Some offiicials will go to their games after dressing at home, work, or in the local telephone booth. Here in Montana, even though snow is usually plowed in around the telephone booths and offer a great deal of privacy, none of the local ones are heated.
I personally like to dress out at the gym. Polishing my shoes and going over a pregame with my partner seem to be a great use of time.
If your a basketball junkie like myself, attend as many local games as possible, and don't already do so, you might want to consider the following tip..
During basketball season, keep a spare set of your uniform (everything that you would need to call a game) in your vehicle.
While it has not happened often in my career, this past week reminded me of why I do it.. Two officials, calling different contests went down for the count. One with a blown out knee and the other after losing color perception and experiencing dizziness with a heart rate at more than twice the normal frequency and half the normal amplitude (even after two hours in the emergency room at the local hospital) until some good drugs were shot into his IV.
It could allow you to earn a few extra $$bucks$$ or spare a fellow official running free-throw line extended to free-throw line extend by himself.

cell phones have pretty much eliminated all the phone booths around here.

a buddy was just telling me that because he had his gear with him, he picked up a game when 1 ref no-showed.

Hmmm, changing with nothing but a cell phone for cover must be an interesting challenge :D

Build a man a fire and you warm him for an evening.
Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life!

OOooooohhhhh Juulie..
You're such a romantic!

Most officials that I work with come and dress at the game site. When I first started I use to dress before going to a game site, but a quickly got out of that habit real quick because of not wanting to ride in my uniform.

I dress at the game site. I just like it better for some reason. Plus, while we are getting dressed, we go over our pre-game. Also, I have something to change back into after I get out of the shower.

i dress at the game site, i usally stay to watch the other games and i dont want to stick out in the crowd.

Coming to games is very unprofessional. It sends the wrong message to the players, coaches and fans. It looks like you just came from another game or you have to go to another game when you leave. Also what happens if your get your uniform dirty before you get to the game (winter and raining weather for example)? Now your uniform is soiled and you have not even tossed the ball up yet. Great impression to leave everyone.

Peace

I think it all depends on what level of ball I'm doing. If I'm working a middle school game, or at a site where i know a dressing room isn't available, I'll go dressed since I hate dressing in a public restroom. I think that looks even less professional than coming dressed.

This is one of those things that's going to vary by region, IMO. Let's not have such blanket assessments. :)

I couldn't agree more. If there's a question of getting my clothes soiled because I dressed at work and drove to the site as opposed to having to change in a school restroom, I'll change at work every time. I hate changing in a restroom. And then as I'm changing back into my street clothes after the game to watch the next game, that's usually when that loudmouth parent, Joe A$$hole, walks into the rest room. No thank you.

I prefer a more private place than the gym, like a coaches' office or locker room. :D

Really? Do you email your calls into your partner and let him make the calls? :D

I must be butter, 'cause I'm on a roll! :)

unprofessional
 

Why is going to games unprofessional. I am not sure of the area that you all call in, but where I call we are lucky to even get an ofice to talk more less a place to shower after the game. With my work schedule and traffic in my area I am usually hustling to get to the site and always want to be ready to get on the court when I get there.

What if I did just come from another game or I do have to go to another game when I leave? ;)

I always try to show up and change at the gym, but it's not possible 100% of the time. I see lots of guys at lower levels show up dressed already.

soiled
 

btw, do you normally have a problem soiling yourself. I don't think that I have ever soiled myself by just driving somewhere. Oh, wait a minute, there was that one time, but alcohol was involved and I wasn't going to a game so I guess that one doesn't count.

It's really a relative thing around here. If I know I'm going to a gym where I know for certain there will be a locked private room to change in, which includes all of the high schools, I will change at the school. But if it's a middle school or a place I have not been to yet, I might change into my ref pants at work and change my shirt when I get there. Better safe than sorry.

And who really sees me enter the school anyway? Maybe a handful of parents. The teams are usually already in the locker room or in the gym warming up. When I enter the gym, they have no idea if I've come from my car or from a changing room. My professionalism has nothing to do with where I've decided to change my clothes.

Obviously this is based on where you live. Any comment that someone said here is based on where they live or where they have once lived as an official.

There is no place I am going to work and I am going to not get dressed at that school or site. Not during the regular season. Middle schools have a locker room or coach's office to put us in. I have too much stuff that I cannot carry all of it in my pocket or in my jacket. If that is allowed in your state, then you need to make some provisions to change those policies in your state. Officials need a private room to have a pregame, to go over issues with each other and go over things at halftime and after the game.

