Pictures v. Braille

[Back In The Saddle]

I've become kind of infamous here in the office. People tell me that they've stopped hollering stuff at referees at ball games and sometimes ask me rules questions. I've got one buddy here who referees a little church basketball, and we talk. I've got another who coaches a little in a youth league, and we talk as well.

This coach has recently been asked to not only referee in his church league, but also to be in charge of the referees for the league. So our discussions have gone a new direction, and he asked me to bring in my rule books for him to look at. I did that this morning (brought in all four books), and this afternoon I IM'd him. Our conversation went something like this:

Me: You finished reading all that yet?
Him: Yep
Me: Yeah right. Being a coach, I bet you flipped through the comic book and called it good!
Him: Okay, you got me. But I have to say, I'm surprised. I thought they printed these things in Braille for you guys!
Me: {laughter, then drew a complete blank for a comeback}

I know I had it coming. But I hate it when a coach gets one over on me like that

[mplagrow]

I wear my contacts to officiate, but sometimes wear my glasses out and about. I ran into a coach at a teachers' conference, and he was trying to place where he'd seen me before. I told him a ref, and he said, "Oh yeah! I didn't quite recognize you!"

I replied, "Yeah, that's because I've got my glasses on. I take them off to officiate!"

[JCrow]

I think it's very hard to laern the Rules from the Book without good Classroom Instruction. You might suggest that his League try to send a few volunteers to Ref School when it is next offered in your area. The money spent is a good investment for the League in getting better officiated games.