I felt weird
 

First for me last Friday.

Small town school. Girls Varsity game.

The announce the visiting teams' starting line-up and they run out there and stand in their line.

Then they announce the home teams' starting line-up and they each run out, come shake our hands, then go shake the hands of the visiting teams' player.

Of course, while they are doing this...we can't NOT put a hand out to shake because we would look like turds, but at the same time you have the visiting over there looking like, "Ohhhhhhhhhhh great.........the hometown hero's are doing our game tonight!"

Needless to say, we were each 1.5 hours from that town so that wasn't the deal, but I can about imagine what people were thinking when they saw it.

Even though we were being good sports, it just made me feel weird with only one team doing it and that being the home team.

Just so long as they don't call you "Uncle Bob" you're probably okay. :eek:

Try telling the players "No thanks, I am full." :)

To be serious, when this situation arises, try to re-introduce yourself to the table crew instead, or start taking your jacket off, or whatever works. With your back to the players, they might realize that you are busy and move on.

If it is something that really bothers you, bring it up in the pre-game, and discuss how the crew would prefer to handle it.

Like you said though, don't be a turd about it.

Ot take the time to go shake the hands of the other team. That shoule ease any issues.

After being out of officiating for about 8 years, I was very surprised that during introductions the players from both teams came out during introductions, did their typical dance with team-mates while getting psyched up for the game, went to shake the opposing coach's hand, then came over and gave fist bumps to the officials. All-in-all I thought it was pretty neat, to be honest, though like I said, unexpected. This happened in a sub-varsity game but I've sat through a couple of varsity games and seen the same thing.

If I remember correctly, there is a specific directive in NCAA that officials are not supposed to shake/bump hands for the very reason that it gives the appearance of favoritism if only one team engages in this practice.

Since Ms. Struckoff also sits on the NFHS Board, I would be inclined to say that this will soon be passed down to the HS level.

In Wisconsin we're not allowed to shake players' hands at intros.
In the past I have had this happen, and it caused me some consternation as well. I kept the "shake" to grasp and a soft "good luck". I tried to show the other team it wasn't my idea, nor was it welcome.

I've not heard of this directive. Do you have a reference that I could look at?

This to me seems a little silly...it is obvious that you aren't going out looking for anybody's hands to shake...it is right out in the open, who the heck cares?!?!? I can't imagine the other team would care less - if they did their coach could always start doing the same thing the next game! File this under things that officials worry about (with good reason or not) that we have no business worrying about! Fits right in there somewhere around 3.5...

Personally, I feel weirder when the winning team comes over AFTER the game and shakes the refs hands. I HATE THAT!!

Simple courtesy never hurts anyone. If they come over to shake hands then shake their hand, if it's a fist bump then do it and get on with the game. It shouldn't be a big deal. About half the teams around here do one or the other.

My only real issue with the handshake thing is that heaven only knows where these little germ magnets hands have been. I prefer a fist bump if I can get away with it.

Wow. you're right there! I never thought about it, until my little guy went onto some serious immuno-suppression as a treatment for his kidney disease. Doctors warned us not to shake hands lest we bring something home. Fists it was, from then on!

It's in the current Women's Officials' Manual - I believe somewhere in the "pre-game" section.

That is exactly what happens in ALL of our games around here at the Varsity level. It started a few years ago and has become the norm.

Yeah, we got fist-bumps from one of the teams during my first series the other night. I returned it and moved on. I'm also in Small Town America tho as well.....

That's probably something that's going into the new Illinois manual. :D

Seriously, I would be surprised if the NFHS tried to make a directive like that. If they did, this is one that I would refuse to follow. As I just posted above, all of the kids out here come to the officials before the game. I think that it is a very nice gesture of sportsmanship and respect. For better game management it seems that we should be taking steps to increase our level of communication and rapport with the players, not alienate them.

I just think it is a way the coaches are teaching the players sportsmaship and if the other team wanted to bump fists or shake hands they could. Either way when the other team sees that you are caling the game fair it wouldn't matter if they came and gave you a hug........no big deal.

What? Do you fist bump the ball all night during the game too?? Get real.
Just wash your hands afterward or keep a small bottle of hand sanitizer in your bag.

Not that I'm really paranoid about it, but person to person contact is much more likely to pass something than person to object to person. And yes, I do wash my hands afterward.

But perhaps you're right. Maybe I do need to "get real." Whatever the hell that means. :rolleyes:

Courtesy is courtesy, if it comes from a good place with sincerity, it really shouldn't be a big deal. I've complemented an officiating crew for doing a good job even though we lost the game. I figure refs get it rough 95% of the time anyways, so if they take pride in doing a good job, I will let them know.

I actually had an official cuss at me one time for saying "good job" after my team lost a game. Then, about 2 years later, the same official was doing one of my games. When, in the course of a game, one of my players travelled and I yelled at my guy "yeah, you travelled!!! Slow down and use your dang footwork!", and as the official ran by me i told him "good call". After the game, the official pulled me aside and asked "did I cuss at you after a game a while ago?" I told him I don't remember, and he said "I think I did, I apologize. You do a good job with your guys." That was a nice after-school-special moment.

I didn't mean it to be critical BITS. It's just that there are hundreds of things you touch everyday that are probably as much or more contaminated than some of those kids hands.
Don't go around worrying about those handshakes.

Have you talked to an infectious disease specialist lately? Handshaking is something a lot of doctors would like to have outlawed. Hand to hand to other body part (nose, eye, mouth, wound or sore, etc) is one of the best ways for germs to spread. Hands are much better at spreading germs than "things". Handwashing is the best way to avoid a lot of colds and flu, and avoiding hand to hand contact is another strong preventive measure.

At least, that's what every doctor I talk to says.

Every doctor who I know says that a person's immune system is the best defense against colds and flus. ;)

You're joking, right?

Do you feel weird shaking the coaches hand too? It can be perceived as showing favoritism too. Just a question.

If it bothers you try this(male coaches)...... tickle the palm of the coach's hand with your index finger when you're shaking hands. ....wink at him while you're doing so......licking your lips at the same time can be helpful too.

Just wait and see if that particular coach runs the next time that he sees you, instead of coming over to shake your hand.

Works for me.

Of course, if that coach runs <b>at</b> you when he sees you, you might have to re-think your strategy.:eek:

Alternatively, for female coaches, use the same routine but stick your tongue out and lick your eyebrows.

Always glad to help.

Juulie, I can honestly say I've never heard anyone talk about outlawing handshakes.

The hand to hand contact isn't the problem. It's sticking your fingers in your mouth afterward that will cause you problems.
All I'm saying is use good hygiene and you don't have live your life like your in a bubble.

You're right in some ways. But avoiding hand-to-hand contact is one more step to take in avoiding spreading germs. Also, I exaggerated about outlawing handshakes. The doctor I was talking to works with patients who are on extensive immunosuppression, and want their patients' families to be obsessive about avoiding ANYTHING that could get to the kid. She encourages us to watch a few Monk videos if we need ideas (she exaggerates there, too, though!)

That's not what Dr. Vinnie Boombatz says!

http://andykaufman.jvlnet.com/vinnie.jpg

I worked a game the other night where the coach told us his players wouldn't be coming over to shake our hands.......I told him that's fine....I take no offense of give no credance when it does or doesn't happen.......

Jurassic Ref, I normally take your advise. However, in this situation I'm going to pass on the advice. ;)