I am sorry but every single level puts in their publications that officials need a room or to get dressed have maintain some privacy. I do not expect that kind of situation at a Men's League or a Rec. League. I do expect that at any school sponsored event and anything less is just unacceptable. But this is my opinion

Peace

If you do that here, you will not be working very long. Take my word on this. This is not just my opinion. Every assignor (at the HS level) has a policy written and unwritten that this is unacceptable. I can count on one hand the amount of times a varsity official even did this (I have <b>never</b> seen a playoff official to this btw). The main place that I saw this take place and it was common was in the Chicago Public League. Well this year the CPS made it clear that this was unacceptable at any of their games and would drop officials if they did this. I know if I saw an official do this, all I would have to do is make a phone call and that official might not be working very much in the future unless they change their actions. You can do what you want, but trust me where you and I live this is not acceptable. It was in my presentation and not one assignor that saw my presentation batted an eye when I talked about how unprofessional this action was. This was also one of the main questions I was asked at IACAO after my presentation. It is unacceptable. Of course people do it, but they are not moving up doing it.

Peace

Well you and I both know who my main assignor is, and in 100% of the games I've worked this season, my partner has shown up dressed. In 100% of the games I have worked this season, I have changed at the gym. If I was a varsity guy, there'd be no question. I make it a point to do it even if others don't (in basketball and in football) because I try to be a cut above what which some some others may feel is enough to get by (this is a whole 'nother conversation, though - the professionalism with which people approach this, regardless of level).

It's not judging them - you can't judge others or talk about others or control what anyone else in the avocation does. All you can control is your own preparation and your own professionalism and if you do that, the rest takes care of itself.

Years ago, I went to a ref camp and a guy was there from Big Sky Country. He told me he had to drive 150 miles-<b>each way</b>- to his games. I never asked him if he got mileage- let alone dressed!

All of the baseball and softball umpires here go to games with their uniform on. The PU puts his plate gear on in the parking lot.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by nine01c

Quote:

Originally posted by BktBallRef Quote: All of the baseball and softball umpires here go to games with their uniform on. The PU puts his plate gear on in the parking lot. That's what we do too. I was referring to the plate gear part (not the uniform). Oh never mind. Just like everything else, people are going to do what they feel like doing regardless of opinions here (but it's still geeky).

Just making a statement, something you brought to mind when you mentioned baseball.

Also, our umpires are usually either coming from one game or going to another. They have to go dressed. Opersonally, I don't see why that's an issue, in baseball or basketball.

Actually I do not know who you are working for. I might assume but I really do not know for sure.

I have heard in just this past off season three very powerful assignors make this statement on their own in meetings or presentations. One made it very clear, "You will not work for me if you do that." Not only did they make those types of comments, they also talked about other assignors the felt the same way. You also might remember there is a reason many of the officials you are working with are at that level. You are new, but many working those levels are not new at all. This is not really my main issue. But it is the issue with most of the people, if not all of the assignors I work with and many officials in this state that are well respected. I am just one person. I cannot prevent you from working an entire schedule. All I can do is decide if you are going to work one or two games a year when I need a partner. Assignors can tell other assignors about an official and pass the word around. If they think it is unprofessional and should not be done, I am not the person to take it up with. Now you might be able to work a freshman game showing up dressed or even a Saturday morning JV game. If you do that at a prelim game or varsity date, the spotlight is a lot brighter and hotter. All I am saying is it is not an acceptable practice.

<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_1_7v.gif' alt='Cool' border=0></a>

Peace

I don't. I change in the parking lot. I usually go out for dinner or a few pops after the game and I'm not doing that in uniform.

I do the same thing Rich. Or I always come maybe with just my grey pants on. But I never wear my blue shirt and shoes already on. I dress out the back of my truck and hope no one is paying attention. :D

Peace

We have no choice, for local games we say, 'get changed at the venue but turn up in whatever you like'. For national games in England we have to turn up in a shirt and tie and get changed at the evnue.

In some cases this means getting changed prior to the team who is also using that locker room and getting showered whilst they wait for us to finish.......

I agree with redhouse and overandback, how is it unprofessional to go to the game already dressed. I work mainly 3, 4, & 5A games on varsity level and go to the games already dressed, and I dont consider myself unprofessional at all. I dont have to drive more than 1 hour any way, and I will take me a good shower when I get home in a shower that I know is clean and does not contain any fungus (ie. athletes foot), and throw my uniform in the dirty clothes hamper to be washed or put them in the wash if they are "soiled", or wet.

a truck
 

coming to a game dressed is unprofessional, but changing out of the back of a truck hoping that nobody will see you changing is professional. Humm, I am not quite understanding that one. I guess it is all based on where you call. In our association almost everyone goes to the games in uniform. Our assignor has never mentioned that we should be changing on site.

