Hope a friend helps him

[refnrev]

Couple of weeks ago did a MS game with a 3 year vet. Before the game he was telling me he was frustrated at the "good old boy" system and that he couldn't get any HS games of any level. I though to myself n his city and surrounding small towns he could be turning away FR and JV Games galore. Before game I noticed he had a 99 cent whistle, dress pants with cuffs, a stretched V neck that showed way too much white T-shirt, and dress loafers with rubber soles to officiate in. During the game, he tossed it with the whistle in his mouth, let several rolls and crawls on the floor go without a travel, missed a bunch of fouls on the shooter, and was out of position so many times he just couldn't have seen the right call. I caught some of these, but couldn't and shouldn't call the whole floor. Coach was on him so much I finally whacked him to shut him up and get him off his back... the chirping wasn't helping him or the game any at all.
At half he asked me what the T was for. I said, "That one was for you Bud. He was out of line" He thanked me.
I gave him a few pointers afterwards to try to help, but didn't know him well enough to say too much. The guy loves the game. I hope some of his friends will step up and help him out. I think there's a guy who could become a good official....he just hasn't had any mentoring.

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by refnrev

Couple of weeks ago did a MS game with a 3 year vet. Before the game he was telling me he was frustrated at the "good old boy" system and that he couldn't get any HS games of any level. I though to myself n his city and surrounding small towns he could be turning away FR and JV Games galore. Before game I noticed he had a 99 cent whistle, dress pants with cuffs, a stretched V neck that showed way too much white T-shirt, and dress loafers with rubber soles to officiate in. During the game, he tossed it with the whistle in his mouth, let several rolls and crawls on the floor go without a travel, missed a bunch of fouls on the shooter, and was out of position so many times he just couldn't have seen the right call. I caught some of these, but couldn't and shouldn't call the whole floor. Coach was on him so much I finally whacked him to shut him up and get him off his back... the chirping wasn't helping him or the game any at all.
At half he asked me what the T was for. I said, "That one was for you Bud. He was out of line" He thanked me.
I gave him a few pointers afterwards to try to help, but didn't know him well enough to say too much. The guy loves the game. I hope some of his friends will step up and help him out. I think there's a guy who could become a good official....he just hasn't had any mentoring.

Did you refer him to this board? A lot of newbies learn not only rules and management, but also attitude and frame of mind here. That might be just the thing.

[refnrev]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

Did you refer him to this board? A lot of newbies learn not only rules and management, but also attitude and frame of mind here. That might be just the thing.

_____________________________
Mentioned it to him, but he's not a big fan of the Internet. I say this with fear and trembling... but since he is a large, athletic black guy, some of the really good.... and I mean really, really good! African American guys in this area could work with him. The AA guys with lots of experience that I know in this area seem to really hold thmeselves and their partners, regardless of ethnicity to a very high standard in every aspect of the game. I learn much from them every game.

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by refnrev

_____________________________
Mentioned it to him, but he's not a big fan of the Internet. I say this with fear and trembling... but since he is a large, athletic black guy, some of the really good.... and I mean really, really good! African American guys in this area could work with him. The AA guys with lots of experience that I know in this area seem to really hold thmeselves and their partners, regardless of ethnicity to a very high standard in every aspect of the game. I learn much from them every game.

You might ask one of them specifically to take him under their wing, especially if you think he'd be more opent to their advice than yours. Or are they the "old boys network" that he thinks is holding him back?

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

Or are they the "old boys network" that he thinks is holding him back?

Or maybe it's the the "old girls network" too.

Empathy is my middle name.

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Or maybe it's the the "old girls network" too.

Empathy is my middle name.

Uh, hello? Jurrasic.... the point of the ol' BOYS network is that they don't let anyone else in... get it? don't let anyone in???

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

Did you refer him to this board? A lot of newbies learn not only rules and management, but also attitude and frame of mind here. That might be just the thing.

As one of the relative "newbies", I certainly appreciate when a senior official helps "in the right way." I have one guy who I just love working with as he gives great pointers and critiques.

I have also worked with several Sr Refs, who "think they're all that" who have no idea how to give constructive criticism, coach, and mentor jr officials......and no one has ever mentored them on their numeorus bad habits or game knowledge - I certainly don't......yet.

As GEN Colin Powell once said after the first Gulf War, "Even Saddam Hussien has value.....he can always be used as a bad example."

I certainly point "new officials" to this Forum. Even for those of us who don't write in much, there is lots to learn here.

[JRutledge]

refnrev,

It sounds to me like he has no understanding of what he is suppose to look like and what he is actually supposed to do from an officiating point of view. You cannot claim "old boy network" when people can look at you and see that you are out of place.

Also I would not recommend someone like that to this board. I think it is better for people that have some working knowledge of what they are supposed to do or willing to learn. Based on what you described, I do not know that he fits that profile and this place can be not only confusing but brutal if you do not know many of the basics.

All you should do is tell him to attend some camps with the IHSA and I am sure someone can help him out as to what to do. It is not uncommon to have people that have little or no experience and they learn more than they would otherwise.

Peace

[refnrev]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

refnrev,

It sounds to me like he has no understanding of what he is suppose to look like and what he is actually supposed to do from an officiating point of view. You cannot claim "old boy network" when people can look at you and see that you are out of place.

Also I would not recommend someone like that to this board. I think it is better for people that have some working knowledge of what they are supposed to do or willing to learn. Based on what you described, I do not know that he fits that profile and this place can be not only confusing but brutal if you do not know many of the basics.

All you should do is tell him to attend some camps with the IHSA and I am sure someone can help him out as to what to do. It is not uncommon to have people that have little or no experience and they learn more than they would otherwise.

Peace

______________________


Unortunately, you're right. I remember my first post. I got jumped on by a rules book superman. Rather than helping people get better sometimes some of the people of this baord just beat them up and run them off. It's kind of sad. he went to a clinic a week or so ago. Hope he got help am not hung.

[dan74]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

refnrev,

It sounds to me like he has no understanding of what he is suppose to look like and what he is actually supposed to do from an officiating point of view. You cannot claim "old boy network" when people can look at you and see that you are out of place.

Also I would not recommend someone like that to this board. I think it is better for people that have some working knowledge of what they are supposed to do or willing to learn. Based on what you described, I do not know that he fits that profile and this place can be not only confusing but brutal if you do not know many of the basics.

Second year official here, yes, I'm one of the 30% or so that came back for year two. I found this site around the time I first started pouring through the rules and case books around this same time last year.

I think people search for information when there's enough desire. My guess is many of us found this site because of searching for information to become a good official. Although I have no problem telling him about this site, I guess a part of me wonders if he hasn't found it by now would he utilize the resource? Only one way to find out, I guess.