"Cannot wait until......."

[Raymond]

That is definitely my feeling towards high school basketball this season. Players constantly pushing the limits, coaches ranting and raving, and fans just being ignorant with their statements and being right on top of you. Makes it not fun.

I've enjoyed my college season. There was a string of games early in the season where I had to call a bunch of technical fouls for taunting. But as a season went along it seems like they "got it". Coaches are always so much easier to deal with at the college level than they are at the high school level.

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[ilyazhito]

Originally Posted by Raymond

That is definitely my feeling towards high school basketball this season. Players constantly pushing the limits, coaches ranting and raving, and fans just being ignorant with their statements and being right on top of you. Makes it not fun.

I've enjoyed my college season. There was a string of games early in the season where I had to call a bunch of technical fouls on for taunting. But as a season went along it seems like they "got it". Coaches are always so much easier to deal with at the college level than they are at the high school level.

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Why do you say that? Is it because college coaches are more informed than high school coaches?

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by ilyazhito

Why do you say that? Is it because college coaches are more informed than high school coaches?

They are more professional, more prepared, more concerned about their teams instead of officials, more cognizant of when they're crossing the line, more intentional with their communication, more willing to move on, more in control of their players, etc., etc.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Raymond

They are more professional, more prepared, more concerned about their teams instead of officials, more cognizant of when there crossing the line, more intentional with their communication, more willing to move on, more in control of their players, etc., etc.

This is actually why I like working college basketball to just about any high school. Maybe the exception of JUCO which is its own culture unto itself. JUCO coaches can be very immature and silly.

But all the other levels, coaches do not have the energy to worry about personal beefs the same way. Not to say that college coaches cannot be petty or silly sometimes, but that does not work well in the long run for them. They have to focus on the job at hand and losing that job can mean bit things are lost to them in the long run. They tend to be more focused and deliberate in what they communicate with you and even their players.

That being said, I have noticed a little edge this year with the coaches and players at the college level. Not nearly as bad, but just a little more stress from my perspective.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Raymond

... Players constantly pushing the limits, coaches ranting and raving, and fans just being ignorant with their statements and being right on top of you ...

Regarding unsporting behavior.

For most part, the subvarsity coaches that I've been dealing with for the past two COVID seasons seem to really appreciate officials for being there (as opposed to being inactive due to COVID).

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Twenty percent of our 270 local members were inactive due to COVID this season ... my local board had to politely refuse to assign middle school officials in two major city school systems due to our lack of available afternoon officials ...

Also, despite the fact that I'm hobbled due to arthritis, these subvarsity coaches, especially the middle school coaches, seem to appreciate having an experienced veteran official work their games rather than an inexperienced youthful "gazelle" who doesn't know if the basketball is stuffed or inflated.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

The extra games and lack of rest this season have aggravated the severe arthritis in my right foot, making my officiating both physically and mentally challenging ...

This season, only one minor problem with a coach for whom I paused the game and I asked to, "Tone it down a little", didn't even warrant a written warning from me.

Two players (middle school girl, freshman boy), in two different games, with two different partners, orally criticized the partners and in doing so included the word "f**k", and were charged with non-flagrant technical fouls by my partners. I heard neither, but if it had been spoken to me, depending on the tone and volume, I might have considered flagrant technical fouls.

Otherwise, a very quiet season.

[SC Official]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

This is actually why I like working college basketball to just about any high school. Maybe the exception of JUCO which is its own culture unto itself. JUCO coaches can be very immature and silly.

But all the other levels, coaches do not have the energy to worry about personal beefs the same way. Not to say that college coaches cannot be petty or silly sometimes, but that does not work well in the long run for them. They have to focus on the job at hand and losing that job can mean bit things are lost to them in the long run. They tend to be more focused and deliberate in what they communicate with you and even their players.

That being said, I have noticed a little edge this year with the coaches and players at the college level. Not nearly as bad, but just a little more stress from my perspective.
Peace

As with anything, this very much depends on the specific league. The JuCo league I work in, the coaches by and large behave themselves (the commissioner does not tolerate nonsense and is vocally supportive of officials handling business), and the ones who don't move on once they get whacked. I would work a JuCo game in that league over a high school game 101 times out of 100.

I do agree with you though. College coaches usually don't take getting whacked personally, and the ones who get whacked every game know they are turds and have no credibility with the assigner.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by SC Official

As with anything, this very much depends on the specific league. The JuCo league I work in, the coaches by and large behave themselves (the commissioner does not tolerate nonsense and is vocally supportive of officials handling business), and the ones who don't move on once they get whacked. I would work a JuCo game in that league over a high school game 101 times out of 100.

