Working with a different partner

[SNIPERBBB]

Only time around here you work with random partners is subvarsity or playoffs. Most varsity games are assigned to crews as most schools here have the AD get officials and its easier to hire a crew than to individually hire each official.

[Pantherdreams]

Around here we've got a small group of officials that cover a small regional area. You could be assigned to work with anyone of them but there are only 8-9 guys so you get to know each other pretty well over the course of the year. Only time you would work with someone you don't know might be at playoff time.

Amongst ourselves the only commonality issues we often encounter are various opinions on managing the game. We've got a couple of association guys who think the best way to manage the game is to not let anything ever get to a point where it could get have a chance of getting out of hand (ironically they are the ones who often have to throw out more T's to visiting coaches because of how tight the game is and the lack of flow and energy) while others are willing to adapt the level of contact being allowed to the level and abilities of the players involved. If you get in a situation where the game is physical and competitive between 2 good teams and you've got 1 of each you can get into a mess. Default seems to be adapt the more frequent whistle for consistency amongst the crew.

[Dad]

Originally Posted by SNIPERBBB

Only time around here you work with random partners is subvarsity or playoffs. Most varsity games are assigned to crews as most schools here have the AD get officials and its easier to hire a crew than to individually hire each official.

State has three major assigners that do the majority of everything. They also are the ones who have most say in who gets the big playoff games. If that's how your system works then there's nothing you can do about it, but I think it hurts officials growth(in one aspect of the game, albeit to some not important).

In the playoffs I'd say the most difficult part is getting crews on the same page. Most of the time everything goes smoothly, but there are games where 50% of my effort tries to go into getting the crew on the same page instead of just enjoying what I'm doing. Almost every time, it's because there's an official there that doesn't know how to mold to a crew outside of their buddies they've been officiating with all season. Don't get me wrong, at that level every official is good in their own right, but I want the game to run smoothly. When you start out with Betsy calling dink fouls and Robert letting flagrants go it's irritating.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Dad

State has three major assigners that do the majority of everything. They also are the ones who have most say in who gets the big playoff games. If that's how your system works then there's nothing you can do about it, but I think it hurts officials growth(in one aspect of the game, albeit to some not important).

In the playoffs I'd say the most difficult part is getting crews on the same page. Most of the time everything goes smoothly, but there are games where 50% of my effort tries to go into getting the crew on the same page instead of just enjoying what I'm doing. Almost every time, it's because there's an official there that doesn't know how to mold to a crew outside of their buddies they've been officiating with all season. Don't get me wrong, at that level every official is good in their own right, but I want the game to run smoothly. When you start out with Betsy calling dink fouls and Robert letting flagrants go it's irritating.

Same page or your page? There's a difference.

[Dad]

Originally Posted by Rich

Same page or your page? There's a difference.

I see your point - same page. I have a total of zero issues molding to a crew and it tends to be what I do. Especially post season where I usually consider myself the worst of the three officials on the floor.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Dad

Almost every time, it's because there's an official there that doesn't know how to mold to a crew outside of their buddies they've been officiating with all season. Don't get me wrong, at that level every official is good in their own right, but I want the game to run smoothly. When you start out with Betsy calling dink fouls and Robert letting flagrants go it's irritating.

Exactly. Fixed crews is a recipe for increasing inconsistency from night to night between different crews. When you mix it up, you get a lot better consistency since everyone sees a variety and not just a few officials that call the same way.

[OKREF]

I've had the same partner for 10 years now. The only time I call with someone I don't know, or haven't called with before, is in the playoffs.