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!!!!!!!!!!

[bgtg19]

I agree that professionalism means different things to different people. I think each of us has to figure out what it means for us, and commit to being disciplined about being true to that meaning.

For me, being "professional," in the context of high school basketball officiating, means something like the following:

~ I will be reliable (fulfill assignments I take, even if better ones are later offered; be on time; etc.)
~ I will be prepared, mentally and physically (know the rules; proper frame of mind; in shape; etc.)
~ I will strive to not only be, but appear to be, neutral (no glad handing with coaches, fans, etc., but be gracious and polite when approached)
~ I will maintain my composure at all times and under all circumstances
~ I will be eager to learn more and be better

I'm guessing that I'll later wish I had included other things, but those are what come to me right now. As for what I do when I come across other officials who do not share my view of professionalism ... I think you simply need to maintain your own professionalism, regardless of what your partner is doing. Having said that, I also think it is important to appear to be a part of an officiating team, so NOT doing things that accentuate the differences between you and your partner are important, as long as you are not doing things to compromise your own professionalism.

Thanks, Indy_Ref, for reminding me to think about this.

[Smitty]

Showing up late to a game is unprofessional. I make it a point to be early for my games. Plenty of time to relax and do a thorough pre-game prior to the 15 minute warm-up. I've worked at least 5 JV games in the past 2 years where one of the Varsity officials was there and the other was not when my game finished. I stuck around to fill in if the other ref didn't show up. I do a thorough pre-game with my new partner and every single time - 5 for 5 - the other varsity ref shows up right after we go through all the pre-game. It not only pisses me off, but it pisses that varsity ref who now has to rush his pre-game with his original partner while they walk up to the gym. If your schedule is such that you can't get off work in time to make it to a game at least 30 minutes ahead of time, don't accept the game. You're not only screwing your partner, but the guy who stays to take your place.

[ChrisSportsFan]

I have lots of thoughts as to what is professionalism to me. Regarding your question on how I respond to unprofessional partners I offer this;

as a Sales Manager, I employ this saying to myself, my salespeople and my installation team: Today it's easier to succeed than ever before, simply because so much of your competition deosn't even try.

I have no authority over my partner but I can try to influence them with leading by example. If that has no effect, It will at least motivate me to "do everything right" as I know I'll be recognized for my actions/abilities and they'll be recognized for theirs. I know what my goals are and where I want to get to and I'm in a continual state of learning what it will take. That's what I can focus on.

[Adam]

Well, over the last two years on this forum, I've learned what's unprofessional.

1. Showing up late for a game.
2. Showing up dressed for a game.
3. Wearing belted pants.
4. wearing shoes that aren't shined.
5. wearing shoes that aren't all black.
6. wearing collared shirts.
7. chatting with coaches unnecessarily.

In light of all that, I'm considering doing my next game naked to avoid looking unprofessional.

[Adam]

Originally posted by Smitty
Showing up late to a game is unprofessional. I make it a point to be early for my games. Plenty of time to relax and do a thorough pre-game prior to the 15 minute warm-up. I've worked at least 5 JV games in the past 2 years where one of the Varsity officials was there and the other was not when my game finished. I stuck around to fill in if the other ref didn't show up. I do a thorough pre-game with my new partner and every single time - 5 for 5 - the other varsity ref shows up right after we go through all the pre-game. It not only pisses me off, but it pisses that varsity ref who now has to rush his pre-game with his original partner while they walk up to the gym. If your schedule is such that you can't get off work in time to make it to a game at least 30 minutes ahead of time, don't accept the game. You're not only screwing your partner, but the guy who stays to take your place.

At the sub-varsity level, this is actually a regional things. I've expressed to my assignor before that I'd have a difficult time getting there 30 minutes ahead of time, and he told me 15 minutes would be fine.
I always strive to be half an hour early, and have done better at it this year. Although Junker can attest to the fact that I haven't always succeeded.
(I was there 10 minutes early, yet 20 minutes late)

[Smitty]

Originally posted by Snaqwells

At the sub-varsity level, this is actually a regional things. I've expressed to my assignor before that I'd have a difficult time getting there 30 minutes ahead of time, and he told me 15 minutes would be fine.
I always strive to be half an hour early, and have done better at it this year. Although Junker can attest to the fact that I haven't always succeeded.
(I was there 10 minutes early, yet 20 minutes late)

Good point. And I'd also say that if you know you're going to be late (or possibly be late) and you let your partner know, that's different. I was mainly talking about guys who show up late without anyone knowing you're going to be late.

[Adam]

That's far easier to do if you know two things.

A. Who your partner is.
B. How to reach him/her.

[Smitty]

Originally posted by Snaqwells
That's far easier to do if you know two things.

A. Who your partner is.
B. How to reach him/her.

Our association has an awesome website that shows all that info. With a click of the mouse I can send my partner an email, see his phone numbers, I can even look at his/her picture....which is sometimes scary. This is the first association I've worked in that uses the web, and it makes a world of difference. Camron Rust, who posts in this forum, built the site and it is fantastic.

[Adam]

You're in Portland, right?

[Smitty]

Originally posted by Snaqwells
You're in Portland, right?

Yep

[Adam]

Originally posted by Smitty

Yep

In case I move out of Des Moines, I might just pick a locale with a decent officials' association.

[gordon30307]

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!!!!!!!!!! [/B][/QUOTE]

Never had a partner hug a Coach during a pregame. The only person that you can control is yourself. Not much you can do once the game starts. Just try to get through it the best that you can. If you see the guy on your schedule next time give it back to your assignor.

[OverAndBack]

Just in the short time I've been doing this, I've noticed there are different ideas of what should be done and how one should carry oneself (not just in this sport), but you can't worry about it. Sometimes it's frustrating when someone else (in your game or another one) doesn't seem to be taking things as seriously as you do. But as a relatively new guy, I'm not going to say anything to someone who's been at it awhile. I just do things the way I've been taught and that's all I can do. If I ever work with a partner who's less experienced than me (hard for someone to be less experienced than me), I'll point things out constructively, as long as I get the sense they are receptive to feedback. We all know that no matter what endeavor you're involved in, there are some people who just don't want advice or feedback. Let those people go on, and just do the best you can personally. Hopefully stuff sinks in eventually.

[garote]

I had this the other night. My partner is a very experienced official. D1, JC, ETC.... But all before the game he is "glad handing" everybody. I don't think there was anybody in the stands he didn't know.

My advice is this, just work your game. I realize that this behavior reflects on both of us as a "crew" but if you work hard during the game it gives the fans and the coaches nothing to complain about.