How is it not unprofessional?
 

The bottom line this is all based on opinion. If you work here this might get you kicked out of conferences if you do this at the varsity level. It is just like opinions on facial hair or other issues with appearance. If my regular job requires certain attire on the job, I adhere to the dress code. This is the same thing. Officiating just like any other job has "little things" that can help or hurt success. If you feel that this is not a big deal that is your choice. But understand there are people around that more than likely do not share your point of view.


This is more about the culture you officiate in. I consider it unprofessional and so do the people I work for. In the notes assignors send with contracts that state the expectations of the official and this is a commonly listed item as well as when we are expected to show up to the game.

Just a side note. The ground right now is covered with snow and it is raining. I cannot imagine going to a game today while trying to dodge snow and slush. Then sit in a car for an hour in that uniform. Then get out of my car again and hope I do not get things all over my uniform dodging the snow that was not shuffled out of the parking lot. Then go into the game with a clean uniform and clean shoes. Maybe that works in Southern California where it never rains (which is not true, ask the NFL). But in the Midwest that weather is so volatile and you might have to walk through a foot of snow realistically, I would not want to have snow and moisture all over my uniform and leave everyone with a horrible impression of how clean I keep my uniform.

Peace

Re: a truck
 

Redhouse,

You can compare apples and oranges all you like. Baseball is outside played completely away from the school or not at a school at all. Basketball is in a gym where both teams have a locker room in most cases. Not sure that is a hard concept to grasp.

When I move to your area then I will worry about what your association does. Move to my area and you will not work hardly any varsity games (let us not even go there at the college level) if you show up dressed. But let us not start comparing sports that do not have the same traditions. One sport is usually a revenue sport, the other is not. One sport charges money attend a game, the other sport might be lucky if you get anyone to watch the game. Not the same thing.

Peace

Re: How is it not unprofessional?
 

even if I HAVE TO get dressed before going to the game, I won't wear my court shoes in, they have never seen the outdoors. another thing, if there's a foot of snow, i'm not shuffling my feet.

I hope I didn't miss this same point or question in this thread, but...

What if you have to go to another game after your game? Do you dress at the gym...do one game...get changed...go to your next game...get dressed in your uniform again??? Many officials where I am do a freshman game or two and then go to a JV game.

Just wondering how those who change at the school work that situation. I try to change at the school but I don't always. Being my first year, I'm still working on how to handle this. I'll definitely do what my assignor says.

Rut - you're misunderstanding me. I know there's a reason that "non-new" guys will work lower-level games (there are lots of reasons, actually - and not all of them are about performance or professionalism), and I said that I can't control that, nor do I care to. I worry about what I need to do and how I was taught to do things. I was taught to show up 90 minutes at least before a football game, so I do. The fact that I've had partners show up 10 minutes before the game doesn't matter to me, and it's not going to make me start showing up 10 minutes before a game. I do what I need to do and what I've been taught is the right way to do things - not because I'm worried about whether or not some assignor or evaluator is watching, but because I think it's the right thing to do.

I'm not on some sort of career track here - I'm too old to think about investing 20 years in this to try to get to the NBA or the NFL. I just enjoy doing games, and I approach the freshman "B" game on Monday night at 5:30 in front of 15 people like I would the varsity game on Friday night in front of 3,000 people. If others don't, that's cool, too. I can't control what others do, nor would I cast aspersions on anyone else who does things differently. I'm in charge of my preparation and deportment, not theirs.

So I don't know why you're coming down on me and intimating that you'd put the kibosh on me working if you have the chance when I've gone out of my way to make it clear that I don't exhibit the behavior we're discussing here.

Take care. :)

Something like this would usually only happen on a Saturday or possibly Holiday Tournaments. So for one this is rare for me at best. I do not make a habit of scheduling games where I would not have enough time in between game to get dressed or get to in a reasonable time frame.

This Saturday I have 3 games. I will work one JV game 9:30 am which is about 10 minutes from my house. I have a 1:00pm varsity (doubleheader) game at a school that will take me about 30 minutes to get to from my house. I have another varsity game at 7:00pm that night. It will take me less than 30 minutes to get the final destination. I will take a shower after each game. I will get dressed at each site and back into my street clothes. If I could not do that, I would not take the games.

Peace

When I was reffing soccer, I always wore my uniform to the game - even at the HS level. Most times, I would not wear my uniform shirt to the game (colors were black, red, yellow, or fuscia) and have on a black t-shirt. When I got to the field, I might have to change my uniform shirt depending on the team colors. In colder weather, I wore a black warm-up suit.

