Another Referee Assault ...

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

A top notch experienced varsity official like yourself shouldn't even be considering middle school games, even middle school games that might be "worth the hassle". I'm sure that your varsity assigners, in two states, and your various college assigners would prefer for you to keep your calendar open. Even if you wanted to, would you have time to do any middle school games? I'm pretty sure that your high school and college schedule is already pretty full without any middle school games.

I obviously can't speak for Illinois or Indiana, but middle school games here in my little corner of Connecticut are not necessarily "games from hell".

Has nothing to do with my assignors or what other people want other than family and job requirements. I am not working a 4:00 game on most days for $40 when leaving my job I can make a lot more by staying. That $40 does not pay my bills or cover the expenses it took to work that game. And since I do not do this for the money (I have other goals) as a primary goal, I would rather work when and where I enjoy what I am doing, or I will be out like many other officials. I am also not going to do that for $40 because I have a family and other time I would like to spend.

I worked hard much of my career to have simple choices in what I do. I also do football and did baseball for years, I am an independent contractor and can choose when I leave my house/job what I am going to leave my house for. I had a game tonight canceled (Covid issues I believe) and I was ecstatic and the game was very close to my house. But I am not going to do some middle school game where some dad coaches and thinks he can yell and be disrespectful and if I deal with them how I would any other game it becomes a problem. I worked a lot of everything when I started and coming up the latter, I did anything I could get my hands on. But now I am married, have kids and good professional life and working a middle school game for me is not worth it. Leave those games to the game hoes that need that extra $40 in their life. I do not need that anymore. Gone enough and would rather be with my children and wife as a result. I do not tell other people what to do, but I feel it is like AAU or travel ball which is a headache too. Because if this situation happen at a high school game, I know that dad would be banned and there would be paperwork and documentation to penalize or hold those accountable. Middle school is the wild wild west of accountability.

And when I did a lot of middle school stuff, it was assigned by ADs and coaches I knew very well and they did not allow things to take place that I see on these videos. So again, accountability is the key. I know with high school and college, everyone has to adhere to a level of accountability.

I will put it like this in the end. When I was in my 20s, I used to be out all the time on the weekend spending all night out with friends and trying to be up all weekend. Now that I am much older and in my 40s, I would rather spend a night with my family and be in bed much earlier. Let newer officials do those games and learn. I would rather observe officials and not work than be in a middle school gym any day. As life changes, life has different needs and wants.

Peace