Cooling off

[blindzebra]

Originally Posted by Old School

No, not at all. I am not beating myself up trying to get a HS playoff assignment. I know what I can do and I let my ability speak for itself. I have not been trying to get a HS playoff assignment for 15 years, so I am not in that boat. However, I do think I played both sides of the track here. I complimented the OP on his success. Go back and reread my post. I know that you only focused on the negative remarks I made, but there was some congrats and advice.

Getting to the 2nd part of the story. I am in the camp that believes there are a lot of qualified officials that can work both DI and state playoffs where the same DI official shouldn't have to work 7 to 28 days in a row. With state HS assignments, I have been told that there are way more officials applying then there are assignments. This causes the selection process to come under scrutiny and knowing this country's poor track record of discrimination in hiring, especially in sports, an eyebrow raises when someone who's being doing it for such a short period of time is chosen over a person who's been doing it much longer. I wanted to try and paint the picture to the OP how the other person may feel. But please don't give me the BS that this cat earned his way. He probably earned 20% of his way. It's all about who you know in this business and you have to put as much effort into the politics as you have to do your game. That be the way it is.

Rec ref alert!

I do rec leagues, because I don't want to play the politics of that other ball, it's beneath me.

Yeah, right!

Let's think logically about this for a second...I know that is tough for you...but the assigner has to live with the official he/she picks, no?

So this assigner is going to throw a completely unqualified official out there in a high profile game/level knowing that when they screw it up, the assigner will be the one taking the heat...and phone calls...for choosing that official? Don't think so.

It's typical...it's called sour grapes.

Last year my partner and I were fortunate enough to work a state semi-final, on that same day friends of ours worked semis also. One worked a semi at a higher level this year. My partner and I worked a final. My other friend didn't work anything past the first round.

He was upset, said some things about how we obviously kissed the right butts and played the "game" better than he did. The funny thing is, that he was the one calling the assigner about his schedule, begging to do the high profile holiday tournament, while we did neither. We worked the big holiday tournament again, because we were asked to based on how we performed in it last year and in our state semis. We in turn worked our semi and final this year based on how we performed last year and this year in the big holiday tournament. In other words WE EARNED IT.

So keep in mind, the cream will rise to the top. Sour cream usually sinks.

[swvaref]

I agree to let it go. I have just finished my 5th year. I got a playoff game last year and also one this year. Our commissioner has allowed almost every JV official to work a V game with 2 veterans.He believes in promoting officials and giving them chances. It is at least 5-10 officials with less then 5 years in our assossiation that is doing D3. We had an invite to go to a D1 camp in Florida last year by our commissioner in which 5 of us went. I know there is a lot of talk from the veteran officials. I was with 2 veterans on a Big game in Jan. We did the pre-game, everything was going great. We were standing beside the court just about ready to go on the court,the older ref turns to me, gets in my face and said "I dont think you should be on this game." Turns and walks on the court. Needless to say I was shocked. I got on the floor worked my butt off, I had no problems. I agree the cream will rise to the top.When the coaches see the new young officials more and more they will get more comfortable. I will admitt I get more heat from the coaches and the fans than the vets do.I had a vet tell me , no matter where I go, middle school, JV, V, boys ,girls or AAU to work as if my commississioner is in the stands watching me and believe me, it has paid off