Your Professionalism vs. your partners

[Indy_Ref]

I marvel how a word like professionalism can carry so many meanings to different officials. Since everyone is different and could have a different slant on what professionalism means to them, I wonder if you would please post your version of what you think professionalism is while you're on the court or at a gamesite.

From http://www.dictionary.com (root word professional):

1a. Of, relating to, engaged in, or suitable for a profession: lawyers, doctors, and other professional people.
1b. Conforming to the standards of a profession: professional behavior.
2. Engaging in a given activity as a source of livelihood or as a career: a professional writer.
3. Performed by persons receiving pay: professional football.
4. Having or showing great skill; expert: a professional repair job.

This year, I have run into partners (believe it or not) who will actually HUG a coach before the game...or will talk a lot to a coach BEFORE and/or AFTER a game. During the game they will punch fists with the players, help them up, pat them on the back too long, make a difficult call and immediately run to a coach to explain it...you name it!!! It makes me VERY uncomfortable when any of this stuff happens!

In short, I think we're out there to provide a fair playing field for the kids...try to make sure no one gets an unfair advantage...answer the coach's questions when necessary...and most of all have fun. My regular partners all feel the same...but I can't do all my games with my regular partners.

What do you other officials do when you come across a partner or partners who don't measure up to your level of professionalism?

I have a hard time dealing with guys who are hugging on coaches during our pregame!!!!!!!!!!