State Tournament Assignments

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

State finals, in all four enrollment classes, for both genders (eight championship games), are played at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

That's right, high school kids at an Indian casino, some playing championship basketball games a Sunday.

"Baby needs a new pair of basketball shoes".

What's the big deal?
When Nevada hosts the State Tourney in Vegas the games are played in the Orleans Arena on the property of the Orleans Casino. There are no games on Sundays though.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by SCalScoreKeeper

CIF-SS Playoffs:

Those are your Section playoffs. I believe that the thread inquired about the State playoffs. For you that would start with SoCal Regionals and end with the State Finals.

[JRutledge]

OK well what does everyone call there "State Finals?" What is the last game of the year where a champion is determined?

And when an official works these games, how are you commemorated? Are you listed in a record history (online or in a book) or are you given any special patches, dues changes or any such distinction for working that last game? Or are you considered a State Final Official if you did not work the championship game?

Peace

[Rich]

No such classification here. 90 officials each year work state in WI and all are state officials and receive a plaque (and a star to put on a plaque). On your 2nd through 5th state assignments across all sports you get a star to add to that plaque. In basketball, all crews work 1 game at state, either a semifinal or a final. 5 divisions, 2 genders - 30 total state games across two weekends.

You get a new plaque on your 6th state assignment across all sports and every fifth thereafter.

Had I been given a uniform patch to wear (impossible here since, thankfully, we wear no patches at all) I wouldn't have worn it. I have 2 baseball game hats that say STATE with the year on the back from my two state assignments that I could wear for games (they are legal game hats) and I'd feel like a tool wearing them in a game. Baseball there are only 12 umpires assigned statewide (only 4 new umpires annually) and in the two years I went I worked 11 games.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

State finals, in all four enrollment classes, for both genders (eight championship games), are played at the Mohegan Sun Casino Arena. That's right, high school kids at an Indian casino, some playing championship basketball games a Sunday. "Baby needs a new pair of basketball shoes".

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

What's the big deal? ... in Vegas the games are played in the Orleans Arena on the property of the Orleans Casino. There are no games on Sundays though.

It was a big deal at the time.

When the idea of using the Mohegan Sun Casino Arena was first brought up in 2009, many in the educational community didn't think it was a good idea to expose teenagers to gambling. The players, and fans, actually have to walk around the interior perimeter of the gaming floor, seeing, and hearing, the slot machines, and observing adults consuming alcoholic beverages, and smoking cigarettes, and cigars, to get to the basketball arena. The seven deadly sins all conveniently located in one place. Dr. Evil would love this place.

And the Casino, in the far southeast corner of the state, isn't really in a central location. Previously, state finals were held at Central Connecticut State University, pretty much in the geographic center of the state.

But the Mohegans made the state interscholastic sports governing body an offer that they couldn't refuse. Plenty of free parking, a professional arena (home of the WNBA Connecticut Sun), and a highly discounted rental fee.

At first, the eight games were all on Friday night, and all day on Saturday. Recently, maybe for the past two years, the Mohegans didn't want to give up their arena on a Friday night. The arena is often used for concerts, which draw large adult crowds to the Casino, especially on a Friday night. So they offered the use of the arena for Saturday, and Sunday games.

Connecticut still hangs on to some of it's old fashioned "blue laws". Until 1818, the Congregational Church was the only legal religion in Connecticut, and Connecticut residents were all legally required to attend Sunday services, and to pay taxes to support the Congregational Church. First Amendment? What First Amendment? We don't need no stinkin' First Amendment here in the Constitution State.

Liquor stores (we call them package stores) were just recently allowed, by legislation, to open on Sundays. Our state interscholastic sports governing body strongly discourages high school teams from practicing on Sundays, high school games are never allowed to be scheduled on Sundays, and only when weather related postponements back up the schedule against the end of the season are postponed games allowed to be made up on Sundays.

Again, the Mohegans made the state interscholastic sports governing body an offer that they couldn't refuse, and the state interscholastic sports governing body reluctantly agreed to have basketball finals played on Saturday, and Sunday, and not on Friday night.

