tried to discourage officials in the past from blocking dates or declining games for the purpose of working in other leagues. That, in my opinion, is what's truly ridiculous about the system–officials get threatened with losing assignments and rating points for working in other leagues.

As I said earlier, most of our assignments in this state are girls/boys doubleheaders. I get jealous whenever I read about someone on this forum who doesn't have to work girls basketball.

FWIW, Texas is one of those. Public schools are all members of the UIL but private schools belong to any number of independent associations, the largest being TAPPS (Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools).

I've talked to some officials over the years who fill in open dates with freshman or JV games.

It's fine if that's what they want to do....but some will think of those officials differently than if they only work varsity games.

So, OP, what levels do you work and what do you see as the schedule you want?

Yes, I'd like to know this answer, too. My original understanding was that you are working a full varsity schedule but are unhappy with what you perceived to be "less important games." My response reflected that understanding. I might have a different response if you tell me you worked all varsity last year and now are working middle school...

I had an adult rec league player (dipped his toe in the NBA, has some HS officiating experience) tell me he doesn't want the best refs working his rec leagues. He just wants guys who will keep the game moving, not somebody who knows and enforces all the rules.

Just work at the HS level. Before I had to take those years off my schedule was 75-80% varsity, mostly at public schools but some private, with the remainder sub-varsity at the better programs in our coverage area.

Last year (my first back) it was just under 10% varsity...at schools that would struggle to stay close to a JV team at the better programs...and the remainder sub-varsity scattered all over (several of them involving schools that were just starting to play basketball). With the first release, I have one varsity in the twelve games and the sub-varsity includes 4 freshman/JV double headers. I had none of those last year as my sub-varsity was Boys/Girls double headers. As for what I want...half and half would be great. In fact, I might even be giddy given everything I have been through.

Hey...it is what it is. I can either grit my teeth and work or log into Arbiter and uncheck "Ready".

I'll stop whining now.

A sense of entitlement no assignor should have.

While I agree with you, also remember that as an independent contractor a customer (the association) has the right to hire you or not hire you by just about whatever criteria they wish (not including discrimination based on age/gender/etc.). Then can't make you not work for someone else but they also can just choose not to have you work for them.

Would it be out of order to ask you to post some video of you officiating?

I sent you a PM.

I agree with this. I just don't like the sense of entitlement that is evident when officials are threatened for working in other leagues and being unavailable for varsity games on a given night because of that. If the rating system wasn't so terrible and we could get more than two nights a week of varsity work from the SCHSL, then it wouldn't be an issue.

As you can likely tell, a long term reader in the forum, almost non-existent poster. Primarily because I don't post unless I have something significant to contribute. I can relate to your being frustrated, and comments of the assignor being disingenuous. The other stuff, not so much. I've been officiating high school bball for 15 years with one varsity assignment. The person most responsible for that is . . . . me.

I started late at 48 and that put me at a big disadvantage. Others may disagree but I'm a realist and age should play a part both in development and assignments. By the time I felt I was actually ready to work a varsity game, I was 52. Way too late for any assignor managing hundreds (maybe even thousands) of varsity contests to start looking at me as someone who should be given the opportunity over those much younger. (I have always been, and still am very physically fit, tall, slim and well groomed - so that's never been an issue). Nor did I have the time or inclination to get close to established officials or play association politics that may have helped influence an assignor. (It sounds like you may have done that at one time so you might rekindle that if possible.)

I've been to the assignors camps, have always received great ratings from state evaluators and an excellent rating and review from one of the assignors own evaluators with a recommendation that I was qualified to work varsity games. Never happened.

Was I disappointed? Yes, very. Do I understand it? Yes, absolutely. You really can't expect an assignor to delay the development of younger officials who are capable and ready to work varsity contests. Or to give leaner schedules to those who have proven varsity experience. It's just a reality in officiating like anything else. It was unfortunate that you had health issues and you may have been a good varsity official. But you did have the long term break, others have moved up and you're not going to get many if any varsity assignments in the future. In fact, like me, your schedules are likely going to get worse, not better.

Bottom line. I got into this because I love the game of basketball. Played high school/college ball, coached my kids, watched my kids in high school and college (why I started officiating late so I didn't miss any of their games - don't regret it). I love that I can still be a part of the game, even if it's only Freshmen, Sophomore and JV games. I look forward to it, enjoy being part of it and have fun with it. I'll do it as long as the body allows. My advice to you is: Be disappointed, and even frustrated if you want because you're not doing varsity games. But recognize that part of your officiating life is likely over. If you don't enjoy the games you are getting, and what comes with them, stop doing them . . . . . just my two cents.

I am struggling with this now. I will start a new thread to elaborate. I love working the games, but the process of getting the games is becoming an anchor on my enjoyment.