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We had a ref yesterday who was having fun with the fans during the two CYO games he worked. He was apparently making humorous comments to the crowd about various calls, but I couldn't hear what he was saying. Two of the coaches said they smelled alcohol on his breath, and he seemed to be going out of his way to avoid game management (me). This is a D3 experienced ref doing HS level CYO games.
Meanwhile, I thought this was the best reffing crew we've had in my memory. They kept some close, physical games from getting out of control, and were professional in every way (signalling crisply, using precise mechanics, running the floor, getting into good position) except for the banter with the crowd. Although CYO forbids alcohol at its games, I saw no real reason to look into it further, since I didn't personally smell anything and his performance was superior. Should I have looked into it further or spoken to him about it? If your partner was a little tipsy, would you say something to him or report it to an assignor? |
Lucky for you noone got hurt. If he was impaired from a liability point you could have been in trouble. Plaintifs Attorney: Mr Defendant: " Is it not true that two coaches smelled alcohol on his breath". Defendant: Yes Paintifs Attorney: Why didn't you investigate further. Defendant: They were doing a great job. Plantifs Attorney: So when the official tripped and fell on the player and broke his arm that was a good job? You rolled the dice and got lucky. Also "bantering to the crowd" is unprofessional. I wouldn't expect a college official to do that. That should have tipped you off that you may have a problem.
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BTW, I don't think I would include "banterng with the crowd" at a CYO game as solid evidence the guy's been drinking. |
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Hey - I've worked lots of games "under the influence" - of Juulie, that is. ;)
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I think it's cyo. And like rocky sez, there's nothing wrong with quickly exchanging pleasant comments with fans during pregame or half time. |
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I am certainly not at the top of the collegiate ranks, but I have, on occasion, exchanged brief pleasantries with a fan seated courtside during pre-game warmups.
Once the game starts I don't talk to or react to the fans. But I don't see anything wrong with a brief comment to a fan, particularly if somebody asks me a reasonable question, which actually happens quite a bit. |
Not sure who you have been around.
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Peace |
I'm at a D1 game last year and this fan in the front row of the high dollar courtside padded chair seats with catered everything is standing, pointing, yelling, screaming and cursing this ref. He looks like he's just livid about a no call on some rough bumping down low.
During a break the ref goes over and talks to the guy. In about 20 seconds, the ref and this guy are laughing about something and the fan is seated and quiet the rest of the game. I wish I knew what he said. |
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Seriously, I have on occassions exchanged comments with someone on the sidelines, particularly during warm-ups. You just have to be careful what is said. Sometimes a student/parent/fan will walk by and say something like...."Should be a good game tonight". I might just smile and nod or say "I agree". I see nothing wrong with this. If they tell me we suck, that's a different animal. |
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I have certainly done things like this at Rec level games or even turned and thanked the stands for their help with a 3 seconds call, nobody will make eye contact or admit they were yelling, and this usually helps them chill out. The big one at HS games is when A contacts B and causes the ball to go out of bounds off B but you still give the ball to B with no fould called and the fans get excited. I will usually tell player from A, and if fans hear it then so be it, "either take the foul or give them the ball". Once fans realize your thoughts behind that call, you can see their light bulb turn on. |
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I've had fans point out an untied shoelace before, so I stopped the clock for the player bringing up the ball (well in their own end, no pressure) to tie the shoe as a safety measure (on a fast break or something I'd wait until the play had run its course) and then said a quick "Thank you" to whoever said it.
Sometimes a fan will ask you some innocuous question that you can answer very quickly without getting into a conversation. But I focus too much on the game because I'm still new at this, and I can't let myself get distracted. If a guy I was working with had been drinking? Hooh-boy. That's a tough one. If it was obvious, I'd pull him aside and try to diplomatically get him out of there. Or hope that game management did it. Even if it left me on an island (if it was a 2-man game). |
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I agree Rock
In some situations it can be an asset to have a fan or two "on your side." We all know there are some tough gyms to work in every area.
I had a game a few years back in a pretty tough gym during a good rivalry match up. It was easy to tell that the crowd was into it. Just before tip off I hear, nice hair ref (I am folically impaired). I replied, "yeah, like I haven't heard that one before." The small group of football players from where the comment came got a pretty good laugh out of it. Later when the game was still in doubt and big call didn't go their way, the rest of the crowd was getting on my partner, the group of football players took up for him. Not sure if my little comment mattered that much, but it might have bought us the benefit of the doubt. |
I would think anything that makes people think you're human is a good thing, because you will get that benefit of the doubt sometimes.
I mean, they know you're a human being, but it doesn't hurt to remind them of that from time to time. I think people appreciate that. |
Re: I agree Rock
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Just repeat my motto in my signature below over and over to yourself until it sinks in. |
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