Let's not forget Connecticut's other nickname, The Land Of Steady Habits. There's a reason for that nickname.

[mtn335]

Originally Posted by VaTerp

Interesting that in WA and TX the finals crew seems to be selected from the crews that worked the semis or previous rounds if I'm understanding correctly.

Seems like it could cause some scheduling conflicts not knowing if you are working a final until after the semis and also seems to limit the pool of officials getting games. Does seem to have the potential to reward the best officials based on performance in the state playoffs.

I'm still curious about limits on how many state games an official gets. The example from IL of 3 Finals period for officials seems a bit extreme to me but I can see the rationale.

I should've clarified - the quarterfinals are Thursday, consolation games and semifinals Friday, and 5th place, 3rd place, and championship games Saturday, all at the same site. 12 officials per gender and site are assigned to work the whole event, and each will work 2 games Thursday (one quarterfinal in each of the two classifications at a site), 2 games Friday (a consolation game and a semifinal), and a consolation game Saturday. Half work a championship game Saturday.

We have no limits on total number of championship games. I worked mine Saturday with someone who has lost count after 15. Some local associations cap number of consecutive state tournament trips (I'm on a "sit year" next year after going the last two years) but none, to my knowledge, cap total trips.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

And when an official works these games, how are you commemorated? Are you listed in a record history (online or in a book) or are you given any special patches, dues changes or any such distinction for working that last game? Or are you considered a State Final Official if you did not work the championship game? Peace

Officials who work state championship games here aren't treated differently than officials who work regional games or who work state tournaments but don't get a final. We all get a pin to wear on our uniform jacket next year.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by mtn335

Officials who work state championship games here aren't treated differently than officials who work regional games or who work state tournaments but don't get a final. We all get a pin to wear on our uniform jacket next year.

We have Regionals and Sectionals and right before the State Finals is the Super Sectional are all state final games. To even be more specific, the State Finals are played at a completely neutral site and at the Civic Center in Peoria for the Boys (where Bradley plays) and in Bloomington for the Girls (Where ISU plays. Officials that work all those levels before state are not considered "State Final Official." And the reason that also matters, they give State Final officials a "patch" on their sleeve and also put their name in the book for their accomplishment. We get no special distinction for working a Regional for example. There is in our system a consideration for our ratings based on the highest level you have worked, but that is all. No pins, patches or publication recognition from the IHSA.

Peace

[Rich]

I can't imagine someone wearing a state final patch. To me, it's an invitation for someone to say, "how can a state final official miss that?"

So, do you wear that for one year or forever?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Rich

I can't imagine someone wearing a state final patch. To me, it's an invitation for someone to say, "how can a state final official miss that?"

So, do you wear that for one year or forever?

Where it all games. Usually they shut up if you want to know the truth.

Peace

Originally Posted by Rich

I can't imagine someone wearing a state final patch. To me, it's an invitation for someone to say, "how can a state final official miss that?"

Don't focus on the negative Rich! Instead think of all the times you could stare downp a fan while pointing to your state finals patch.

[Rich]

I would have one if we had them. I just don't see the benefit. Of course we're a no patch state, so I like buying a shirt and not worrying about affixing a patch.

[Multiple Sports]

The whole patch issue really irks me.....In our state and I don't work hs anymore, you are given one at the state semis and finals. I have two. I used a Velcro patch ( not to ruin the shirt) and after my game my patch went as deep in my junk drawer in my kitchen as possible. It is amazing the number of people I saw the following year wearing their patch at high school games.

Now as far as the NCAA patch...these stories will make you cringe.

1 - I know of someone who would walk into the locker room open up his bag so you could all his patches attached to the underside of his bag and then walk out and leave his bag like that for all to see

2 - I was fortunate to work a college conference tournament game, this guy attached his blue NCAA patch to his winter coat right over his chest so when he walked into the gym everybody knew he was in charge.


Moral of the story....use the patch in that game. Put the patch far far away or make a Christmas ornament out of it....

I have now left my soapbox.....