Deferring to parnter vs the rookie treatment

[JRutledge]

Originally posted by bigzilla
With my next playoff assignment coming this week, I will be calling for the second time with someone I have never met, and I accept that the person will probably be much more experienced, but we are supposed to be the third team on the floor. Has anyone found a way of dealing with an arrogant, condescending partner, short of doing what I wanted, which was to grab him by his pencil necked geek throat and face slam him on the dressing room floor? I think that once I refused to follow his lead on the floor regarding calling phantom fouls, he retaliated.

I assume, despite his antics, that everyone would advise not to have it out on the floor, but I was tempted to when he did the rolling eyes and shaking head. Suggestions?

All of us have faced a challenge with an experienced partner at some point. If we haven't, we probably will. The best thing is to keep your mouth shut and do some investigation about your partner. I would ask around about this official and see if he is respected with other officials.

It sounds like the official resented the fact that you were working a playoff game in such a short period of time. I am sure you are qualified according to the people that assigned you the game. This official probably for some reason feels you were not, especially in the condescending way he constructed the pregame. You are just going to have to deal with that for some time until you start working more games that proves your worth. Unfortunately a lot of veterans that have been around for a really long time see younger officials get opportunities that they did not receive and take it out on those officials. That is just the way it is and will always be to some extent. Just bite your tongue and chalk it up to experience.

Peace