Worst Weekend Ever

[Old School]

Originally Posted by ref18

I just finished the worst weekend I've ever had.

15 games, tossed 2 coaches, gave about 10 techs.

No one has any respect anymore.

I can honestly say in 6 years, I've never considered hanging up the whistle. Until last weekend.


It just sucked.

That's why I say, you got to take care of business. Sometimes calling a technical can make matters worse.

Part of your problem can be attributed to working too many games in a row. You were mentally tired and you're not doing the game or those teams any service when you are in this state. Limit your games in a day and I think you will be fine. These coaches are paying upwards of $300 or more to play and they get out there and get some ref's that are tired and missing a lot of calls, that's a problem. You can't blame the coaches for being upset either. They should get some fresh referee's, but they got money hungry you, sucking up all the games. They paid there money but they're not getting their dollars worth. Look at it this way, you just earned your money the old fashion way. Me, I try to limit myself to 4 games in a day. I stay away from assigners who try to push me to do more.

[Mwanr1]

Originally Posted by Old School

These coaches are paying upwards of $300 or more to play and they get out there and get some ref's that are tired and missing a lot of calls, that's a problem.

OHH That's BS - I don't give a sh*t how much money they put out. Yelling and screaming at the refs, at whatever level, should not be tolerated.

Originally Posted by Old School

They paid there money but they're not getting their dollars worth. Look at it this way, you just earned your money the old fashion way.

They don't pay us - they pay for their teams to play. We are not a well understood bunch outside the business. Who do you know that likes to be yelled at, degraded and threatened, knowing it will happen consistently while we work and the only compasion anyone will ever show is when we are seriously injured? Make sure to include we are grossly underpaid.

[Old School]

Originally Posted by Mwanr1

OHH That's BS - I don't give a sh*t how much money they put out. Yelling and screaming at the refs, at whatever level, should not be tolerated.

I agree with your take on yelling and screaming, but remember, they would not be doing this if you are taking care of business. Contrary to popluar belief, coaches just don't yell and scream for no reason at all.

Originally Posted by Mwanr1

They don't pay us - they pay for their teams to play. We are not a well understood bunch outside the business. Who do you know that likes to be yelled at, degraded and threatened, knowing it will happen consistently while we work and the only compasion anyone will ever show is when we are seriously injured? Make sure to include we are grossly underpaid.

You need to have a gut check here. This is the type of business officiating is. Some nights are worse than others but when you put that uniform on, you gotta know it's going to be coming at you. Believe it or not, I don't have very many problems like this anymore in my AAU games until of course, I get tired and I'm not as attentive to everything I need to be. BTW, the money they collect from the teams goes to pay for you.

[smoref]

Originally Posted by Old School

I agree with your take on yelling and screaming, but remember, they would not be doing this if you are taking care of business. Contrary to popluar belief, coaches just don't yell and scream for no reason at all.

You need to have a gut check here. This is the type of business officiating is. Some nights are worse than others but when you put that uniform on, you gotta know it's going to be coming at you. Believe it or not, I don't have very many problems like this anymore in my AAU games until of course, I get tired and I'm not as attentive to everything I need to be. BTW, the money they collect from the teams goes to pay for you.

I have ignored you long enough, I just can't hold it anymore.


YOU ARE AN IDIOT

To say that you never have problems doing AAU ball is either a complete lie are you are doing 1st graders.

Yesterday, in my first game I had a nice little pregame with the coaches and explained what I expected from them, yada yada. I called a foul and the coach stood in front of the table and was blocking the view of the score keeper. I politely asked him to go back in front of his bench. A few minutes later he was out of his box again complaining. I whacked him and we moved on. After the game he came over and apologized for being out of line and said we did a great job. He also lost the game.

I was not tired or being lazy and he was acting out of line and he was wrong. That was one of 4 T's I had this weekend. The other three were basically the same scenario

Go back to fairy tail land or coaching. What ever is your reality

[ChrisSportsFan]

I'd like to agree with several other posters here (not about gasoline prices or holding a rules clinic with fans), I don't work these games to listen to the parents or coaches act like idiots. I think it's a great time to work on certain aspects of my game management but not the time to see how patient I can be with someone who is thinking they are going to say or act in such a way to influence my calls. If it gets to that point, I choose to offer a warning and then issue the T if it continues. It amazes me how many guys will offer the warning and then don't follow it up if needed. They keep going back and offer more warnings and then they complain about the coaches. Just like others have said, issue the T and I've seen countless times where the coach will come back with an apology after they've had time to consider their actions. I don't look for it but sometimes they will learn and then next time you're on their game it's soooooo much easier.

Another thing I do with these games is make sure I am working with a quality partner who I know will take care of their business if needed.

[Old School]

Originally Posted by smoref

I have ignored you long enough, I just can't hold it anymore.


YOU ARE AN IDIOT

To say that you never have problems doing AAU ball is either a complete lie are you are doing 1st graders.

I did not say that, now go back and read my posts and try it again.

Originally Posted by smoref

Yesterday, in my first game I had a nice little pregame with the coaches and explained what I expected from them, yada yada. I called a foul and the coach stood in front of the table and was blocking the view of the score keeper. I politely asked him to go back in front of his bench. A few minutes later he was out of his box again complaining. I whacked him and we moved on. After the game he came over and apologized for being out of line and said we did a great job. He also lost the game.

I was not tired or being lazy and he was acting out of line and he was wrong. That was one of 4 T's I had this weekend. The other three were basically the same scenario.

Go back to fairy tail land or coaching. What ever is your reality

My reality is not to whack a coach because he's standing in front of the table while I'm trying to report a foul in an AAU game. I have been doing this for a long time. I figured a few things out but to say that all my games are perfect would be a lie. The majority of my games I don't have a problem because I work hard at being an effective communicator. A part of the job they don't really teach you. I use to umpire and do adult wreck softball. You learn a few things when you got 20 beer drinking men, all with baseball bats and attitudes and you are the single guy in charge of the game and controlling the fans. You develop this attitude.

The art of communicating. I remember a softball game I had where in the top half of the 1st inning this player had on a football helmet playing left field. When he came in, I was like, what is that on your head, take it off. Player and his coach and all the other guys on his team, the other umpires let him play with it on. I said fine, he can leave it on! Everytime he comes up to bat, he will be automatically out, but, he can leave it on. You should have seen how quick he took that helmet off. My point is, you don't have to carry a big stick to get your point across. You control the game, take control and keep control. We are going to all (players, coaches, fans) respect one another in this game. Remember, if you give respect, you will get respect in return. That is my reality.