Ref Shortage

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by SC Official

So funny how things are different regionally. In GA, SC, and NC, there are no "girls officials" or "boys officials." You work both genders or you don't work, and 99% of assignments are doubleheaders. In SC there's never really been pushback from coaches or ADs because it's just the way it's always been, and quite frankly always will be. Most of the complainers are officials themselves, but the reality is 95% of varsity games are on Tuesday and Friday nights, and sending two crews a night would cause officials to lose a significant amount of money over the course of the season (no school wants to play girls and boys on separate nights). We don't really have a shortage of varsity officials (whether competent or not is entirely different) that I know of in SC, but that would change if we ever sent separate crews for girls/boys.

I can't emphasize how glad I am that I don't have to worry about what coaches think about me with respect to the assignments I get.

I equate our system to what happens in college. You would ever see a women's official work a men's game. The games are different and what is considered a foul on one is not close to a foul in another on similar type of plays.

Then again I work boys basketball too, so there is no need to get a coach to respect the assignment I get as that is all I work. Boys is the side that is covered extensively by the media. And if I had to do two games in a night, I can tell you the effort would be limited just because doing two games are harder than doing one. I do not get that model, but if it works for those in other states more power to you guys. The same reason we are not asked in this part of the state to work a prelim game and a varsity game in the same night. Players do not play two games in a night typically, not sure why it is an idea that officials should be expected to do the same. Yes it can be done, but are you getting the same effort in both games? I know how I feel doing multiple games during the summer for running clock games. I can imagine how that would be if that was my entire schedule. Every now and then OK, but not every assignment. Maybe that is part of the reason lots of areas have a shortage. IJS.

Peace