Trouble recruiting refs for a men's league

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by ranjo

I have always been told the only difference between a good referee and a great referee were game management skills. Adult league games are a great place to learn and practice game management.

So back to the orginal post - Try to sell the league as a game management skills improvement opportunity.

I will tell you why I think that is not true. The consequences are not the same. Men's leagues will not suspend a player for similar actions at the NCAA or NF levels (even lower levels). It is not an equal comparison. When you deal with NCAA and NF games, you will be supported by those leagues when you do things professionally. You can talk to these players all day in a professional manner and they can threaten you personally after the game. I guess that could happen in a HS or college game, but that would go along with a report and the league taken harsh action. I have known guys working these leagues to threaten officials and pay a small fine and was later allowed to play without real consequence. What an official will do is have to avoid picking up bad habits. The problem with Men's leagues is the play, behavior, consequences do not translate.

Peace

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

It is not an equal comparison. When you deal with NCAA and NF games, you will be supported by those leagues when you do things professionally. You can talk to these players all day in a professional manner and they can threaten you personally after the game. I guess that could happen in a HS or college game, but that would go along with a report and the league taken harsh action. I have known guys working these leagues to threaten officials and pay a small fine and was later allowed to play without real consequence. What an official will do is have to avoid picking up bad habits. The problem with Men's leagues is the play, behavior, consequences do not translate.

Peace

Not always true. I've worked rec leagues with strong game/on-site admin who enforced league by-laws. I worked one league where ejected players had 2 minutes to vacate the premises or team forfeited and and the Sheriff's office would receive a call (they had a team in the league and their department was 2 blocks away). I've never had anyone threaten me after a game. On the contrary, I've had players or their teammates apologize for poor behavior on quite a few ocassions.

I've learned a lot of my game management skills from rec league. I've also made mistakes in rec leagues that I couldn't afford to make in HS and JuCo. I learn from those mistakes.

My most prominent mentor (Sweet 16; multiple conference and NIT championship games) cut his teeth on rec leagues and is a big proponent of working as many games as you can as your work your way up the ladder.

My biggest beef with Rec Leagues isn't the players, it's the horrible play I sometimes have to witness

[JRutledge]

If you like those leagues work those leagues. I know a lot of officials that never worked those leagues and are doing just fine on the game management front. I think there are a lot of ways to learn game management skills and you certainly do not need these leagues to get that experience.

Peace

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

If you like those leagues work those leagues. I know a lot of officials that never worked those leagues and are doing just fine on the game management front. I think there are a lot of ways to learn game management skills and you certainly do not need these leagues to get that experience.

Peace

Well I know a few who did work rec leagues on their way up. So I'm not going to discourage others from exploring those avenues.

As far as game management skills, I can only speak for myself and what has worked for me.

Of course, it could just be a regional thing.

[Back In The Saddle]

Working rec games has helped me quite a bit. However, there are some dangers. The first is developing, or devolving to, "rec league mechanics." You have to rage against that. Second is developing a cynical attitude about all ball players and coaches. That can hurt you if you take it into a HS game. Third is staying too long. There comes a time in every official's career where rec league isn't going to help him/her any more. At that point, it's time to leave it for the new guys.

Oh, I forgot one. It's important to remember to switch hands for every T. Otherwise you stand a real chance of developing a RSI.

[blindmanwalking]

If nobody is there to back up your decisions, you could benefit by having a taser handy.

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by blindmanwalking

If nobody is there to back up your decisions, you could benefit by having a taser handy.

I said "Raise your hand when I call a foul on you."

[walt]

I think you can see a lot of us have been there and done that. Most experienced officials have no desire to work these games because they are nothing but a hassle night after night. That being said, I have told my assignor that I will only work these games with another senior official who goes in with the same philosophy I have. Whack 'em early and as often as necessary. Hoefully, since most of these games have running clocks, the idiots will realize that the clock still runs even though we're shooting free throws. The worse they behave, the more whistles get blown, and the slowere my partner and I get putting the ball back in play. These leagues are bad news because the players, and I use that term loosely, usually don;t have any concept. How many times have we heard, come on let us play, followed by "you gotts call that" from the same player on light contact situations. Good luck in getting officials.

[walt]

I apologize for my spelling. I guess my three fingers are rusty from not posting for a while.

[IREFU2]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

Not always true. I've worked rec leagues with strong game/on-site admin who enforced league by-laws. I worked one league where ejected players had 2 minutes to vacate the premises or team forfeited and and the Sheriff's office would receive a call (they had a team in the league and their department was 2 blocks away). I've never had anyone threaten me after a game. On the contrary, I've had players or their teammates apologize for poor behavior on quite a few ocassions.

I've learned a lot of my game management skills from rec league. I've also made mistakes in rec leagues that I couldn't afford to make in HS and JuCo. I learn from those mistakes.

My most prominent mentor (Sweet 16; multiple conference and NIT championship games) cut his teeth on rec leagues and is a big proponent of working as many games as you can as your work your way up the ladder.

My biggest beef with Rec Leagues isn't the players, it's the horrible play I sometimes have to witness

Thats because you are a BIG DOWG!!!!