I understand that. Of course you cannot control what others do. Nor do I control what others do. All I can do is voice my basic opinion on this issue and it is up to the single official to make a decision. But there are a lot of officials that get held back because of issues like this. I had an assignor that told me to cut off my goatee if I was going to work in his conference. I want to work in his conference so I got rid of the goatee. It does not matter if it is fair or justified. Not everything we do is based on our talent on the court. It is often times the "little things" that can hold back officials. And in my experience it is these "little things" that go overlooked and are seen as "politics" as for why an official cannot advance. When I see an official show up dressed I do not say anything to them. That is between them and the assignor or evaluator.

You do not have to be on an NBA or NFL track to show professionalism. I am young and I can say I will probably never get an opportunity to work the NBA. The NFL is more likely a possibility for me, but it is a very long way from now. The only reason the NFL would be a possibility because we live in an area and I belong to a football association that has current and past NFL Officials in the group. If that would ever be a realistic possibility, I would have to do what is required. And if I want to continue to work varsity basketball, I am going to have to maintain the standards that I do not set. When I gave my presentation about this at the AOA Meetings and IACAO Clinic, I addressed this very issue. It is up to those that were there to take the information and do with it as they see fit. All I did was share what I have learned and what others do and stick by as their personal philosophy. There are standards that are held high even with the fact that we are not working D1 or pro ball. Maybe your goal is to work playoffs at the HS level, there is a standard that not only is expected by officials, but the assignors, ADs, principals expect from us.

I am not coming down on you at all. I am just making it clear to you what the standards are in the area we live. I do not make the rules, I am just reporting it. If I was telling a total untruth, I would have had a few veterans that saw my presentation call me on it. You cannot control what others do. If you try you will be fighting a very steep uphill battle. All you can do is work hard and do what is expected and someone will notice (if they have not already).

Peace

No argument there. I was making the point that I don't try to do the "little things" you mention because I'm trying to get to the NFL or NBA, but because I think they're the right things to do.

I don't have a problem with the rules. They are what they are. The fact that there are some who choose not to abide by them is up to them, not me (and you know there are those who don't) and doesn't affect me or my preparation.

But for something that I (and many others) do on the side for whatever reason, it's not really worth getting all verklempt over, and I've already spent too much time on the topic as it is.

I am going to do the right thing in my mind regardless of who I am with. How I show up to the game is only about me, not who I am working with. Just like a coach will pick on one official during a game and leave the other alone. There usually is a reason for that and most I have no control over.

Someone asked this question because there is an issue about what to do. I just shared my opinion and that is it. We are here after all to share opinions and discuss different points of view on many topics. This is just one of them. If this does nothing but have officials asked the "higher ups" what are the standards in their area is? If that is accomplished, to me this conversation would be extremely beneficial for all.

Peace

Is that a word <i>auf Deutsch</i>? Maybe should be <i>"oben gearbeitet"</i>? Getting all "worked up" over?

Just wondering.

I believe verklempt is Yiddish, but I'm not 100% sure. But "worked up" or "hot and bothered" would be decent translations.

Rut, I understand it may be the requirement for your "area", but it is not the norm for all. Therefor, your opinion about it being unprofessional is not needed nor is it correct, (at least not in my "area"). Our state association does not require anything out of us not in writing other than being at game site at least 30 minutes prior, knowing the rules, and being professional on the court. This does not make your state association any better than mine, nor certainly not any more professional.

From dictionary.com:

Main Entry: verklempt
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: overcome with emotion; clenched; also written ferklempt
Etymology: Yiddish

The issue of professionalism has nothing to do with if there is a requirement or not (at least it does not for me). The issue is what the perception you give off by doing it is. To me you give the wrong impression if you can role out off the street and work a game. It either looks like you are coming from a game or you have somewhere to go right after. It looks really, really bad. I am not trying to change you opinion about this. This issue is not much different than when we talk about facial hair, wearing glasses, having a certain weight or look. You will find many different points of view on those topics as well. There will be people that cannot understand what the big deal is. Then you will have people that say it is an issue. I never said that this is about a state association. The things we do here have little to do with state associations, it has to do what fellow officials, assignors, ADs and clinicians think is proper conduct for officials working games.

Peace

I haven't jumped in yet, so here's my opinion. Lower level, I usually go in my underthings (full length tights and such), my stripes, and good pair of windpants with a sweatshirt. This way if there aren't facilities for us to dress in, I can find a corner of the gym to change into my pants (keep in mind the full length tights) without causing a stampede of panting women (just feeding my own ego). Also, if I am going to another site, its a quick change so if I stop somewhere on the way I'm not in uniform in public (I was always told this was a no-no). Varsity games, always show up in slacks and a good shirt or sweater and leave in the same.

