Why do you officiate?
 

Interesting article about Massachusetts officials and how they got into the game and why they continue to officiate, from the South Boston Enterprise:
http://www.enterprisenews.com/articl...s/sports03.txt

Excerpt:

Is this our BillyMac?

It's a very nice read. But I'd like to answer the question.

I officiate because I love basketball. I played in high school. I played rec league. I went into coaching when my son was a 7th grader. I coached for 11 years. I filmed games, I ran the clock, I did the books. I owned a team for 2 years ( rec league ). then they closed my high school. I wanted to stay involved. So, I thought, I'll become the only honest referee out there ( because as a coach, I hated referees. ) Now being a referee for 7 years, I love refereeing and I see better that referees don't care who wins ( I thought they did ) and they are just doing the bets job that they can. I know that's what I do every night. I love the exercise. I like helping kids ( sometimes, if the opportunity presents itself I explain to a kid why I called what I did, block or push on a moving screen, coaches don't often explain how to set a pick ) I also, help the kids after a foul is called and they begin to complain, I explain that they should control their expression. And this works well. Now on the Varsity level, I may not do this as much, but middle school and Freshman, I would.

Basketball is the greatest sport that God gave to us. We are here to keep it great. Look at the difference between basketball on a court and on the streets.

Because I'm a glutton for punishment. :)

I officiate because I need to be around basketball. I can't not.

I stopped growing in grade 10 when I was 5'10", but still started at forward on the junior team at school. We were a small team and I couldn't dribble so I was doomed to getting hammered in the low post all game, every game by bigger guys. I didn't play senior ball for this very reason, instead turning to officiating - it was a way to be around the game of basketball that didn't hurt quite as much.

One thing struck me about this article though - did you notice that every guy they talked to was a multi-sport official? Whatever happened to specialists? With apologies to any multi-sport officials reading this, I have my reservations about guys like that. There are a few guys who do football and basketball in my area (the two sports in which I am the most involved) and it's clear they're there probably for the money second but certainly the power trip first. Not to say they're bad guys, it's more that maybe their priorities are a bit out of whack.

Power trip? There for the money? Just because they officiate two sports?

Lah me......:rolleyes:

Did the thought ever cross your mind that maybe....just maybe.....because do two sports because they <b>need</b> to be around those two sports? They can't not be around those two sports?

Congratulations. You just dumped on a whole bunch of fine officials without ever having met them.

This is me. The only two sports I do are basketball and softball. I've always loved basketball. As far back as I can remember, ACC tournament time has been a sacred time of year.

I didn't start out loving softball, in fact, I just went because my sister played. But over about 10 years of watching softball, I've grown to love the sport, and so I now umpire softball.

I know that some guys will referee just about every sport imaginable, and that, I think, is a little questionable. But some guys just enjoy more than one sport. You can't have more than one woman (unless you're just that good), but you can have more than one sport, no problem.

Well...
 

I do baseball and basketball just becuse I love those two sports and want to stay involved.:)

I officiate because it has always been an interesting of mine since the 3rd grade. I loved to watch those guys working in the NBA and NCAA blow whistles and get yelled at. For some reason it appealed to me. They never really let me play at school because I wasn't that great. They were like Tommy you can be the Ref. I was like ok. After that it just stuck to me. I started working ball when i was 12 doing 6 year olds and moved up after that. I was certified to do high school when I was a senior but they held my schedule since I was student. Now 21 and I a full time college student I have been doing h.s. ball for 4 years and NCAA D3 and JC mens for the past 2. I just love being out there and part of the game in very special way :) ;)

I officiate basketball because I'm good!

I'm just kidding. :D

My signature says it all, I'm from Indiana so it is in my blood.

I do football and basketball for exactly the same reasons.

I love the sports.

I love the people involved (players, most of the coaches, most of the fans, nearly all of my co-officials) and enjoy being around them in their moments of competition.

I love what I receive from officiating and what I'm able to give back to players, coaches, fans, and officials with whom I work.

