Another Referee Assault ...

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

This is why I do not do middle school at all. Many times we have less than ideal accommodations.

I figured that there were additional reasons, besides a Dad coming out of the stands (which was also in a recently posted video of a high school varsity game, the "pants" video, the one where you would punch the Dad) and poor locker room accommodations, why you don't work middle school games, and I was right. I figured (but didn't detail) that your "cup was already full" with high school and college games, job, and family, and I was right, especially with your line about relief that a game was cancelled. Been there and done that.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Even if you wanted to, would you have time to do any middle school games?

Originally Posted by JRutledge

... family and job requirements ... 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 am married, have kids and good professional life ... game hoes that need that extra $40 in their life ... Gone enough and would rather be with my children and wife ... it is like AAU or travel ball which is a headache too ... 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 ... 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 ... accountability is the key. I know with high school and college, everyone has to adhere to a level of accountability.

Again, I can't speak for Indiana or Illinois.

The chances of a Dad coaching in a middle school game here in Connecticut are about the same as a Dad coaching a high school varsity game. Most Connecticut scholastic coaches at all levels are teachers. The few that aren't teachers, at all levels, are certified and under the control of the CIAC. Here in Connecticut, it's very difficult for non-teachers to became coaches (lots of hoops to jump through). Do not confuse a middle school game with a middle school-age game, recreation, travel, or AAU games that are very likely to be coached by Dads (or Moms).

While the percentage of games here in Connecticut worked for the money (as the main incentive) is higher for all subvarsity games than high school varsity games, there are many subvarsity officials, that work for the love of the game, camaraderie, exercise, etc. And some that want to help their assigner fill these hard-to-fill mid afternoon middle school assignments.

100% agree that travel and AAU games (and recreation games) are a big headache, but here in Connecticut the differences between a travel and AAU game with a middle school game are like day and night. Middle school games are like "miniature" high school varsity games (with some exceptions I posted above), with site directors on duty, principals and teachers often standing in the corner, players coming and going on buses, "real" uniforms, players having their coach as a teacher, or at least a teacher in their building, passing grade and attendance requirements for the players, etc.

Here in Connecticut, middle schools are controlled by the CIAC (ejection reports, penalties, etc.). Paperwork, documentation, and accountability are the same as with high schools.

When you did work middle school games (when I did a lot of middle school stuff) it appears that there was some accountability. I wonder what changed in your area? Assigners? Athletic directors? Culture?

Bottom line, while I fully believe you that middle school games in Indiana and Illinois are the wild wild west, I can assure you that this is not the case here in Connecticut.

If you lived here in Connecticut the only reasons that you would have to avoid working middle school games would be your already busy schedule of high school games, college games, job, and family, as long as you don't mind arriving in uniform. And of course as an independent contractor, as my mother used to say, "No reason, because I said so".

You don't need a reason. None of our business. I'm not asking. You offered.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

This is why I do not do middle school at all.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I figured that there were additional reasons, besides a Dad coming out of the stands (which was also in a recently posted video of a high school varsity game, the "pants" video, the one where you would punch the Dad) and poor locker room accommodations, why you don't work middle school games, and I was right. I figured (but didn't detail) that your "cup was already full" with high school and college games, job, and family, and I was right, especially with your line about relief that a game was cancelled. Been there and done that.



....

I think you should not try to speak for others or speculate as to why others do what they do. Let people speak for themselves.

Why do YOU need to detail the reasons Jeff does or doesn't do something?



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[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Raymond

I think you should not try to speak for others or speculate as to why others do what they do. Let's people speak for themselves.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

This is why I do not do middle school at all.

I just replied with my experiences in Connecticut. All middle school games, in all areas, aren't the same. Just sharing why I enjoy working middle school games in Connecticut.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

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".

Originally Posted by BillyMac

You don't need a reason. None of our business. I'm not asking. You offered.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

...

I know how to read Billy. You need quit with this compulsion to expound forothers. Speak for YOURSELF.

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[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Raymond

Speak for YOURSELF.

With the exception of acknowledging JRutledge's obviously busy schedule of games, job, and family, most of my comments in recent posts in this thread were about MY experiences with Connecticut middle schools.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

This is why I do not do middle school at all.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I'm not asking. You offered.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

With the exception of acknowledging JRutledge's obviously busy schedule of games, job, and family, most of my comments in recent posts in this thread were about MY experiences with Connecticut middle schools.

For the record, I am not busier than anyone else. Actually, there are officials busier than me. We all have limits and I am not working middle school basketball. Don't want to, that is it. Did when I was coming up enough. When I got choices I made them. Do not care what goes on in other states.

For the record, I do very little in Indiana. Do not care what Indiana does at that level. Only got my license in Indiana because I was close to many schools and my son and family lived rather close to multiple high schools. Thought I would give it a try. But work less than 15 games total in Indiana and not working middle school to fill out any schedule.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Did when I was coming up enough. When I got choices I made them.

I gave up recreation (youth and men), travel, and AAU many, many years ago. No longer needed the money. No longer needed the experience. My kids were starting to get involved with winter sports (basketball and gymnastics) and I wanted to be there for them. No longer needed (or wanted) to be out four, or five, weeknights and Saturday and/or Sunday.

Kept doing Catholic middle schools because I liked it. Great league. Great assigner. Great partners. Great money. Nearby towns. Gave it up for health reasons (arthritis) because all games were boy/girl doubleheaders. Some triple headers. Also the assigner, my mentor, retired and moved to Florida. Tried it for one season with the new assigner, didn't like it as the culture changed, partners changed, and the geographic area expanded across the river, meaning traffic bottlenecks over a limited number of bridges. My foot got worse and I was out of Dodge. Easy decision.

Now I just work for my high school assigner. Makes my life much simpler.