Massachusetts and Post-Game Handshake/Round 2

[Texas Aggie]

In most games that I have ref'd, coached, assisted or worked at, generally speaking, as soon as the buzzer sounds, the game is over and the student athletes have already "turned-off" the competitiveness and returned to being kids

I agree with you: in MOST cases, this is true. However, I've had a small part in a situation where it wasn't true. Years ago, guys from my chapter worked a game between two rivals where a massive fight broke out -- to be sure, started mostly by fans, but teams actively participated -- after the game. Both officials were still on the floor and one was able to get out of the building while the other wasn't -- at least for a few minutes. After the fight, the visitors tore up their locker room and did quite a bit of damage. This thing ended up in Austin with hearings that went on for 2 days, if I recall correctly. My only part in it was that I worked the game later in the season between the two teams at a neutral site. By then, we had gone through our post-game ritual at chapter meetings discussing about getting off the court after the game.

Nothing can be helped by us being on the floor. The only thing that could happen is our potential exposure to litigation could increase. Not so much liability, but it still costs money to answer a lawsuit and your insurance isn't going to cover all of it.

I support the officials not participating in this stupidity that the state has mandated. The state wants to cover their butt here -- there's no other good reason for this. I'm not necessarily a fan of solidarity; I'm a fan of doing what's right, and I hope individual officials won't capitulate. I sure wouldn't. I value playoff assignments, but not to the point where I'm going to do something I think is clearly wrong just to get one.