Last night worked a JV game where my partner was 30 minutes late, rolled in fully dressed including his game shoes which had snow in the treads. The snow melted onto the floor and first trip down the court he wiped out along with one of the players, luckily no one hurt.

His mechanics were weak to say the least and although he was a veteran official he was perceived as a rookie. It wasn't a very smooth game and the coach and the AD both commented to our assignor about the lack of professionalism.

I got an email via cc: where they told my assignor that they would have rather had me work the game alone instead of having this guy in the future. I'm proud of my own efforts to maintain a high level of professionalism and it is reflected in the quality assignments I receive.

Never underestimate the importance of "looking the part".

Are you implying that things would have gone differently had he come to the gym in his street clothes and changed at the gym? Aside from the fact that he wore his game shoes in the snow (just dumb), it sounds like this guy's problems went far deeper than where he decided to put his uniform on.

I will not speak for Robo at all on this one. But the actions of the official coming dressed cannot possibly add to the experience in a positive way. Maybe it is convenient for you personally and many officials, but we are judged on how we are perceived. Not much different than an official wearing glasses. The minute you miss a call, the coaches or fans start in on you about your glasses. I agree that wearing shoes in the snow is stupid, but there has been snow or rain on the ground here since my first week of the season.

Peace

I think I'm going to have to just agree to disagree with you on this. I never let my game shoes see the outside of a gym - I would absolutely agree that if the weather was crappy (snow or rain or mud) I would not wear my game pants to the game. Even if it's dry, I don't wear my game shoes to the game. But I just don't see that wearing a uniform to the game is any indication of anything. All that matters (to me) is how you carry yourself when you walk onto that court with me.

Last season I would dress at work because it was my first year here and I didn't know how to gauge the driving time to the schools, and if I was late at all, I wanted to be ready to go. This year, I almost always change at the gym. But the reason is because I wear the compression shorts and undershirts, and they tend to make me sweat pretty quickly. I want to delay that wonderful treat for the players for as long as possible.

It's clearly a regional thing, but we're expected to be onsite an hour before the start of the varsity game. We sit in the stands until the start of the fourth quarter and then get dressed.

You don't sit in the stands in uniform, do you?

Smitty,

I was not really trying to convince you of anything. If in your second year you feel there is nothing wrong with that, then there is nothing wrong with it. I am sure there is someone that feels the way I do in your area and those are the people you will have to contend with, not me. Just keep in mind you will be judged by many things that are off the court as well as those things that you do on it.

Good discussion. ;)

Yes, but you can't get snow on your shoes when they're in your bag.

I bring two uniforms and a wet bag to put the first uniform in.

I rarely work more than one site, but I will occasionally (during tournament season) double dip with a game in the afternoon and one in the evening. Each new site should get a new uniform, if possible, IMO.

In my chapter, I am required to wear dress slacks, tie or sweater, and suit coat to all varsity games, and be there at least one hour before hand. Although I am in the minority in my chapter, I also try to make it a point to at least have slacks and a sweater or shirt when I go to any thing lower. However, in some situations, I see no problem with you coming to the game dressed. Case in point, I had a girls varsity last night, 7:30 start. My partner, who was coming from 45 minutes away, had a junior high game go double overtime and did not get out of the gym until 6:00. He came dressed, but did have a 2nd shirt to change into. However, I will give him a lot of credit because he brought into the varsity game with him slacks, shirt, tie, and sport coat to leave. IMO, it just looks extremely professional to come to any level game and change there.

JR, for what it's worth, this is my 12th year officiating, it's my 2nd here in Portland. I moved from the Bay Area, California, where I last worked. I honestly have learned a lot about how to carry myself and how to take crticism from veteran officials over the years. I used to be one of those guys who thought I was better than I was and couldn't look beyond what I perceived as arrogance to see that some of those guys were actually right about what they were trying to tell me (like that I called to much ticky-tack stuff). I ended up taking 5 years off before I started up again last year, and I really am a different official now. I understand advantage/disadvantage - when I read about some of these first and second year officials gripe about not getting better games, I just shake my head. Learning advantage/disadvantage takes a lot of experience. This message board has been a wealth of information - like a case book on steroids - and it only helps to reinforce the rules that I know. Honestly, I am inclined to always now dress at the site from now on based on this thread. But that's my own decision for my own reasons. I will still not judge anyone else's decision to come to the gym dressed.

