Your worst game ever?

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

wreck league, he was probably doing two gyms at the same time.

No wonder he had so much trouble, it's tough enough to call one game at a time, but calling two simultaneously is an impossible task.

Carrying a pistol in that situation is totally understandable

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Ch1town

No wonder he had so much trouble, it's tough enough to call one game at a time, but calling two simultaneously is an impossible task.

Carrying a pistol in that situation is totally understandable

Yup, might even want to take the bullet out of your shirt pocket and put it in your pants pocket just in case.

[FrankHtown]

"Is that a 357 magnum in your pocket, or you just glad to see me."

[rainmaker]

I had one game where one player drove the baseline for a lay-up, got clotheslined on the way up, and came down with fists flying. A second pair of players took that as license to start into it, and we just decided to call the game. Actually, it was at a camp and the evals decided. I was paralyzed, having never seen this sort of thing before.

Then there was the game where the coach came out onto the floor and body-bumped me. Fortunately for him and me, I still had the whistle in my mouth so I just blew it right into his ear (chuck and rocky, remember that, the next time you are near a ref that's taller than you). He physically recoiled, and was then "rescued" by his assistant coach, and escorted off the premises by the tournament director. I heard later that he quit coaching. Thank goodness.

[M&M Guy]

Ok, this one's easy for me.

Once upon a time, I was in my third year of officiating, and a fellow official asked if I wanted to replace him in a girl's varsity game. I said, "Sure!", especially since I was experienced, having done one other varsity game earlier that season. I was excited because I knew I would be working with a good, veteran partner, and he would keep me out of too much trouble. Well, I get to the gym that evening to find out a few additional things: first, the home team was ranked 7th in the state, the visitors were ranked 10th, and both teams were tied for first in the conference. Second, the gym was packed with fans from both schools. Oh, yea, one other thing - my partner had to get off the game and I was working with a first-year official. So, all of a sudden I'm the senior member of the crew!

Needless to say, things didn't go all that well. (Understatement Alert!) For, example, the home coach threw a clipboard during the game in reaction to a call, but because neither of us actually saw him throw it, neither of us issued the T. I had what I thought was a good call on a home team player who drove the lane, released the shot, took one more step, and crashed into a defender. The foul was straight-forward, but the table didn't like the fact that I was awarding bonus FT's to the visitors. The scorekeeper even shook his head at me and told me it was a terrible call, as I was reporting. Of course, I just walked away. Later on, as I'm administering a FT to a player, someone in the crowd yells out, "So ref, is she giving you favors after the game for that call?!?" There were a few other incidents as well.

The home team finally loses by 12 or 14, and we limp back to the dressing room after the game. We stay there a long time, hoping the gym is cleared out. When we finally come out, there's still 4 or 5 people standing around, and as we walk past them, one of them says, "Are you guys from (the visiting team's town)?" We just say, "No" as we walk quicker to the front door. We're almost to the door, when we hear this lady running up behind us going, "Refs!, Oh, Refs!...". We stop, and wait for her to catch up. She looks at us and asks, "Are either of you guys married?" We look at each other and tell her no, so she says, "Cause I sure hope you f*** better than you ref!!", and turns around and walks away.

Well, I get out to my car, and just sit there for a while, trying to figure out if all this was worth it. I even got home and called my buddy who got me into officiating just to talk to him about it. A couple of things I learned: if you think you're ready for the next level, you probably aren't. Game management issues should not be ignored. And, no matter how hard tonight's game was, there's always the chance to do better at tomorrow night's game.

Oh, yea, the guy I worked with - I never saw him officiate another game.

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by M&M Guy

when we hear this lady running up behind us going, "Refs!, Oh, Refs!...". We stop, and wait for her to catch up.

You stopped and waited... why???

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

You stopped and waited... why???

She didn't appear mad at the time, and the tone of her voice wasn't angry or upset.

Lots of lessons were learned in just that one night.

[tjones1]

Visiting scorer didn't like my foul calls. Starting voicing his opinion while I was reporting. Properly took care of the situation by telling game management to have him removed. While he was being removed he was screaming how he was going to wait for me until after the game.

[btaylor64]

AAU 17:under Nationals all under 4 min. in the game and it's a 4-6 point game:

I call 5 or 6 T's on the same team (all on players except one which was on the assistant). End up calling the game with 10.8.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

You stopped and waited... why???

'Cause he didn't know any better yet.

[Texas Aggie]

Probably last year. Early season tournament assignment for a private school thing. Allegedly varsity. This game amounted to the 7-8th place game, as both teams had lost their first two games. Immediately, it was clear even this game was going to be a blowout. The bad team was poorly coached and lived by the motto "if you can't beat 'um, beat 'um up." We (2 man) struggled to keep control from the middle of the first quarter, but were doing OK. The biggest problem was that we were trying to keep the clock running and throw a bone to the losing team by calling fouls against them and only the felonies committed by them. By the 4th quarter, it was apparent that strategy was flawed. The winning team started getting a little miffed about how they were getting hammered and no call was made.

One example of the contact was a good wrestling throw down move that the losing team was using -- calling it a block out. On a rebound, they'd grab the other player, and throw him down. Unbelievably I let one of these go, then started calling them. The coach was irate from the middle of the 3rd quarter on (down by at least 35 at that point), and in the 4th, my partner threw out one of the premier wrestlers on the losing team after he threw an elbow. The coach started asking me if we gave him a warning first, and I told him, "no, we don't give warnings for flagrant fouls." Then, he started loudly complaining. I had passed on a T before then, but late in the game, it was starting to get out of hand. After I warned him twice, he continued his loud protests, and I dumped him. My first ejection ever. I do know the coach was shocked beyond belief and might have had some job issues because of it. This was supposedly a Christian school!

