Conflict of Interest?
 

When do you turn down games due to a conflict of interest?

A. When coach is a friend?
B. The High School you attended?
C. Your kids games?
D. Your brother is the coach?
E. Your bosses kids playing?
F. Girlfriends kids playing?

Im sure some we've all ran into some of these scenarios

Personally I don't like to officiate a certain catholic high school team where the priest is the coach. Not only do I listen to him every Sunday, he hears my confessions, problems, ect..and gives me these looks when he doesn't like the call. Almost like death rays......and I feel them more from him than anybody else

A. No
B. No--during regular season.
C. Do not have to worry about that.
D. Do not have to worry about that.
E. This would not change my mind, I would work the game.
F. Do not have to worry about that.

The only one I think is easy is if you have a relative that works or attends a school; you should not work the game. The other situations are only based on other factors. For example, I have not attended my HS in almost 20 years, and I do not live in the area anymore. I do not feel uneasy at all working my HS and I do not actively cheer or support that program.

Peace

When you need to question whether there's a conflict or not...there probably is. In your own mind at least.

All of my family friends co workers and otherwise know me well enough to know that they have absolutely NO advantage with me as a ref. In fact it might work against them cause I would expect more of them.

I disagree with that statement. Many conflicts are not real and created or assumed by other people. If we did not work with everyone we had a relationship, you would have to quit working games after a few years.

Peace

My point is that if you need to question yourself if it is a conflict or not, you might have one. My answer to most of those on the list would be No, I wouldn't have a conflict.
I agree with your statement about relationships. But if someone questions themselves whether they will be impartial or not, or if it might create personal issues with someone, then they might be better off not doing it.

The operative word is "might." For example if I had a relative that was attending a school in a 4 school district, I would not think I would have an issue working at a school they attend or work directly for.

If someone has to constantly question themselves about impartiality, then that is a bigger issue. I would only not work someone that I have a very personal relationship with someone or that school or organization. Even though I went to my HS, that does not mean I still have strong ties to that school. If anything, I have closer ties to other schools because I know more people. A better example is I live in a town that has 3 HS. I could work any of them and I would not have a problem, but someone not knowing me might try to assume there would be a problem. I am out there to call games, not to pick a team.

Peace

In theory I would be very hesitant to work a game with my boss's kids. Not because I couldn't do it fairly, but I would be concerned with repercussions in the workplace.

It's not only whether *you* can work impartially, it's whether others might have a reason to question it.

So, items C-F in the original list are likely to create a conflict. In B, it depends on how long ago you graduated. In A, it depends on the definition of "friend."

In all of them, it depends on the level of the game.

One you didn't ask:

Suppose you were a female D-1 official on the west coast, and your "partner" was a female assistant at a D-1 school. Would it be a conflict to officiate that team's games? (Purely hypothetical, I'm sure)

These are personal preferences, even when they don't necessarily apply to me:

A. Nope. Have done that on many occasions.
B. Subvarsity - no; Varsity - yes;
C. YES (no brainer for anyone);
D. Yes, but this may be more fact intensive;
E. Probably if it were me, especially at Varsity level, but this is individual;
F. Yes, since my wife would have a big problem with this on several levels;

Seriously, C and F is a definite YES, D is most likely a Yes. On the rest, just be careful.

I agree with Rut that just because the question is raised doesn't mean its an automatic answer -- ethics wise, but I do think that when the question is HONESTLY raised, you need to think real hard about whether you want to be in that position. I don't have a problem doing my attended HS's games at the subvarsity level, but wouldn't do it at the varsity level since I don't want to put myself in that position.

I'm going to preface this by saying that it applies to school level games and above. Rec league is specifically not included.

For me C & D are absolutes - no way, no how.

All of the rest are case-by-case decisions.

One of the other things that should be considered is not a defacto conflict, but the possible appearance of a conflict. If you have to make a tough call, several tough calls, or a call near the end of a close game that go in favor of a coach or team with a potential percieved conflict, there is a possibility that your relationship would be brought up and your integrity questioned. Just one more thing to consider as part of accepting an assignment.

I did this last year. No worries. First, it was a ms game. 2nd, he thought it was when he showed up. I had another co-worker's daughter's game twice last year (again, ms).

My current boss doesn't have kids in school, though, so it's no longer a worry for me.

I'm with Rut, though, on the rest of them; even though the state of CO apparently disagrees with me. My first varsity game back in Iowa was for my old high school, 12 years after I graduated in a gym that didn't exist when I played, with coaches I didn't know and players whose names meant nothing to me.

That said, CHSAA has "insinuated" that they would rather officials not officiate games for schools they attended in the past. conflicts of interest are to be reported for consideration in the post season assignments as well; such as my wife teaches there, or my sister coaches there, etc.

