And according to him, we don't care about getting better or giving back by choosing to spend our time elsewhere. :rolleyes:

Quite frankly, I don't owe anything to "the kids." Playing basketball is a privilege. If the kids' parents and coaches and the league directors run off all the officials, too bad.

What does above or beneath have to do with it? Maybe some officials already volunteer and help people out in other aspects of life, and don't feel like doing it for sports. Maybe some officials spend money on camps in the off-season and don't feel they should also have to spend more of their free time on a court without getting compensated. Maybe the teams that are scrimmaging are teams that traditionally treat official like crap. Maybe some officials feel they should get compensated for their services and talents because this is a business. Maybe some officials have spouses who tolerate the paid gigs but aren't too understanding when their significant other is away from home volunteering more time on the court.

Our coaches don't get to vote for state tournament officials. I guess that can be a good and bad thing. Probably mostly good that they don't vote.

Agree to disagree. The way I took his response, and why I hate communicating online, is that we was above doing an officiating for free. To each his own, but I truly believe that we should all volunteer to some degree with the skills and knowledge we have.

My experience officiating for free/volunteering is it's not that the coaches and parents are that bad. It's that most people have thin skin and one little comment turns them off from officiating. Most people aren't confident or skilled enough and the slightest of comments turns them off from volunteering/helping out. I just think more guys like ourselves could help out more. It doesn't make you a bad person if you don't.

Nice attitude you have. You sound like somebody that will only get on the court if you are paid. That's fine. Everybody is free to make their own decisions and do what they want. I like to volunteer and help out when I can. You don't have to.

Perhaps. Nobody will say you are wrong, but we were talking about volunteering/doing scrimmages. Nobody brought up the long list of "maybes" that you did. To each their own.

Sounds like the difference between you and me is I don't view officiating as a "business". I already have a career. Officiating is a fun hobby that makes me a little money while getting exercise. Getting paid to exercise!!!!! It's quite unbelievable! I just believe that volunteering/working for free for me has been far more beneficial than not. It doesn't make a better person/official by choosing to do so.

See A Pattern ???
 

As much as I love officiating, with some exceptions, I wouldn't do it for free.

Fees, traffic, fines, dues, traffic, insurance, traffic, travel, traffic, meetings, traffic, camps, traffic, clinics, traffic, uniforms, traffic, shoes, traffic, equipment bags.

Did you consider traffic?

Connecticut, Mohegan, "Beside The Long, Tidal River" ...
 

It's New England, "You can't get there from here".

My local area is bisected by the mighty Connecticut River, with only a few bridges that cross the river, forcing one to travel through heavily congested rush hour traffic on the few major highway bridges that cross the river. No such thing as a back road shortcut.

And the two ferries don't run in the winter.

If the officials are working for free they shouldn’t have to tolerate any nonsense. Has nothing to do with having thin skin. And if you yourself tolerate crap in those settings, guess what? You’re part of the problem. If you care so much about giving back and getting people to stick with officiating, start putting your foot down and stop being passive and tolerating s*itty behavior.

There are too many officials that want to show everyone how tough they are that they think it’s beneath them to uphold sportsmanship standards (which is, by the way, a rule).

But I forgot, you’re the guy who went like 500+ games without whacking a coach. :rolleyes:

Nope, we’re required to do a couple free scrimmages is every year. I do the minimum and more if we’re in a bind. That doesn’t mean I have to think it’s right to work for free without volunteering. Nice try, though.

Why in the world would I take MORE time away from my daughter and not be compensated for it??? Who are all of these wonderful people who give up their weekend for free? Could this be a reason there is a shortage? We are expected to love it so much that we’ll do it for free? Count me as one of the shitty people on this board, I have NO interest in working another job for free. Yikes.

Ha ha ha!!!!!!! Yeah I suppose it takes longer to get a game than it would take to actually do a game and makes volunteering not worth it. Not really a problem where I live.

I'm curious about a few things you listed. What do you mean by "fines" and "insurance"? Part of our fee that we pay the state to be an official goes for insurance. That's the only insurance anybody has here.

You have a serious attitude problem and are looking for confrontation. You must be a pleasure to be around.

You must be the tough guy that walks in the gym, wants to be seen, and announces his presence with authority. I don't know anybody that wants to "show how tough they are" and not uphold the rules of sportsmanship. On the other hand, you seem like the guy that goes overboard and wants everybody to know you are in charge. See? It can go both ways.

I never said that me or any other official that is donating their time is putting up with a lot of nonsense. I said/meant regular joes that could be volunteering won't because of ONE little comment that turns them off. Whether that's from a kid, a coach, or a spectator. Regular joes have thin skin and won't put up with even ONE comment. Your reading comprehension is poor. It seems to me that when people see an actual official show up, the behavior is pretty good. It's hard for regular joes to volunteer because the behavior changes from the coaches, players, and crowd.

I never once said I was putting up with $hitty behavior when I volunteer. So, before you say I'm part of the problem and anoint yourself the leader of officials, try to grasp what I am saying. Thank you very much for the reminder on the sportsmanship rules.

Yes, I went quite a few years of my career without having to whack anybody. That has since changed. I'm not sure why it's so hard for you, and others, to believe that in parts of the world we have grown ups that don't act like Bobby Knight and don't need to be whacked. With the way you are acting towards me, and your confrontational attitude, I can see why you have probably had to hand out your share of Ts in your life. I probably have a style that doesn't cause coaches or players to boil over and display bad sportsmanship. If you are dealing with that a lot in your part of the world, I feel bad for you officials. Is it the lack of maturity from the adults in your area or is it the fault of the officials? You tell me!