There's a great idea in another thread from an official who played for a coach in HS who would bring in an official to speak with his team each year. To be truthful, I've thought about doing the very same thing before. I'd not expect anyone to do this out of the goodness of their heart so what should I do in exchange for the time spent with my team? Gift certificate to a dining establishment? case of beer? cash? What would you expect in a similar situation?

Thanks, and as always, be kind.

coachgrd

Of course, I would do it for free, but that just me. A basketball with your teams logo and names would be a nice gift or some kind of certificate.

My suggestion would be to contact your local referee association, to make sure you get someone who knows what they are talking about, then an honorarium to the association would be appropriate.

A polo shirt with an embroidered state athletic association LOGO.

Nothing. Consider it an opportunity to promote officiating, your association and yourself. I'd view it as an opportunity to reach potential future officials and impress them with my professionalism.

Other options:

1) A game fee

2) Invitation to the pizza party that follows

3) A promise by the coach that s/he won't misbehave in games this year ;)

4) If you're giving out team t-shirts, give one to the ref.

5) A hearty handshake and a pat on the back

Whatever you do, make sure that the team members go up and thank the ref afterwards (not as a "formal / scripted" thank you, but as a spontaneous event).

Also, consider inviting / requiring the parents to attend.

Forksref,
I don't think coachgrd would be comfortable offering "nothing".
It would seem a bit presumptive to ask an official to do that thing so that *the official would feel better*, eventhough the official may well do it for fun or due to some virtue.
mick

I think nothing less than a statue in front of the school honoring all official-kind would be appropriate.

My first thoughts were contact the local association for the speaker & offer a game fee, so I'll second those ideas.

I do like the statue suggestion. Maybe the statue can be an official holding the ball while standing tall with a thoughtful, watchful look and a squirrel by his side (wouldn't want to have Chuck feeling left out).

I've done this in conjunction to working their inner-squad scrimmage. Afterwards we talked to the players and one particular coach made sure the parents were within hearing distance. I did this for 3 schools and was paid $20, $75 and one school gave us a bottle of water. Some of these kids have been playing in rec leagues for years where I ref and some of these parents have been downright idiots in the past. I can tell you that those schools were a joy to go back and officiate at this year.

I think this helps players and parents see that officials are real people and we actually do know what we're talking about. They have a better inderstanding of some of the stuff we're watching for. Also, we usually mention that for those that really love the game who will be finished playing after this season, officiating is a great way to stay involved with the game.

Great idea, but I have enough problems with "Hey, I'm a ref and [blah blah blah I know the rules better than you blah blah]". Now, you have all the coaches and parents saying "Blah blah blah, I heard a ref speak for a hour so I know all the rules better than you blah blah." A little information is a dangerous thing in the wrong hands. Plus, you have "But this ref said...". I'm not against coaches knowing the rules, I'm against giving that sort of validation and authority to people who aren't looking to use it properly.

While I certainly respect your opinion, I think the positives out-weigh the negatives with this. JMO

I agree with your concept, everyone should not have a drivers license.

Myself, I wouldn't do this for ALL schools/coaches. I went to schools that I fully understood the coaches motives. Also, I never set any fee, they paid what they were able and that's fine with me.

SpeedyGonGoalie,
We put our knowledge on the block every game.
We deal with your suggested "blah, blah" every game.

What's the difference? The environment, ... as a protagonist in an educational, close and non-confrontational setting.
mick

It would depend entirely on where they are coming from and what they could be giving up that night (playoffs, job considerations). I would think you should at the very least pay the gas mileage and wear and tear on their car. You could pay them close to a game fee as well. I think it really depends on what they are expected to do. There really is not one answer that fits. I think you have to decide what the talk is worth to you. I know we have given officials a few hundred dollars just to speak to a bunch of official. One official gave back the entire check and donated it back to our association. It is all about what you feel is worth the while of the person speaking, regardless of whom that person is and what profession they come from.

Peace

[QUOTE]Originally posted by mick

Quote:

SpeedyGonGoalie, We put our knowledge on the block every game. We deal with your suggested "blah, blah" every game. What's the difference? The environment, ... as a protagonist in an educational, close and non-confrontational setting. mick

I have no problem with the setting of the talk, I have a problem with what people tend to with the knowledge they recieve. If it meant people had a better understanding of how a referee views a game, and approached being a fan or coach differently, then fine. My problem is here you have people who learn the rules, and are being told my a referee how he/she (and only him or her) views a game. They are not learning the self-control, the ability to look at a game unbiasedly (although many officials do not learn that as well). They then think that they have some sort of authority and right to question you. I understand that officials have to deal with disagreement every game, but now you're having the other party believe, with justification (in their mind) that they know better. This would work better if there was a way to explain to people "We've taught you something things here, and we expect that they are not used against us, because that's not our purpose here. Our purpose to give you a better understand of how and why we do what we do."

[QUOTE]Originally posted by SpeedyGonGoalie

Quote:

Originally posted by mick Quote: SpeedyGonGoalie, We put our knowledge on the block every game. We deal with your suggested "blah, blah" every game. What's the difference? The environment, ... as a protagonist in an educational, close and non-confrontational setting. mick My problem is here you have people who learn the rules, and are being told my a referee how he/she (and only him or her) views a game. They are not learning the self-control, the ability to look at a game unbiasedly (although many officials do not learn that as well). They then think that they have some sort of authority and right to question you. I understand that officials have to deal with disagreement every game, but now you're having the other party believe, with justification (in their mind) that they know better.

Literacy and knowledge do not just happen.
They take time.
They require a first letter, a first word.
They need to be available.
They may be ignited by a speaker, a book, a picture.

They are not born of frustration and apathy.
They are not given light in a dark hole.
First there is the spark.
Then, ...it takes time.

mick

Good grief. We're not talking about the secrets to the universe here. They're basketball rules, for crying out loud.

I like the shirt idea, personally. I personally wouldn't ask for money. But a shirt with the state association logo (no squirrels, please) is kind of sharp and would be a nice gesture.

I have exchanged email with the secretary/treasurer of our local board, and we are already having a discussion about whether we should offer ourselves for such sessions. We might send a letter to the AD's in our area (only about 10 or so high schools in the southwest corner of New Hampshire) informing them that officials would be willing to come to their schools and present. This is very early planning stages and more planning and coordination among our officials will be required. I don't know if we can make it work from a standpoint of logistics and details, but I like the idea. Thanks, whoever had it.

[Edited by Rick Durkee on Feb 23rd, 2005 at 09:33 PM]

There's a basketball camp that our local boards referees camp is held in conjunction with. Our camp lasts 3 days, while the players camp lasts a full week. Usually the day after the officials camp is done, our high school ball assignor goes and gives a presentation to the kids on rule changes and misconceptions. He does a really good job of it, I was lucky enough to be going in to do the afternoon session last year, and I got to listen in. The guy is so dedicated to the game.

I've only ever done this at the beginning of the season like just before they started games.