Conflict of Interest?

[tarheelcoach]

I coach Middle school ball, and also ref in the local leagues on the weekends. Many of the games I call have current or former players playing in them.
One coach call the county and complained that I was favoring 'my players'.
Now, my players are split up among a few teams, and so it is rare for me to call a game that features some of my current players on one team, and none on the other. But occasionally, it happens, and one of those occasions is when the coach complained.

Should I take the 45 minute ride each weekend to the other end of the county to avoid this conflict? Or, is the coach just looking for something to complain about.

BTW - in the category of funny coincidences, I had my first official warning last week in a game I coached, and who was my partner today? That official! Talk about a potential conflict! (We laughed about it and had a good run.)

[ChuckElias]

You should have a conversation with whoever assigns the league about it. If s/he doesn't mind your affiliation with some of these players, then you shouldn't either. If the assignor feels that -- for appearance's sake -- it would be better if you didn't work them, then that settles the issue too.

I taught part-time at a local community college for a while and was assigned to do one of their games. I immediately called the assignor and he said he didn't mind, but that if I ever got hired full-time, he would no longer be able to use me there. Fine with me. Be up front with the assignor and let him/her decide.

[tarheelcoach]

The assignor is/has been aware of the situation from day one - in fact until recently his mother worked at the school with me.