No one is judging anyone. We are saying that the action looks unprofessional as it relates to officiating (which can apply to other actions we do). That is not judging that is point out what is expected. Those that comes dressed have the right to do it and the people that will suffer the consequences are those officials that do it. I always wonder when someone comes here and says they cannot move up and blame it on politics. I wonder if things like this are what might be holding them back. Like Rich said, I have to show up for varsity game an hour before game time. I am not going to sit in the stands with my uniform. I want most of the people to not know I am an official until we get onto the court. I do not want people asking me questions about the prelim officials or standing out like a sore thumb. Of course some will see me walk in with a bag, but the majority of the crowd did not see me enter the game. Or they were not paying attention. It is hard to not see what cloths I have on when I sit and watch.

Peace

Around here, Smitty, we swing both ways, so to speak. Frankly, it's frustrating, because so many schools have no provisions for refs to change. Seriously, I can't tell you how awful some of the places are. When I know for sure that the situation is bad, I just dress at home, or bring a sweater to wear over my stripes, and then "change" behind the bleachers or something. The new Centennial is just plain unbelievable for women refs. Completely and totally unacceptable. I WON'T go there again at all, if I can help it. I don't think there's too many who will criticize you for changing at home or work, if you show up on time for pre-game, with a snappy looking uniform and a great attitude. And, Smitty, you never do less than that! (it's okay for me to say that, tomegun, I've worked with him before!)

Rec League where there usually is only a bathroom to change, I wear my paints and black T-shirt. I put on the "Target"(striped shirt) and shoes at the site. All other games I dress at the site. Saying that, I am glad I have some unprofessional brothers who dress before coming to the game, that way when they arrive in the second quarter, they can just jump in and start helping. In other words, be on time and dress at the site.

I know that a lot of the places I've been given to change are pretty disgusting. I can't even imagine how bad it must be for women at some of these places. There are some bigger schools where I feel lucky to even find someone who has a key to a room for me. I've never been to Centennial, but I will say that the other new school - Liberty - has some of the best changing rooms I've ever seen. I love going to that school. My favorite place to go is Forest Grove - they take great care of us - always ask what we'd like to drink at halftime (and are waiting with it as soon as we walk off the floor) and give us our own key to the changing room. Thanks for the kind words, Juulie. I don't think I get to work with you this year, so far at least. I'll see you in the summer for sure, though.

I have to comment on this thread. Despite some of the arrogance being tossed around, it is true coming to a ballgame dressed IS an indication of your attitude MOST times. I have officiated softball for several years, and whe I am forced to do slowpitch leagues, I have to wear a uniform to the field because there are no facilites at the field. When I do this I feel like a second rate bum off the street. When I'm doing tournaments where there is an umpre room or facilites, I ALWAYS use them. SO far, I have had to come to the field dressed for football games,and have had to go to one basketball game dressed. It is DEFINITELY more professional to get to the locker room, dress, pregame and get to know your partner if you dont already. I understand that sometimes time and facilities are an issues, but if you can get dressed at the site, try it. Some organizations mandate dress for varsity officials, and that is a good thing

Too good to do slowpitch leagues, big dawg? Wouldn't you classify that as maybe being "arrogant" too? I would.

Pot...kettle...black...

If I ever have to get dressed for a basketball game in the back of my truck, I'm going to at least close the tailgate so I can have some privacy.

no..I LOVE to do slowpitch leages..its how I started and how I will finish...humor...... try it....

If you're gonna accuse people of "arrogance", maybe you should add a smiley to show that you're not serious. That is, if you weren't.

Some years ago I worked the AAU Boys National Basketball Championships at the Disney Wide World of Sports facility in Orlando, Florida. Every place I have been to since them has paled in comparison.

To me, the officials are a part of the "show". That is, we are one of the stars in the performance. We are afforded respect before we even hit the floor maybe because we represent some sort of authority figure or perhaps due to our professionalism, reputation, or presence.

We are given (most times) our own dressing room. We have "handlers" at the game sites that serve our needs for accessability (locker room keys), refreshments (water/gatorade), medical aid (trainers).

We function independent of the teams, coaches, and administrators. People look to us for answers. We make important decisions that impact many aspects of the game, schools, and lives of the participants to some extent.

We need to live up to others' expectations and carry ourselves in a high regard without being arrogant. The first impression we make may be the most important or second only to our skills we use to perform our duties.

Don't take your duties as an official lightly and pay attention to the little things, act like you are the best then show them.

Oh, but they know you're an official anyway, especially when you walk in with an equipment bag (I went to a bag on wheels this season) and the changing room takes you on a stroll through the gym.

I marked you off on my list :D

I like to dress at the gym. I don't think there is any place worse for officials to dress across the board than here where I work. When I lived in Phoenix I went to Sunnyslope HS and they had a locker room with a sitting room, huge cooler full of sports drinks in ice and exercise bike. They had the towels in the locker and a card that said "welcome......while you are here we will do .......for you." Very nice!