I do agree with you though. College coaches usually don't take getting whacked personally, and the ones who get whacked every game know they are turds and have no credibility with the assigner.

I am just making an overall observation. Of course, there are coaches at many colleges that are usually very petty and stupid at times. My point is it just usually does not get them very far acting that way and why some are not there very long (not just because of how they act here). I have had a couple of JUCO guys this year that were very professional and reasonable. Just not always the case. Heck one of the biggest jerks and unprofessional coaches I have had is a D2 coach. But in general, they have held to some accountability that high school coaches are not often held to. And just like you said the supervisor makes a world of difference as well.

Peace

[crosscountry55]

I agree with the sentiment of the OP mainly from a workload perspective. Tonight was the first non-Sunday I've had off since 1/24. My slate was full from reschedules due to COVID and more recently weather. The calendar is a tyrant; the tournaments still have to start on time, but as many regular season games as possible still have to get played for accurate seeding. So it has been a crucible lately. I'm pretty worn out. Frankly, I'm sure the players and coaches are, too.

Other than that, it hasn't felt too different. I actually didn't mind having some of the a$$hole fans back in the stands this year. It felt more normal than echoes surrounded by dead silence, that's for sure.

[SC Official]

Originally Posted by Raymond

They are more professional, more prepared, more concerned about their teams instead of officials, more cognizant of when there crossing the line, more intentional with their communication, more willing to move on, more in control of their players, etc., etc.

Totally agree with this. Every time I have whacked a college coach, he shuts up and focuses on his team the rest of the game. Whereas in high school, coaches intentionally act ignorant and want a dissertation on why they got a technical foul.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by SC Official

... in high school, coaches intentionally act ignorant and want a dissertation on why they got a technical foul.

... maybe because many (not all) of them are ignorant.

[thumpferee]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

... maybe because many (not all) of them are ignorant.

Ding, Ding! We have a winner.

[ilyazhito]

Originally Posted by SC Official

Totally agree with this. Every time I have whacked a college coach, he shuts up and focuses on his team the rest of the game. Whereas in high school, coaches intentionally act ignorant and want a dissertation on why they got a technical foul.

This must be very frustrating. It's refreshing to hear that college coaches tend to be more professional and more focused on coaching their teams.

[Stat-Man]

The roughest part with this year is that the middle school and CYO games that didn't take place last year are being played again but the number of officials didn't return to pre-COVID levels. Long story short, there's more games and fewer officials, so those of us who officiate subvarsity games are being asked to work double or tripleheaders. I've also been a last-second varsity fill-in due to illness and the overall lack of officials to cover games on the busiest of days. Recently, my CYO assignor was so shorthanded one weekend that he had me work three games at one site and, after a break for lunch and travel, had me go elsewhere to do two more games. I'm glad my season is nearly over because I've felt physically and mentally drained. (And I know this will likely happen again this spring because we're even more shorthanded with baseball and softball umpires).

Players haven't been too much of an issue, but coaches are definitely chirping more. I had a MS girls coach respond with a loud "Seriously?" when I called an obvious foul on her player. I've also had to whack a JV team's assistant coach one game only to officiate there a week later and whack the head coach after he made unsporting comments similar to those that got his assistant in trouble.

On the plus side, it seems like more ADs than usual are doing what they can to show their appreciation for officials throughout all of this. YMMV.

[johnny d]

I am glad that I no longer do many high school games. In the limited number I have done this season, I have definitely noticed a deterioration in the behavior of coaches and fans. Luckily, I am at a point in my officiating career that I do not need high school games, which has allowed me to adopt a philosophy of being as obnoxious to others as they are to me. A few examples: coach to me after I have just given him a technical foul for yelling across the floor about
a no-call "I would appreciate the professional curtesy of a warning."
My response to him "I would appreciate the professional curtesy of you not yelling at me from across the floor. Unfortunately, you are unable to control yourself, so here we are. Enjoy sitting for the remainder of the game." Another coach to me, after he has just been ejected for getting a second technical foul "I'm calling the assignor." My response, "Go ahead and call the assignor, but you are going to be doing it from the ****ing parking lot."

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by aphilly02

... requiring me to dig deep in my pockets so I am not ready to see the season quiet down just yet ...

The only good news. I'm flush with cash to supplement my pension and Social Security fixed income.