Why We Ref

[Terrapins Fan]

I work with a guy who is about 73 years old or so. The last 2 years he has slowed down, alot.

No one has the heart to tell him, but coaches are complaining at every level. Our association has limited his Varsity games ( we work 3 man Varsity ) so, varsity games are easier for him to work and easier for us to help him out. So , he does a lot more 2 man games with younger officials. That's harder on both of them. I know the board doesn't want him to come back next year. Any way, here's my point.

Why does he continue to referee? He has loads of money. It's not the money. He has been a boss in many jobs. It's not the power ( he never has called a "T" in nearly 40 years. ) He does it for the friendships with other refs. If he wasn't refereeing, he would be sitting at home and dying. He would be lonely, his family is grown. He works part time, so he has that. But he referees all year round. Most years he does more than 100 games. This year about 45 to 50. Everyone loves him, but his time has past.

How would you want it broke to you if you hit that point?

Why do you referee?

I love the friendships with other refs but I love basketball itself. I played in high school, Rec league and coached and owned a team. If I felt I wasn't able to hold my own I would want smeone to tell me. There are other things we can do and stay involved.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Terrapins Fan

How would you want it broke to you if you hit that point?

I have no idea. Sounds like a tough situation. I think this might be a job for the assignors to handle depending on games are assigned.

Originally Posted by Terrapins Fan

Why do you referee?

I officiate because I love the sports I am officiating. I love the challenge to do a good job night in and night out. And I love the pressure that officiating brings. And mostly I love to meet new people on a regular basis and I officiate with and getting to know great people from all walks of life. That is pretty much it.

Peace

[truerookie]

I referee because:

(1) Love for the game.
(2) To assist the kids in sportmanship
(3) To piss off coaches
(4) Because the wife saves my regular paycheck like a bank(without any interest) and I don't have any money for gas!

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Terrapins Fan

There are other things we can do and stay involved.

And someone in your association should get him involved.....mentoring, evaluating, etc.

[Terrapins Fan]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

And someone in your association should get him involved.....mentoring, evaluating, etc.

I agree. But we have no evaluators. they were removed and done away with about 5 years ago. makes it harder to move up now and that's what they powers that be wanted.

[rgncjn]

I know the feeling. I worked with a gentleman (71 years) at a 7th/8th doubleheader. In the combination of both games, he blew his whistle seven times. When this gentleman was in his "prime" as an official, he worked two state championship games.

Here is an idea... why don't you see if the gentleman would be interested in riding along with you to the games, but not actually work. That way he is still exposed to the friendships and can also see basketball games.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Terrapins Fan

I agree. But we have no evaluators. they were removed and done away with about 5 years ago. makes it harder to move up now and that's what they powers that be wanted.

Wow! That doesn't make sense imo. The whole idea of evaluation isn't really to worry about anyone "moving up". The idea should be to increase the skill level of all officials and also to ensure that proper mechanics, interpretations, new rules, etc. are being practiced by everybody. There's really no down side to evaluations imo if they are done positively and consistently.

Whatintheheck is your association thinking of? Any reason(s) they quit doing them?

[Terrapins Fan]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Wow! That doesn't make sense imo. The whole idea of evaluation isn't really to worry about anyone "moving up". The idea should be to increase the skill level of all officials and also to ensure that proper mechanics, interpretations, new rules, etc. are being practiced by everybody. There's really no down side to evaluations imo if they are done positively and consistently.

Whatintheheck is your association thinking of? Any reason(s) they quit doing them?

Our evaluations were used to improve and to get play off games. Several of our top officials ( those on the board ) didn't get the games they thought they should, so they voted in executive committee to eliminate evaluators. that was in my 3rd year. Now in my 8th year, and people in the 4th and 5th year have never been evaluated. If you are doing something wrong, how would you know?

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Terrapins Fan

Our evaluations were used to improve and to get play off games. Several of our top officials ( those on the board ) didn't get the games they thought they should, so they voted in executive committee to eliminate evaluators. that was in my 3rd year. Now in my 8th year, and people in the 4th and 5th year have never been evaluated. If you are doing something wrong, how would you know?

Sounds like it's time for someone to stand up in a meeting and say "I want some sort of evaluation system put in place" and then let the bickering begin.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by Terrapins Fan

Our evaluations were used to improve and to get play off games. Several of our top officials ( those on the board ) didn't get the games they thought they should, so they voted in executive committee to eliminate evaluators. that was in my 3rd year. Now in my 8th year, and people in the 4th and 5th year have never been evaluated. If you are doing something wrong, how would you know?

And the guys on the exec committee have all the power and can as they wish and take whichever games they want. Sadly this happens in many areas.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by Terrapins Fan

There are other things we can do and stay involved.

That is what I would want to hear. There is certainly a time when stepping off the court is the right thing to do.

[Nevadaref]

PS This is one reason that I believe that an age limit is a necessity for a HS association. It saves a great deal of hassle.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

PS This is one reason that I believe that an age limit is a necessity for a HS association. It saves a great deal of hassle.

Naw, I don't agree with that. Every official is different. I knew when it was time for me to back off. However, there are officials here older than I am that are still reliable and able to do the job. It just depends on the person.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Naw, I don't agree with that. Every official is different. I knew when it was time for me to back off. However, there are officials here older than I am that are still reliable and able to do the job. It just depends on the person.

And if each person is judged upon merit that's fine, but the problem is that they are not. I've seen certain old-timers get preferential treatment while others were not dealt with in the same manner.
Friendships and other such factors enter into it and that is where the system breaks down.

Pass a fitness test, pass a rules test, pass an eye exam, earn a certain score from an objective evaluation on the court...and I'd be fine with it, but we both know that isn't what happens in most places.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

Pass a fitness test, pass a rules test, pass an eye exam, earn a certain score from an objective evaluation on the court...and I'd be fine with it, but we both know that isn't what happens in most places.

I've worked with officials that weren't particularly fit, never had good marks on the exam and didn't have good eyesight either. They sureasheck could pass an objective evaluation test though because they were great officials.

I could care less if an official can run like a deer, see everything and get 100% on all their exams. I care if they can officiate. Being pretty don't mean squat.