Referee shortage (good or bad)

crazy voyager · #1 (**permalink**) Mon Dec 05, 2005, 04:08am

Just got another mail from the head ref around. Another shortage, we wont get any refs for our men/women junior division 1 series and down. For me, that's mad! But what can we do, we don't even have half the referees we need, and in a way, it's good. I'm going to get work no matter gow bad I do it

We have refs like me, a few years elder though, they got trained, started off ok, got thrown up in the senior series right away. Still, this feels a bit strange, reason,
I'm a player too, my team is aiming for the scandinavian and swedish youth championships, we're the second best in our district and among say, the 5 best in the south of sweden. Now, we wont get referees to our games anymore! It's madness, they threw us out of our series scince we were to good (we blew out evry team except one, and they're the two times scandinavian champs, the only one around we havn't beaten-yet) and now when we're facing big guys (REALLY big guys) and need a good crew, we wont get any. The other teams will get me as their R, wheter they like it or not, but we have nobody :S it's our team who make up the refs in the club, ever heard of something like this? And anybody feel like training in some fiba rules and come take some games :P we wouldn't be able to afford the travel cost though *lol*

Back In The Saddle · #2 (**permalink**) Mon Dec 05, 2005, 09:28am

Yep, we've got a shortage here too. We're having trouble covering all the high school games in our area. It's getting more difficult to find and retain good officials all over, I'm afraid.

ChrisSportsFan · #3 (**permalink**) Mon Dec 05, 2005, 09:47am

I've heard guys around here say that we don't have enough refs. I've heard others clarify that we don't have enough "good" refs. I've then had assignors tell me that there's plenty of officials. At least for basketball there is but they were hoping some of us would come work volleyball or football.

JRutledge · #4 (**permalink**) Mon Dec 05, 2005, 10:04am

I have been told by several assignors we do not have shortage here. We have a shortage in other sports but not in basketball. I also know officials that claim they cannot get that many games as well. What I find interesting is many of the brand new officials usually in there 40s and their kids are either in college or starting high school. So guys that wish they had started earlier are the newer officials. Just about all of our varsity contests around are 3 Person games as well. When I hear from other officials across the country they claim there situations are totally different. I guess we are just fortunate right now. I do not know if things will be the same in 10 years from now.

Peace

crazy voyager · #5 (**permalink**) Mon Dec 05, 2005, 10:09am

3 man crew, that doesn't exist here. I'm one of the one trying to get 3 man crew, at least in the top leuge, but so far nothing. We don't have officials enough, not even at top level. People hardly even know 3 man officiating, often, they call in refs to the championships and have to teach them 3 man crew there. We've got so few refs almost no country runs 3 man, euroleuge offcourse but that's the only leuge I know

oc · #6 (**permalink**) Tue Dec 06, 2005, 06:22pm

Quote:

Originally posted by crazy voyager
3 man crew, that doesn't exist here. I'm one of the one trying to get 3 man crew, at least in the top leuge, but so far nothing. We don't have officials enough, not even at top level. People hardly even know 3 man officiating, often, they call in refs to the championships and have to teach them 3 man crew there. We've got so few refs almost no country runs 3 man, euroleuge offcourse but that's the only leuge I know

What age/level games are you talking about?

crazy voyager · #7 (**permalink**) Thu Dec 08, 2005, 03:57am

all! From the 8 year olds to the mens top leuge, never ever are there 3 man crews. They have refs enough in the highest two men and womens leuges, but that's becuse they're not letting elite referees take games below that level unless aboslutly necessary. So in all games below that we only get officials from the clubs. More games for me, but not good for the teams clubs or sport in whole

IowaMike · #8 (**permalink**) Thu Dec 08, 2005, 08:44am

There isn't a shortage in my area for the most part. Assignors may have a little trouble finding guys for youth weekend rec leagues etc once in a while but everything seems to get filled. Certainly no shortage of people to call varsity games. It can actually be quite difficult to get into the local 4A conference here for basketball. It's easier to get games at the smaller rural schools. I know that they do have a problem getting baseball and volleyball officials as I have AD's and assignors asking me all the time to get volleyball certified.