Referees and Forfeits

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by AremRed

If I show up and it’s a forfeit I am collecting my check and leaving.

I've only had a couple of true forfeits, all almost forty years ago when I was still working recreation basketball. In all cases the game was forfeited because of poor behavior by one of the teams in the game. Absolutely no way am I hanging around to work a scrimmage "for the kids" after such forfeits.

Forfeits for other reasons? Depends. Middle school game with the game ready to start, scorers, timers, fans in stands, but only four kids show up for one team? One team wants to give the other a few players and play a "scrimmage"? Maybe.

Impossible for me to give a general answer, I guess that I'd have to be there to give a good answer.

[coach41]

Since everyone shared their experiences, I might as well explain what happened yesterday.

The league itself a large Church league featuring about 70+ teams spread over multiple divisions (3 or 4 divisions for 18 year old and above / the rest are kids from high school to 3rd / 4th grade, 5th / 6th, 7th /8th divisions). I played in the league for 25 years bu stopped around 2014. I stayed connected with the league by officiating.

The officiating situation is different too. Because of complaints over the years, the league went with the concept of "head officials". Basically they pay for one experienced official to manage the other officials who are players in the league. All teams in the league have to score keep and officiate throughout the summer. So as you can imagine, the quality of officiating is pretty bad at times.

So in my case yesterday, I had 3 games with one of the kids leagues (7th / 8th grade would be my guess, though I wasn't sure).

All the games were yawners. But it was the second game that had a weird vibe from the get go. Team #1 was complaining about calls. I guess it got to the point that one of the other officials gave a technical to the team that was complaining.

Team #2 had a guy who scored a basket and grabbed the ball and seemed like to me he was trash talking a bit.

At halftime, I just told both coaches to have their kids play ball as the weird vibe was there. The game went back and forth and was close until the end.

But this is where the weirdness finally showed. Team #1 had played with 5 players the whole game and out of the blue, a sixth player was in the game (this was super late, under 2 minutes left). I asked the other official about it to confirm if the kid was late as I remembered Team #1 had only 5 players in the book.

The other official said "yes, but I let it go since the game is a forfeit". I said "oh really, since when was this game a forfeit?" Apparently, team #2 had called in a forfeit and brought some other kids to just have a game. BUT I wasn't told.

At this point, I kind of just said "Ok, fine" and just let things go. But I told the other official to tell the coach of Team #1 (because the official was also the main guy who coordinated his church's teams including Team #1) that he can't just stick a guy in the game like that without penalty.

I also told this particular official (he does kids games, but he's not in a high school group or anything) that if you're going to have us officiate a game like this (and give a technical to his own team) then not having a player in the book was worthy of a technical as well. But it was super late and it would have created more drama that it was worth.

So now you understand why I asked. If I had known it was a forfeit, I would have just sat down and taken a break before working the 3rd and final game.

[Nevadaref]

Contests which are forfeited can put referees in an awkward situation. You need to know the basics before you step onto the floor for any "scrimmage" which may take place after a forfeit has been declared.

1. Insurance coverage -- what is the coverage for yourself and the participants? Know or find out if your state, league, etc. provides coverage. If not, I wouldn't officiate.

2. Compensation -- know what you are receiving for a forfeit and/or the action which replaces it, if anything. Inquire beforehand, if you must. Don't just expect financial compensation, there may not be any. Make certain that you will receive what you desire. If you are happy officiating for free, that is your choice, but I advise getting the information upfront.

3. Consequences -- what are the ramifications to YOU? Understand what the person who made the assignment expects you to do. Are you to stay and officiate unofficial action or are you to depart? There could well be a difference if the contest is from an outside assignor or handled internally by the school admin. What is expected of you could have an impact on future assignments from that person. If you don't know, ask! Pick up the phone and make a call before proceeding, if you must. Don't cost yourself several future games by mishandling one forfeited contest.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

Contests which are forfeited can put referees in an awkward situation. You need to know the basics before you step onto the floor for any "scrimmage" which may take place after a forfeit has been declared ... Insurance coverage ...

Agree. Forfeit is declared. Officials, coaches, and administrators agree to have a "scrimmage". Player accidentally gets seriously hurt in the scrimmage. Parents sue for negligence saying that the officials should have ended the game with the forfeit and that the scrimmage should never have been played, and thus, the serious injury should have never happened.

The plaintiff may not prevail, but the officials will still have to hire an attorney and defend themselves in a court of law. Lots of billable hours involved.

[RefBob]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Agree. Forfeit is declared. Officials, coaches, and administrators agree to have a "scrimmage". Player accidentally gets seriously hurt in the scrimmage. Parents sue for negligence saying that the officials should have ended the game with the forfeit and that the scrimmage should never have been played, and thus, the serious injury should have never happened.

The plaintiff may not prevail, but the officials will still have to hire an attorney and defend themselves in a court of law. Lots of billable hours involved.

Because of the above, our Association has clearly told us not to officiate these informal scrimmages as they are not official games under the auspices of the state school activities association. Therefore, not clear that we have any type of liability coverage.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by RefBob

Because of the above, our Association has clearly told us not to officiate these informal scrimmages as they are not official games under the auspices of the state school activities association. Therefore, not clear that we have any type of liability coverage.

I am pretty sure that my state has coverage for all games in and out of high school in the sports we are registered to work. So if something were to happen, you are covered for games that are not normal games. Now that might change based on the type of insurance you have. And there could be some basic coverage that you would just as if you are doing the same sport. I would check this out, but my understanding of my state insurance plan, which is not with the NF covers all levels of the sport.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by coach41

... not having a player in the book was worthy of a technical as well.

Be careful here. The technical foul is not for not having a player listed in the scorebook.

If a team adds a name to the team roster after the ten minute time limit, then a team technical foul is charged. When such a player legally enters the court, the player’s name and uniform number must be entered into the official scorebook. In order to penalize this infraction, the offending team member must be one of the five players currently in the game.

This infraction occurs when the scorer is advised to add to the official scorebook. The foul must be charged when it occurs and enforced when the ball next becomes live. Once the ball becomes live, after such changes have been made to the scorebook, it is too late to penalize.