Had good comeback yesterday....

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

Insert Larry Craig joke here.

NO, don't.

[tomegun]

Coltdoggs,

Your growth as an official will be stunted if you continue to listen to fans. Furthermore, I would never suggest doing what you did. No matter how much you may think a problem will never occur, one parent in the wrong frame of mind could back you into a "corner" and you could very well end up with egg on your face. IMO, there are just too many bad things that could happen.

[Coltdoggs]

Originally Posted by tomegun

Coltdoggs,

Your growth as an official will be stunted if you continue to listen to fans. Furthermore, I would never suggest doing what you did. No matter how much you may think a problem will never occur, one parent in the wrong frame of mind could back you into a "corner" and you could very well end up with egg on your face. IMO, there are just too many bad things that could happen.

I hear you tome and I agree on some points...

First, I've been officiating 7 years, so I'm past the point of listening and really caring what fans say...I've developed my thick skin to those who feel they are "getting to me" or being malicious (living through their kids).... I tend to hear them but don't listen to them other than for my own entertainment factor...

In this particular case...The rec/travel league I work in each weekend...I see the same 8-10 teams every week of each "season" (they run 10 week seasons year round)...and I see the same parents on a weekly basis as well...If I felt the guy was malicious in his comments, I would not have said anything and I do let most of it go and not say anything...He had some other light hearted comments and I've seen the guy before....

Having said all that...again, I hear you loud and clear and I appreciate any feedback from other officials...so Thanks....

[tomegun]

I think we should develop a growth chart for officials. The progression from:

1. Not calling anything and not hearing anything
2. Calling everything
3. Calling less and hearing everything - letting it affect you
4. Calling more quality calls and passing on some calls
5. Having somewhat total control over your actions, hearing everything and responding to nothing but questions from head coaches.

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by tomegun

I think we should develop a growth chart for officials. The progression from:

1. Not calling anything and not hearing anything
2. Calling everything
3. Calling less and hearing everything - letting it affect you
4. Calling more quality calls and passing on some calls
5. Having somewhat total control over your actions, hearing everything and responding to nothing but questions from head coaches.

item 6: Having complete control over your actions, and responding appropriately to everything.

[Adam]

I think 6 is an acceptable re-wording of 5.
Most times, the appropriate response is to ignore it.

[Adam]

Frankly, in a hs game, I'd never even consider this. Only if you've seen the parent a hundred times, know his general demeanor as well as his current demeanor, and are comfortable with him, could you do this. IOW, in exactly the situation it seems to have been done.

This is more like walking up to a friend in the stands you know has been razzing you all game.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

item 6: Having complete control over your actions, and responding appropriately to everything.

Rainmaker, I didn't see any smiley faces, but I hope you are joking. You are joking right?

Having complete control over your actions I can agree with although once an official perfects that they should probably quit because they've reached the mountain top.
Responding appropriately to everything I totally disagree with unless it includes no response to anything but questions. If you do respond appropriately to everything, a coach would be able to reel you in quick. What is the appropriate response to a comment from a coach? Nothing. Silence cannot be quoted.

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by tomegun

Rainmaker, I didn't see any smiley faces, but I hope you are joking. You are joking right?

Having complete control over your actions I can agree with although once an official perfects that they should probably quit because they've reached the mountain top.
Responding appropriately to everything I totally disagree with unless it includes no response to anything but questions. If you do respond appropriately to everything, a coach would be able to reel you in quick. What is the appropriate response to a comment from a coach? Nothing. Silence cannot be quoted.

If this is the appropriate response, then why do you disagree with responding appropriately to everything?

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by tomegun

Rainmaker, I didn't see any smiley faces, but I hope you are joking. You are joking right?

Having complete control over your actions I can agree with although once an official perfects that they should probably quit because they've reached the mountain top.
Responding appropriately to everything I totally disagree with unless it includes no response to anything but questions. If you do respond appropriately to everything, a coach would be able to reel you in quick. What is the appropriate response to a comment from a coach? Nothing. Silence cannot be quoted.

Couldn't an "appropriate response" mean different things? To me, an appropriate response could be silence, it could be a simple, one sentence comment, it could be stepping between two players to prevent something else from happening, it could be a "stop sign" (sorry, couldn't resist ), or it could be a "T".

A response, at least to me, doesn't necessarily mean something spoken. I'm assuming (I know, that's dangerous) that's what she meant.