I have officiated my HS 5 times and will be working a game with this year for the 6th time. All games were at the varsity level. I might have done a lower level game several years ago, but I honestly cannot remember. In about 3 of those cases I know the visiting team knew I lived and went to this particular HS. I do not think my former HS has won one time. Not because of the officiating, but because they did not play very well. Even one time the coach said something in the media about the way the game was called.

The bottom line is I go out there and do my job. If people want to find a conflict, they will. In my area sometimes people try to make connections to where you live and a region rather than any real conflict (Chicago Area official, Suburban Official, Downstate Official). The bottom line is if you are always worried about a conflict, you will not ever be able to work. You see officials all the time on TV work games with one of the teams in a conference they have worked. That does not automatically mean you are bias or even going to have a bias on some level.

Peace

Again, I agree with Rut.
This is similar to those who questioned Rick Harzell's (athletic director at Northern Iowa and D-1 official) ability to officiate games that might possibly maybe potentially have a marginal impact on his program if lots of chips fell in the right place.

If you look hard enough....

Even if you go to a place you have never been to call a game and don't know a soul, by the time one quarter is over, some small prejudice, real or imagined, will be created either in your mind or someone else's. One team is outmanned and you feel sorry for them. One team or coach has attitude which you find unpleasant. The fans may not like you, for whatever reason. The first three calls go against their team, it could be a racial thing, whatever. When the fans start chanting, "Find a tall tree, and hang the referee," it can be disconcerting.
There will be something to overcome, large or small, in this job. Take the game, wherever it is, and do your best to call it straight down the line.

I would find it very hard to believe that DeMarcus Nelson's father was allowed to officiate his game...by the way - DeMarcus is from Elk Grove, CA and his father (Ron Nelson) is a pastor...per the Duke website.

Which game did his father work last year? Can't seem to find it via boxscores...

A...depends....acquaintance that you see in sports settings or Friend that you have over to dinner with your family.
B. Timeframe dependant....5-10 years out...OK.
C-F...Yes.


In any metro area there should be enough other games to be had that no officials should ever have to worry about being in one of these situations.

The officials were Ted Valentine, Mike Eades and Tom Lopes. None of them have a son at Duke.

Fanboys!:rolleyes:

I agree - if you have to think about it - avoid the situation. Just turned down a game this week. The public school from my city (where I am well-known) played the cross-town rival private school (8 miles away) and they wanted me to work the varsity game. It's a huge rivalry, neighbors and cousins playing against each other. That's a no-win situation for me so I declined.

I have worked non-conference varsity football games in which the son of one of my crew was playing - but only because both coaches knew it and have requested our crew for their game for the last 8 years.

If I were an assignor, I would NEVER put you on a game in C or D. Not sure how I would know about the other situations listed, but I would expect you to inform me that these situations exist. You may work that game better than anyone else, but the mere perception that there is a conflict of interest is enough to make me adjust the assignment. Why would I want to deal with that potential problem when I can simply make life easier for everyone and avoid it? It is a no win situation for everyone, so just avoid it.

IMHO, if an assignor ever put you on a game where C or D occurs, he's not assigning the game - he just looking for warm bodies....


A. When coach is a friend?
B. The High School you attended?
C. Your kids games?
D. Your brother is the coach?
E. Your bosses kids playing?
F. Girlfriends kids playing?

Bob is on the mark. The perception of impartiality is the real question. A genuinely professional official will always be impartial. I just started teaching at a high school in a new state...I could give a rat's patoot whether or not they win their games. But because I teach at the school I won't be assigned any of their games and that makes perfect sense to me. Fortunately I'm in a huge urban area and there are plenty of games.

And as JRut said, "If people want to find a conflict, they will." When I officiated in Hawaii and a close call would go against a visiting mainland team, it wasn't unusual to get a local favoritism/home cooking comment from the visitors. In my southern drawl, my response was always, "Hey, I'm from Tennessee," and it stopped those comments every time.

Yup, instead they now said "Oh, <b>that's</b> why you screwed up." :D

Or, the announcers could have been wrong. :gasp:

Coi
 

This happens very frequently in smaller areas. There was a situation last year I heard about where an official called a winner-to-state/loser-out playoff game where his nephew was a player at his alma mater. By some coincidence, that team won the game by a couple of points, and that official made a few questionable calls in favor of his nephew's team down the stretch. This made him look terrible personally, and made his association look poor. The sad thing is that I am sure that the district and state will consider this when future playoff and tournament allocations are made, but that means more for us! :)

Conflicts of interest should be avoided at all times. Films never lie, and perceptions are reality, fair or not. If in doubt, don't take the assignment. There are plenty of others!