I thought about it and I don't personally know any good refs who aren't somewhat arrogant.


[Edited by tomegun on Jan 12th, 2005 at 12:35 PM]

You are very right.
 

You are right on many levels. But when I get into the gym, there usually is not very big crowd. And many of the schools I work might not take you through the gym (like my game on Saturday). My point was that most of the crowd is not going to see who you are until you get on the court if you get at the game site early enough. But there is a lot of truth in what you say. ;)

Peace

Dressing
 

Woohoo i have an opinion and I am only a newbie. i dress at the facility. i also wear a tie when i go out to eat and also to funerals/memorials. Sometimes I am the only one to have a tie on but i still do it anyway. i live in California so things are a little more liberal than other places. Its funny but wearing a tie and white shirt people assume i am a conservative but i really am a left wing liberal. having said that if dress and perception has no bearing on stuff why does the President wear a tie at state of the Union speeches etc. If he was so inclined could he not wear his wifes lingerie and it wouldn't make any difference in how he does his job..J. Edgar Hoover might be a better example but my point is dress matters and it impacts peoples perception of you. And i look good in suit and tie.. LOL

Chess Ref... Condolances on being a left wing liberal...

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by azbigdawg
no..I LOVE to do slowpitch leages..its how I started and how I will finish...humor...... try it....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you're gonna accuse people of "arrogance", maybe you should add a smiley to show that you're not serious. That is, if you weren't.


Point taken, Jurrasic..hope youre not always this intense....and the arrogance comment still stands....different strokes for different folks..I believe the best way is to dress at the facility when you can..others dont. If they are willing to accept any consequences (if there are any) so be it...

I would like to know what someone said that was arrogant? I do not think it is arrogant to state your opinion. If you disagree with someone's point of view that is definitely your option. I would not call it arrogant to state an opinion or to state what may or may not be acceptable. Actually I do not agree with JR's assessment of your comments about slow pitch softball, I hated that stuff too. But I agree that it could be perceived that way if you are in the same breathe accusing someone of being arrogant when they just give their opinion.

Peace

Azbigdawg
 

Hey no wise cracks from the Valley of the Sun. i grew up in Kingman and left the Grand canyon State and never looked back.. My brother lives and coaches in Flagstaff.

J. Edgar Hoover did not have a wife. From what I've read though, it is true that he did wear lingerie.

And he did not like women if you know what I mean. :D

Peace

I can't believe this post got 6 pages of responses! I'm more worried about how I perform on the floor than where I gt dressed. I usually show up dressed, jacket on, and bag over my shoulders. The only thing I will not do is let me shoes touch the ground outside of the gym.

It is not what you think that is going to determine your opportunities. It is going to be what others think of your ability. I can think I am the greatest official that ever lived, if others do not think that it will affect my opportunities. This is about perception as much as it is about ability. Perception is reality most of the time. I am concerned about all those things. That is why I show up an hour before my games. That is why I am always nice to the staff when I arrive to the game. That is why I do not turn back games without a very good reason. This is why I fulfill my officiating commitments. If I show up late to a game, act rude to the staff at a school or behave in any way that is perceived as unprofessional, it will not matter how good an official I am. Just stating the truth.

Peace

I tell you, I still get pumped up when I'm about to take the court for my games. We have to be on court 20 minutes before gametime in WI and we usually follow the teams onto the floor.

There is nothing, NOTHING like having a band playing, teams running on the floor, and walking out with our jackets on and going opposite the table knowing that you're about to work the "game of the night."

Of course, by the time the clock says 6:00 I wish I would've used the bathroom one last time, but I digress....

I think there is a difference between the ideal and reality.

I officiate in the S.F. Bay Area. For any of you who are familiar with this area there are more high schools here than in many states. Most of the schools are underfunded and facilities are poor to say the least.

Dressing areas vary, but there are very few I would take a shower in, let alone leave my gear in. Last night girls varsity game in one of the finer gyms in the northern California. Officials dressing room filthy, toilet plugged and broken. Very disgusting. I know when I used to coach I would greet the officials , make sure they were taken care of, and would let them into the office at halftime and after the game prior to even letting my team into their room.

That courtesy is missing in most schools now.

I prefer to go to a game in street/work clothes which for me is usually a shirt, tie, slacks or a nice polo shirt, but changing facilites are so poor and rarly is there anyone to greet you, have water for halftime etc.

I can count on one hand the schools that actually make some preparation for officials and address their needs. I also prefer to shower at the site, but many of the showers in the coaches locker rooms look like they haven't been cleaned in years.