When I have gone through times without officiating, I missed it dearly.

The mental and physical challenge of athletic preparation, participation, and competition at an "excellent" level provide a variety of life that keeps me feeling younger, even as I get older, and helps me move through life with a vigor and excitement that is exceeded only by my faith and my family.

The bottom line for me: Officiating is just plain fun and enjoyable.

I officiate because it gives me the opportunity to exercise virtual unlimited authority over people for no other reason than I just want to be able to make them subservient to my will.

At least, that's what my wife says. I'm not so sure she's wrong.

I started officiating soccer and softball to become a better basketball official. Soccer taught me to have a more patient whistle and allow players the opportunity to "play through" minor contact. Softball has taught me when it's appropriate to "sell" a call and the importance of communicating with my partner.

Ok,
 

Since I only officiate ONE sport I guess my reason would be considered wrong by one poster:

I officiate for power and money.

Regards,

I beg your pardon, but:

You'll note I dumped on the officials in my area; read: a whole bunch of fine officials I have met. There are some who I welcome working with, be it as a partner in basketball or as a coach in football. However, I also know for a fact that some have never played the game in question, be it football or basketball (yes, some colleagues of mine have never played basketball - how they were able to get onto the court is beyond me), and assumed that because they were expert officials (in their own minds) in one sport, they'd be equally good at making money and throwing their weight around in another.

I realize the officials in the original article are not examples of such, but it's not them I'm "dumping on".

You have reservations about multi-sport officials from MASS, but you're still trying to say that you were referring to officials in <b>your</b> area when you explained your reservations?

Sorry, don't think I'm gonna buy that one. You inferred that the multi-sport officials from MASS were the same as a few officials that you know--i.e. they were only in it for the power and the money.

I need to be around baseball. It's my first love. I played basketball and greatly enjoyed being on the team. (I only played in two games.) So when the basketball referee association advertised for officials, and I needed to keep active during the winter months, it seemed perfect.

I'm only paid for the basketball. I see my function to be there to see the rules are applied fairly and to help keep it fun for the kids. I don't think power or money figure in. I could be delusional of course. Or at the very least, in denial.

Rita

Why ??
 

I get the best seat in the house to watch some outstanding athletes.

I get to meet a lot of people, fellow officials, coaches, players, site directors, athletic directors, and fans.

I get in a pretty good workout three of four times a week.

I love basketball. I love interscholastic sports.

I find officiating a challange. I'm always trying to improve.

I get paid for this. I wouldn't do it for free, except for the Special Oympics Unified Games and the "Doc" Hurley Scholarship Tournament.

Perhaps I'm not being clear. What I should have said was that my first impression of multi-sport officials - which has been formed based on what I observe from watching and working with some blowhards in BC - is that they are out there for money and to be authority figures. I didn't say it was like that in Massachusetts, but it certainly doesn't seem like it based on the quotes in that article...

... which are refreshing for me to hear about after working with some egomaniacs who think they're God's gift to basketball, tennis, korfball, football, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, fast pitch softball, standard pitch softball, slow pitch softball, t-ball, curling, figure skating, etc. Either way, I did not intend to crap on anybody. Jurassic, you don't have to "buy" this either if it's not what you're hoping to read.

I love basketball - thanks to all the years of ball my children provided!
It keeps me physically active.
It keeps me mentally active.
I get to go to work with my sons!
I love basketball - it changes slowly, giving an official the chance to study and eventually excel without feeling that the excellence is a "moving target".
Variety - lots of schools to work at, lots of officials to work with.
Meeting other officials - the finest of folks!
Teamwork on the court, 2 or 3-man.
Personal growth - dealing with stressful situations and learning how to not aggravate the situation but to soothe it.
Administering a basketball game - just a wonderful opportunity to fascilitate a fair contest.
I love basketball - nothing better in the playoffs than seeing three good teams take the court!

That's pretty much the way I feel about it. Love the game, just wanna make it a good game.