I have a question for you. You have a team where the players are one color and the opposing team is another color. Should officials of either color be able to work the game? What do you do when no one is available that is not of same race of both teams?
The reason I ask, is because this is a constant issue where I live or fans make issues out of that fact often. Or fans and even administrators try to make connections with things that are not really connections based only on the color of the official's working the game. How far are you taking avoidance of a conflict? You have to have a line in the sand or you will constantly be. If I remember correctly this was a major issue in the movie Friday Night Lights and how the crew was picked to work the game.

You will never avoid every situation where someone thinks there is a conflict. All appearances of conflicts are not reasonable. Your situation involved a family member, which is why I think most of us can agree that you do not want to work games with relatives as the participants.

Peace

A- Done that. Also refereed my bosses games. No difference in the way I officiate.

B- I went to 4 local high schools , We have 15 total schools in our league. If I didn't do games where I went to school, I wouldn't be refereeing.

C- I've done that in 2 sports. Same thing, fair game, my son hates when I referee, but he knows I am going to be fair. BTW, he is 10.

D- No brothers

E- No. But I would.

F- Married 13 years.

I have always refereed straight up. I fel no pressure from anyone.

Originally Posted by Corndog89

And as JRut said, "If people want to find a conflict, they will." When I officiated in Hawaii and a close call would go against a visiting mainland team, it wasn't unusual to get a local favoritism/home cooking comment from the visitors. In my southern drawl, my response was always, "Hey, I'm from Tennessee," and it stopped those comments every time.

Most visiting teams were from the west coast so I'm not even sure they understood me...certainly most of the Hawaiian kids didn't. :D

Rutledge, that is a great point. If you have a black team against a white team, those perceptions will always be there. Just like if you try and play in a pickup basketball game at a park, the black guys almost never pick up the white guy to run if they can avoid it. There is no avoiding anything there--officials of some race has to do that game, right?--but the film doesn't lie. Lots of conflicts of interest can be avoided. I stopped doing games for coaches I knew at all socially because they'd tell me they thought I went too far to show that I wasn't favoring them. That kind of sucks, but it is probably worth it.

If you do this long enough, you will likely know a lot of coaches socially. After that, I couldn't care less what they think. I have a job to do and I am not working a game just because I know a coach unless that coach and I spend Christmas together.

Peace

My area only has two requirements and they only apply to VARSITY contests:
1. No teacher may officiate a game involving the school at which he works.
2. No official may work a game in which he has a participating relative.

Officials may excuse themselves in other situations, if they are not comfortable, but there is no requirement to do so.

Perception is many peoples Reality!

That might be true, but I am not going to work game because everyone has a perception. I am not going to not work a game with a school down the street when I have no tie to that school because someone might think I know all the parties when I clearly do not.

Peace

I agree completely with you JRut. It is a philosophy I have been following for some time now and helps me to explain why many people take a certain position on a topic. If you know what I mean? Their Azz may be sucking wind but it is how they see the world!

Though I would choose not to do my sons games for "perception" reasons, plus I'd rather watch him then work the game, I have done my high schools varsity baseball/basketball games, where I happen to be on the school board and several committees, including athletic booster pres and hall of fame chair. But I dont care who wins!
I'd like to think that I'm like many of us, who focus or are "zoned in" to the game, and make calls on what I see, not hesitating to think "which favored school?". Its just safe/out, or foul/violation, and go from there. I'm more concerned with my reputation- calling the best game I can with correct mechanics and positioning, knowing that I can always learn something from each contest.

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A little late on this discussion but you guys might find this interesting:

My group (within the past 2 or 3 years) initiated a Conflict of Interest form that we had to fill out. Among the questions were:

1. What High School did you go to and how long ago did you graduate? (Most officials in our group are from the area we serve)

2. Do you have any sons/daughters/relatives attending any of the schools serviced?

3. A few other personal questions about other conflicts of interest.

The end result was that any official who had graduated high school in the area less than 15 years ago could not work those school's games. Besides this and the other predictable "kids going to the school, etc, etc", I don't know what other conflicts have come up that have prevented officials from working certain games.

I'm not 100% sure why this came up. However, a few years ago, there had been rumors flying around that there was some errors assigning officials to a rivalry game where all the officials were alumni of one of the schools playing.

While I don't know if any of this is true, it makes sense if our group wants to avoid future conflicts of interest.

Like some of you said though, lots of officials I talk to have no tied to their former high school. For myself, I would not want to work my old high school's boys games since I watch them at games when I can (head coach's first year was my senior year).

If I could, I would work the girls games since I don't know the players or coaches of the girls program.