I am often called in an emergency to pick up a 3:45, or 4:00 freshman game and have to rush from work. With so many schools and games it is sometimes a scramble to get them all covered. If I don't change at work I would not have the time to get to the site and changed and also stretch. The freeways at commute time are terrible here.

Of course if you come to the site and change you are assuming that the teenager coaching the freshman team has a clue about the needs of the officials or even a key to the locker room.

So, through experience I know which schools I can dress at and which I can't. I do agree, I think it looks very proffesional when I come into a gym with a sport coat, slack and tie or even a suit. I wish it were possible all the time. It is not.

I am not the lone wolf in this. Most of the officials in my area come dressed or partially dressed. Would I prefer not to? Of course. Now when officials are actually considered part of the game rather than a fringe and the facilities are at least usuable I may be able to change at the the site a majority of the time. I still won't for those early games.

And, oh, yes, I forgot about changing facilities for our female officials. That's a new discussion in itself.

Well I think you need to speak for your area with that comment. It would be totally unusual for there not to be a locker room that the school did not provide for JH and High School games. But a large part of what this topic is based on a region. I would be shocked if I went to a school and they do not have a room for the officials. It is not always a locker-room. I might be an office. But schools provide some kind of room so the officials can get dressed or have a pregame. And this is in the guidelines from the IHSA. As a matter of fact if a school cannot provide certain accommodations for the officials, schools will not be able to host playoff games. It is taken very seriously here. Maybe that is not the case where you live.

Peace

I have been lurking around the board and finally signed up so I can post and this topic really caught my eye.

Here in South-Central Indiana we do not work through assignors. We are true independent contractors in the fact that we have to contact schools on our own to get games. I am in my first year working games in the school system. I worked last winter at a sportsplex doing rec and aau ball. So I have to and impress the AD's as much as I can to get games in the future.

Many of the schools in my area are very small and the AD not only hires for the highschool but also the junior high and grade school levels. So it does not matter if I am working a JV game or a 6th grade girls game I always show up dressed well and change at the school. Now I am not talking suit and tie, but atleast a nice pair of dockers and a sweater or nice golf shirt. Showing professionalism at all levels I believe has really helped me move up. I started out the year doing only junior high or lower games. I now seem to be getting asked to fill in or work better assignments. As an example I will do 2 BJV and 1GJV game just this week. By the end of the year I will end up doing atleast 5 Varsity games, which I do not think is to bad for a first year ref.

I agree with Rut that showing profesionalism from the time you get out of your vehicle until you get back in it to leave at games end will do nothing but help you move up the ladder at a faster pace. Especially when you are the sole reason for getting games. Not an assignor doing this job for you

I have worked (and still work) in both systems. Even when you have assignors, the ADs and coaches still can determine what the assignor knows about you. So you still have to make a good impression on them if you want move up.

Peace

Rut I guess this show you how little I know about the assignor system. In either case professionalism will get you farther faster.

I still maintain, despite the vehement dissension in the ranks, that this is simply a matter of personal preference. I take a shower and get dressed at home before I leave. In nearly every gym I work, I park by the back door in a designated place, walk in a door and go to the official's room. I might pass 10 people at the most. I try to arrive 30 minutes early, even to younger level games. I change my shoes (spit polished real leather for the court!) check to make sure my shirt is tucked in and neat, put on my whistle and state wrist band, put on a small amount of lotion after shave, make sure I have a handkerchief in my left back pocket, check to see that my jacket is buttoned and neat, and that I'm prepared. Then I stretch. I have a spare pare of pants, undergarments, and knee braces in the bag in case of an emergency. I greet the AD and both coaches and act in a very profesional manner. After the game, I speak to my partners, we review the game if needed, bid farewell to my partners, quickly put on my jacket, leave by the same way and head home. I guess drinking the Slim Fast after the game on the way home might be considered unprofessional? Other than that, how is this unprofessional?

What is the hankercheif for?

refnrev,

If you think that is OK, keep doing what you are doing. Just remember that one person that has some say might think otherwise. So if you feel it is personal preference, please do not come here later and complain that you are not getting the assignments your peers are getting. Do not complain when you are sitting home during the playoffs. Do not get upset when you are not advancing at the same rate of others. Now go out there and use whatever mechanics you see on TV, because it is all about the calls, not the presentation right? If you think it is all about you, then keep doing what you are doing. Also do not worry about sending back those contracts or confirming your assignments. If you feel it is all about the court, then you are doing just fine. ;)

Peace

Penalty flag? :)

What - no hair gel? :p

State wrist band?

I always go dressed to the game -- tough not to on these 20 degree days.:D Once I get there, I change into my uniform.