All of those things affect the "first impression." That affects the reaction / "benefit of the doubt" to your first call.

If a well-respected / well-known official shows up for a game with facial hair, then the facial hair won't matter. If an unknown official shows up with facial hair, then it will matter -- until the official can overcome it. And, the official will have a harder time overcoming it than will an official who doesn't have facial hair.

Ageed.

I think the point I was trying to make concerned me and myself. For me I am only willing to go so far to establish credibility with those who give credibility. If having facial hair means working harder to establish credibility then I work harder. I am keeping my sideburns.

I can definetly see if you are trying to go into the college ranks how you have to look a certain way,whatever that way is.

I was on the other side of the glasses argument, largely because I did not want to mess with my eyes and contacts. Just before last season, I relented. It made a difference. One can argue all day long about it being 'unfair' that an official will be held back due to wearing glasses. But what is the number one complaint you hear about officials in all sports? That's right, "What are you? Blind?" Why add to it? My contacts stay in for 30 days & I use reading glasses. Many bring reading glasses to 'do the book' at courtside. I now do not have to worry about sweat pouring down my glasses, adjusting my glasses, turning my head in a pronounced fashion to get a better angle, etc. I have been told since the switch that I look 'more confident' out there. And, by the way, I did get promoted to do varsity this season. Coincidence?

You don't have to like the fact that facial hair, glasses, etc. will affect you moving up. And you may not like it, either. But that's the way it is.

I've been following this thread for a few days now, well said 26 Year Gap. Unfortunately, in the officiating game perception is reality.

In theory, theory and reality are the same. In reality, they're not. ;)

[QUOTE=Idaho]Yes it would. That's an absurd analogy.

If you don't have a college degree, you're not qualified to teach college classes.

If you wear glasses, you're still qualified to referee basketball games. It just looks bad.

A better analogy would be a college professor wearing bermuda shorts and a tank top to class. Doesn't make him any less qualified, but I'm sure it would be frowned upon and damage his credibility.QUOTE]
Idaho, I don't know when you graduated from college, but if I had a prof. that showed up wearin bermuda shorts and a tank top, id be psyched!

That's it exactly.

Good thing I don't have any aspirations to "moving up" because I'm not spending the money for contacts.

I can see just fine for what I'm doing.

Rita

We all have choices in life. :)

Peace

If you did have aspirations, you could just consider it an investment of 3 or 4 HS game fees. Or work a couple weekend tournaments and you'd be set.

Oh, I have aspirations. That I can continue to live my life not reinforcing and validating the prejudices of others. But you also don't hear me whining about my assignments...

Not putting those things in my eyes.

Rita

Then you should not complain when you do not get certain opportunities. It does not have to be a "moving up" situation to get passed over or for someone to judge your ability based on superficial things. And whether you like it or not, some of those things will not be expressed to your face.

Peace

Really.

Quite honestly, I know that happens. I'm female and 52. I know quite well how one can be judged on ability simply by being female.

Doesn't mean these judgments are right.

Rita

And I am sure that is the case. Just like your age will be a huge factor as well. And honestly your age will hold you back more than your gender. Anytime they see a female official at least where I live they advance much faster than the men do on either side of the ball (girl's or boy's basketball). Your age would make people think you do not have much time in the game, so the people in power would be afraid to put you in situations above the up and comers.

Once again, officiating is an athletic endeavor. If you show any signs that you cannot work up to those expectations, they will find other people that will. Just like the NBA does not draft 5'2" guard just because they played ball in HS. You have to prove you are worthy and as an official our eyesight is apart of that.

And you keep talking about what is right. We have people that cannot work a game in the town the live; even though that does not prove a bias or that there would be a problem with the product on the court. It is about credibility and that credibility is not always about compete and rational thinking. In most cases you could not easily change your gender (and if you would there is nothing wrong with that), but you can change your appearance which involves uniform, eyewear, hair style, facial hair and even your weight. If that is a problem, then do not complain when you are not picked to work certain games or tournaments (not even top HS and college games) because it is harder for them to sell you to the people that the game is for.

Peace

Worthy Unworthy
 

This week I worked with a female partner. In our pregame, as in all my pregames, I told her that if I didn't know which team caused a ball to out of bounds, on my line, that I would blow my whistle, signal to stop the clock, and call out, "Help Jane", and by doing so, I would pass the call onto her, and she could call, "Red", "White", or "Held Ball".

She told me that it was alright for me to use that procedure, but she would never do that because it would show the coaches that she was "weak". She said that she could never call out "Help", instead, she would blow her whistle, signal to stop the clock, and pause, looking at me for help.

I'm not sure that I agree, or disagree, with her next statement, because I'm a male official, but she said that a "female official had to prove that she is worthy every game, while a male official has to prove that he is unworthy in every game."