It is that time of year....I have a question for everyone

[JRutledge]

Well we are getting our playoff assignments and in the boys side at least I am starting to hear the rumblings of who is and who is not getting assignments.

I have a lot of officials that will ask me why they did or did not get a certain assignment. Usually their complaint are about how good someone is over another person and why they did not get picked over another official.

My question is for those of any level, what does it mean to be better than another official in your mind? If you think someone should be picked over another person, is your criteria simply being a better play caller? Or do you think you have to be be a better game manager? What about fitness level? Or is it being the younger guy as opposed to the older guy?

What are the common complaints you hear about post season assignments and why do you feel some guys get picked over others. I also want a deeper conversation than the "ole boy's network" and would like to hear specifics.

Peace

[WhistlesAndStripes]

There's plenty for everyone!!

[Raymond]

I stay away from those conversations. I'm starting to reap rewards of paying attention to the habits of successful officials, and worrying about myself and what I need to do.

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[deecee]

I think it's simple. There are many good officials and limited spots. As long as someone is good and has the track record, unfortunately it's tough to bring in new blood. It's just the reality.

I also had an assignor say to me this past year when it comes to new guys that were "better" versus the old guys that may have lost a step. He said sometimes dealing with "the devil you know" is a safer option for him, coaches and everyone involved.

The gist is just do your best at what you can control and when you get the opportunity don't f@#$ up.

[DRJ1960]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

I stay away from those conversations. I'm starting to reap rewards of paying attention to the habits of successful officials, and worrying about myself and what I need to do.

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This

[Mregor]

Be honest. If they argue with what you tell them, stop. If they ask, they have to be able to accept the truth (as you see it). The ones who want to improve, will take it and work to improve their weaknesses. Those who are perennial complainers, will blow it off and reinforce your evaluations. You don't want that type anyway.

[VaTerp]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

I stay away from those conversations. I'm starting to reap rewards of paying attention to the habits of successful officials, and worrying about myself and what I need to do.

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+1

I had an official ask me last week, "so how do you get to Richmond (where the state semis and finals are held in VA)?" I replied, "I have no idea. I just show up to the game's I'm assigned, try to do my best, observe others, and try to keep getting better." I did, btw, also mention the VHSL evaluation camp.

But I hear people complaining about not getting certain assignments, talking about other officials who are getting them over them, etc. I can only assume some of the same people are saying things about me behind my back.

Control what you can control and don't worry about who thinks what unless they are position to make decisions affecting what games you get.

[walt]

What BadNewsRef said!

Control what you can control. Stay away from the gossip.

[Smitty]

The season starts and ends a little earlier in Texas than in many other places, and tonight I have the good fortune of working in my 4th playoff game this post-season. Our association works hard to be one of the most respected in the state, so we tend to get games far outside our general region in the state. Last Friday I also had the good fortune to be chosen to work a game 300 miles away (there are about 4 associations between ours and that game, but ours was requested - the schools playing in the game get a choice and if they can't agree, the UIL chooses for them). The R for that game was the association president and my other partner was familiar with board activity as well, so I learned a lot about what goes on behind the scenes on that long drive. There are a lot of factors that go into deciding who gets post-season games - our ranking in the association, our availability, our evaluations, and the coaches also have a say. There are also a lot of people who complain because they think they deserve something they are not getting. I don't know why I've received 4 games this post-season - I had a great regular season and my assignor thinks I have earned them, one way or another. Maybe I was just available, as I'm pretty certain not many people would be for a game 300 miles away on a Friday. All you can do is work hard to be the best you can be and if you earn it, enjoy every minute of it. It's a lot of fun...

[SNIPERBBB]

Politics.

[UNIgiantslayers]

Originally Posted by Smitty

The season starts and ends a little earlier in Texas than in many other places, and tonight I have the good fortune of working in my 4th playoff game this post-season. Our association works hard to be one of the most respected in the state, so we tend to get games far outside our general region in the state. Last Friday I also had the good fortune to be chosen to work a game 300 miles away (there are about 4 associations between ours and that game, but ours was requested - the schools playing in the game get a choice and if they can't agree, the UIL chooses for them). The R for that game was the association president and my other partner was familiar with board activity as well, so I learned a lot about what goes on behind the scenes on that long drive. There are a lot of factors that go into deciding who gets post-season games - our ranking in the association, our availability, our evaluations, and the coaches also have a say. There are also a lot of people who complain because they think they deserve something they are not getting. I don't know why I've received 4 games this post-season - I had a great regular season and my assignor thinks I have earned them, one way or another. Maybe I was just available, as I'm pretty certain not many people would be for a game 300 miles away on a Friday. All you can do is work hard to be the best you can be and if you earn it, enjoy every minute of it. It's a lot of fun...

300 MILES?!? My God man, they should fly you there for that one. What was your travel reimbursement if you don't mind me asking?

[Welpe]

Knowing Texas, there probably wasn't a worthwhile flight over that distance. That's not that unusual really. Not ideal but it happens.

BNR nailed it. I used to get really wrapped up in these things and found it doesn't help. I've found a sense of peace with being focused on my own individual improvement and looking at what other officials do only in how that can contribute to that improvement.

[Smitty]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Knowing Texas, there probably wasn't a worthwhile flight over that distance. That's not that unusual really. Not ideal but it happens.

I work for an airline so it would have cost me nothing to fly. We have another playoff game tonight that is 500 miles away (Pecos, TX) and I don't know who they were able to get to go there from Dallas on a Tuesday. I would have volunteered but the flights to the closest airport were not going to get me there unless I left here early this morning and spent the day there. Not worth it. But that will be a nice fat check for someone.

[SD Referee]

Lots of politically correct answers on here and I have to say that I agree with all of you. Very good answers.

The original post asked what we think makes an official better than others. In my opinion a better official is not noticed during the game. Too many D1 officials get overly dramatic with their signals and mechanics. They want to be noticed. Not doing that in high school makes you "better" in my opinion. Nobody is there to watch us.

A better official has great mechanics. You know what they have when they blow the whistle and you know where the ball is going to be and/or how many free throws will be coming. Great mechanics with confidence. That makes you better.

A better official is in shape and can get in position. That doesn't mean younger. Older guys can be in great shape in get in position too. If you aren't in proper position, you can't possibly see the whole play and get the call right.

A better official doesn't call any "game stoppers". Did that player shuffle their feet a tad when there was nobody within 8 feet of them? Maybe. But don't call that. That's a "game stopper" and kills the flow of the game. That goes hand in hand with how you call a game. To say that calling a boys game is NOT different than calling a girls game is not right. Boys can play through a little more than girls can. Calling a great game with little to no game stoppers makes you better.

A better official doesn't whine about other people and their assignments and just goes out and does the best job they can. That's what I do. I pick things to work on all the time and take care of myself while working to make sure that my crew is on the same page.

Those qualities are what makes an official "better" in my mind. I have no doubt that some politics go into it as well. It's hard to make changes and take out some of the good ole boys when they just aren't as good anymore to put in some new blood. In my area, we have been trying to get some of the old guard out for new blood as the old guard just couldn't do the job anymore. It's finally happening and I think the results have been great. I consider myself the new blood and I just received another state tourney. I must be doing something right.

[Smitty]

I also think how far you go in post-season is relative based on where you're located. If I had stayed in Oregon, I am fairly certain I would have made it to a state tourney by now. I will never make it to state in Texas. I say that based on the number of officials who make it from the areas I've lived in as well as the fact that this is a much larger state and there are just way more people who are more deserving in my association. I'm not upset by that - it just doesn't always tell the whole story of whether you're "better" than someone who lives in a different area.