Dark Winter ...

[Player989random]

I think a larger question is how many refs are going to be available in VA. I'm currently in between associations, but I'm telling you right now, I wouldn't work even if I was still employed, and I've spoken to several guys from my old group who are sitting the season out.

[BillyMac]

The CIAC Board of Control acted to postpone all winter sports to January 19, 2021.

This time may be dark, but all regrowth starts in the darkness of a seed. (Daris LaPointe)

[Kansas Ref]

To my fellow hoop officials who are taking Off the season, I sincerely hope that you will be safe and sane. Your expertise, cultural knowledge, and rich experience base will be sorely missed. I for one plan to work as normal; just got my new schedule Monday, then turnt around this morning and got an arbiter text msg saying that a set of games I was to work for this Monday has been cancelled already. But the Assignor told us to expect sudden cancellations--and since he already knows you are free on that day, then New games replacements will be added to my schedule in quick fashion. In fact, as I'm writing this post I just got an arbitermessenger saying "new games...".
To all of you refs who are taking the season off, I will surely miss your valuable insights, comments, and advice on the resolution of "wonky-type" plays that will inevitably be encountered this season. Please at least be available to respond to our posts because you all are most certainly appreciated by me!
Bless you'all!

[SD Referee]

I'm sitting the season out. It's not worth it and with numbers exploding, I don't expect much of a season. If I were single, then maybe I do it. My wife is scared to death about what is going on and doesn't want me exposed. I don't have a good response to that, so I will be sitting out.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by SD Referee

I'm sitting the season out. It's not worth it and with numbers exploding, I don't expect much of a season. If I were single, then maybe I do it. My wife is scared to death about what is going on and doesn't want me exposed. I don't have a good response to that, so I will be sitting out.

That was the initial reason I wasn't going to work this season. Now that we have both had it, I just don't want deal with all the disruptions and uncertainties, necessary protocols, and lack of fellowship/socializing.

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[SD Referee]

Originally Posted by Raymond

That was the initial reason I wasn't going to work this season. Now that we have both had it, I just don't want deal with all the disruptions and uncertainties, necessary protocols, and lack of fellowship/socializing.

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Funny you mention that. I recently had it too, but now I'm over it so I'm back in to honor my contracts. I'm not looking forward to it and it's going to be a crappy year.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Raymond

My wife and I both had COVID and neither one of us ever had a fever.

Originally Posted by SD Referee

I recently had it too, but now I'm over it ...

Once one has COVID-19, is one immune, as with some childhood diseases (chicken pox and measles)?

And if so how long does the immunity last?

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Kansas Ref

To my fellow hoop officials who are taking Off the season, I sincerely hope that you will be safe and sane. Your expertise, cultural knowledge, and rich experience base will be sorely missed...

What are your testing requirements and protocols?


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[Kansas Ref]

Originally Posted by Raymond

What are your testing requirements and protocols?


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*Our local ref association does not cite or mandate any unique protocols, our Director has just said that we should follow whatever the Host site schools require. However, I will be wearing my black neck gaiter.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Kansas Ref

*Our local ref association does not cite or mandate any unique protocols, our Director has just said that we should follow whatever the Host site schools require. However, I will be wearing my black neck gaiter.

Just wondering who will bear the cost should a venue or school require officials to test before working there.

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[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Raymond

Just wondering who will bear the cost should a venue or school require officials to test before working there.

Not me. We're well paid in Connecticut, but not that well paid. And I don't think that my health insurance company will appreciate me getting a COVID test for a non-medical reason.

If this is the case, I'll be sitting out this dance.

[Kansas Ref]

Originally Posted by Raymond

Just wondering who will bear the cost should a venue or school require officials to test before working there.

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*The use of a temperature scanner upon entry to the Host site gymnasia should suffice?

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

The CIAC Board of Control acted to postpone all winter sports to January 19, 2021.

If interscholastic basketball is played here, there will be extra "mask timeouts" four minutes into each period.

[LRZ]

I'm joining the ranks of officials sitting out this season. At my age, I'm in a high-risk category, and, like SD Referee, I have to think of my partner, who is adamant that I not referee this season.

Yesterday, I received the latest COVID-19 update from the local hospital, where I volunteer. Over the past month, not only have the numbers risen steadily, but they have skyrocketed. A month ago, there were 17 positive tests (reflecting a 1.7% rate); this past week, that number had grown to 135 (8.0%), an 800% increase. The hospital thinks this spike is the result of social gatherings where people ignored essential precautions.

I was hoping things would not come to this, but the hospital report was the proverbial last straw.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by LRZ

A month ago, there were 17 positive tests (reflecting a 1.7% rate); this past week, that number had grown to 135 (8.0%), an 800% increase.

My doctor doesn't want me go to the gym, or to church, until the Connecticut positivity rate drops to 1%. Yesterday it was 5.16%.

When I go back to church he only wants me to go to a weekday morning mass and doesn't want me to receive communion.

Had a Zoom birthday party last week for my six year old grandson who lives on Long Island.

My daughter, a post-surgical nurse, works at a COVID testing facility on her weekend days off. I've only seen her through a car window since March, last time on Labor Day. I treat her and she treats me like she has "Cooties".

My other daughter, a doctor, invited me for Thanksgiving, but only for dessert, all wearing masks, on her back deck if the weather is nice. Just she, my son-in-law, and three grandsons. I'll be her only guest from outside of her household "cohort". Her maternity leave ended two months ago, and all three kids go to "Petri dish" day care. I have yet to touch my four month old grandson (who lives in the next town).

I may not go if we have dessert inside. I was always more worried about infecting others than about me being infected, until President Trump got COVID. Living in the White House he's well protected and isolated from strangers (he doesn't go grocery shopping, nor to the doctor, dentist, or barber) and yet he still got it. If he got it, I can get it, so now I'm worried about me (a sixty-seven year old cardiac patient with one heart attack already under my belt).

If there is interscholastic basketball in Connecticut (a big if), I'll wait until I see what the protocols are, and then decide. We (Connecticut) already know that the players (if they play) will be wearing masks.

I'd like to wear a mask (the CDC now believes that masks can also protect the wearer) and use an electronic whistle. I'd also like to see no street clothes (come to the gym in uniform) and no jackets being taken on and off. No getting to the gym early, or staying late, to observe previous, or subsequent games (get in, get out, get paid). Rule changes should be in place so that the officials never handle the ball (free throws, throwins, no jump ball). No pregame captains/coaches meeting. Partner pregame conference on the court (not the locker room) six feet apart. Halftime on the court. Hot single Moms will have to keep away from me.