While I stand by the ejection, I performed poorly. But to some extent, it was worth it due to the things I've learned:

1. Don't automatically go into blowout mode (i.e. ignoring fouls committed by the team getting pummeled), especially early in the game. You might be judicious in your selection of what to call, but don't EVER ignore things like takedowns or other completely physical moves that have no place in any basketball game. I can't believe I swallowed my whistle on that one play.

2. Don't ignore the T even if the team's coach you need to hit is behind by a bunch. Had I hit the coach earlier, ejection may not have come about.

3. Warn once, then enforce. Most coaches don't want to be ejected, and won't chance a second T.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

This was supposedly a Christian school!

What the hell difference does that make?

[Old School]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

While I stand by the ejection, I performed poorly. But to some extent, it was worth it due to the things I've learned:

1. Don't automatically go into blowout mode (i.e. ignoring fouls committed by the team getting pummeled), especially early in the game. You might be judicious in your selection of what to call, but don't EVER ignore things like takedowns or other completely physical moves that have no place in any basketball game. I can't believe I swallowed my whistle on that one play.

2. Don't ignore the T even if the team's coach you need to hit is behind by a bunch. Had I hit the coach earlier, ejection may not have come about.

3. Warn once, then enforce. Most coaches don't want to be ejected, and won't chance a second T.

#1. Never go into blowout mode

#2.) There is this thing called game management. It's in the book. Sometimes, it is better to use your discretion.

#3.) I know some coaches that behave even worse after receiving 1st technical because they know officials won't give them the 2nd one.

Try communicating to the players and coaches how you expect the game should be played, what you will accept and what you will not. If I got a team that's getting chippie, we start sending people to the bench. 7th and 8th grade, go to the bench, varsity, intentional foul. Hopefully you can get thru it, if not JR em...

[Lcubed48]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

Probably last year. Early season tournament assignment for a private school thing. Allegedly varsity. This game amounted to the 7-8th place game, as both teams had lost their first two games. Immediately, it was clear even this game was going to be a blowout. The bad team was poorly coached and lived by the motto "if you can't beat 'um, beat 'um up." We (2 man) struggled to keep control from the middle of the first quarter, but were doing OK. The biggest problem was that we were trying to keep the clock running and throw a bone to the losing team by calling fouls against them and only the felonies committed by them. By the 4th quarter, it was apparent that strategy was flawed. The winning team started getting a little miffed about how they were getting hammered and no call was made.

One example of the contact was a good wrestling throw down move that the losing team was using -- calling it a block out. On a rebound, they'd grab the other player, and throw him down. Unbelievably I let one of these go, then started calling them. The coach was irate from the middle of the 3rd quarter on (down by at least 35 at that point), and in the 4th, my partner threw out one of the premier wrestlers on the losing team after he threw an elbow. The coach started asking me if we gave him a warning first, and I told him, "no, we don't give warnings for flagrant fouls." Then, he started loudly complaining. I had passed on a T before then, but late in the game, it was starting to get out of hand. After I warned him twice, he continued his loud protests, and I dumped him. My first ejection ever. I do know the coach was shocked beyond belief and might have had some job issues because of it. This was supposedly a Christian school!

While I stand by the ejection, I performed poorly. But to some extent, it was worth it due to the things I've learned:

1. Don't automatically go into blowout mode (i.e. ignoring fouls committed by the team getting pummeled), especially early in the game. You might be judicious in your selection of what to call, but don't EVER ignore things like takedowns or other completely physical moves that have no place in any basketball game. I can't believe I swallowed my whistle on that one play.

2. Don't ignore the T even if the team's coach you need to hit is behind by a bunch. Had I hit the coach earlier, ejection may not have come about.

3. Warn once, then enforce. Most coaches don't want to be ejected, and won't chance a second T.

I am in complete agreement with you. We are often our own worst critics. We know when we have made a mistake or were less than perfect. But, we learn from it and move on.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by M&M Guy

She looks at us and asks, "Are either of you guys married?" We look at each other and tell her no, so she says, "Cause I sure hope you f*** better than you ref!!", and turns around and walks away.

This doesn't even make any sense and isn't clever or funny at all. The correct line would have been something like, "If you are, I hope that you go home and f*** your wife as good as you f***ed us!" or something to that effect.

I probably would have laughed at her and asked her if she wanted to go get a drink

My worst experience is easy... Early on in my high school career -- like 3rd or 4th year... Varsity boys tournament. Team is losing by 20-30 and coach decides that it is my fault with like 2-3 minutes left in the game.

I make a call, report it, and go to administer the free throw when I hear something behind me. Look back and the coach's clipboard is all over the floor, papers everywhere... the coach is sitting down not saying a word. I look at my partner like "WTH???"

WHACK!!!

Coach stands up now and yells, "F***K YOU B**TCH!!!"

WHACK! GET OUT!!!

Now coach says nothing and comes out on the court to retrieve his clipboard -- doesn't say another word. I walk over to the table and ask them to have someone escort the coach off the court (no cops / security, of course!) when all of a sudden I head, "I'm going to kick your a$$!!!" and turn to see the assistant coach holding back the head coach who is now coming after me.

My partner comes over as the coach is yelling, "I'm going to wait in the parking lot and kick your a$$!!!" among other profanities.

My partner looks at the table and says, "Game over!" and we run off the court.

Ten minutes later in the locker room, still in a bit of a state of shock, the coach comes in an apologizes -- meek as can be.

To this day I still don't know what I did to pi$$ him off that much!