How good/bad is your association involved in politics?

[JRutledge]

Let me first say that I am not one who buys into the whole "politics" discussion that many officials like to have. I feel ultimately everyone has a system and if they work within that system they can benefit or parish. I honestly feel that most officials use any downfall as an excuse for their careers despite what is actually true.

Having said that that politics in my area exists, but it has little or nothing to do with the overall success of officials or who does what. There are all kinds of factors to how an official can succeed and the organizational structures where I live only play a small role in what an official can or cannot do. I guess I do not consider it bad or good. It is what it is. And at least where I live I have to please multiple people in order to work games which leads to other opportunities. None of this is in the hands of one or two people.

Also you said that the association does not make mentors help out the rookies. I guess what I do not understand is how can anyone make someone help people if they do not want to? I know I found my own mentors and did not need an association structure to find people that I thought were helpful to me personally. I would agree that associations are there to help officials achieve a common goal, but that goal is not always to help everyone out in a structured way. In other words, if you get games from your association, that might be the main focus of the association. The multiple associations that I belong to main focus are training. So I get out of if what I decide to put into it.

Peace

[tomegun]

I'm sure this isn't the case 100% of the time, but I think a good official will eventually make it hard for politics to hold him/her back. There just seems to always be a way for a good official to work games. I've seen politics all over the country and eventually good officials achieve some level of success. It might not always be what is desired, but it is success.

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Let me first say that I am not one who buys into the whole "politics" discussion that many officials like to have. I feel ultimately everyone has a system and if they work within that system they can benefit or parish. I honestly feel that most officials use any downfall as an excuse for their careers despite what is actually true.

Having said that that politics in my area exists, but it has little or nothing to do with the overall success of officials or who does what. There are all kinds of factors to how an official can succeed and the organizational structures where I live only play a small role in what an official can or cannot do. I guess I do not consider it bad or good. It is what it is. And at least where I live I have to please multiple people in order to work games which leads to other opportunities. None of this is in the hands of one or two people.

Also you said that the association does not make mentors help out the rookies. I guess what I do not understand is how can anyone make someone help people if they do not want to? I know I found my own mentors and did not need an association structure to find people that I thought were helpful to me personally. I would agree that associations are there to help officials achieve a common goal, but that goal is not always to help everyone out in a structured way. In other words, if you get games from your association, that might be the main focus of the association. The multiple associations that I belong to main focus are training. So I get out of if what I decide to put into it.

Peace

My parish is Our Lady of the Holy Blarge

[SWMOzebra]

The "good old boy" politics to which the OP refers is probably present at some level (big or small) in all officiating associations. In a group setting, it's almost impossible to remove politics from the equation.

However, I completely agree with the others who are right to say that (1) it won't hold back good officials who are truly intent on improving and (2) you can complain about it or deal with it.

Locally, we have two basketball associations. The big one has 95% (or more) of the games and the small one gets the balance, but the small one also books for several NAIA colleges locally and has some top-caliber officials. I ultimately went with the smaller association, knowing I would get fewer varsity games but I also got intense "coaching/mentoring/harassing to improve" by the guys (and gals) in our group. For me, it was the right decision but I certainly don't knock anyone for choosing the larger association. Simply a matter of preference.

[jdw3018]

Originally Posted by SWMOzebra

Locally, we have two basketball associations. The big one has 95% (or more) of the games and the small one gets the balance, but the small one also books for several NAIA colleges locally and has some top-caliber officials. I ultimately went with the smaller association, knowing I would get fewer varsity games but I also got intense "coaching/mentoring/harassing to improve" by the guys (and gals) in our group. For me, it was the right decision but I certainly don't knock anyone for choosing the larger association. Simply a matter of preference.

Just out of curiousity, do you have to choose or could you join both?

[SWMOzebra]

Originally Posted by jdw3018

Just out of curiousity, do you have to choose or could you join both?

Yes, each organization prohibits its members from accepting assignments from the other. The large group even prohibits its members from accepting collegiate assignments from the smaller group's assignor.

It's an unfortunate situation where a group of unhappy officials broke with the large organization over a question of where the $$$ went and started the smaller group. It all happened before I became an official, so I went with the group that I thought (and still think) is best for me. Having spoke with folks in both groups, there are still bad feelings to this day over the rift.

[jdw3018]

Originally Posted by SWMOzebra

Yes, each organization prohibits its members from accepting assignments from the other. The large group even prohibits its members from accepting collegiate assignments from the smaller group's assignor.

It's an unfortunate situation where a group of unhappy officials broke with the large organization over a question of where the $$$ went and started the smaller group. It all happened before I became an official, so I went with the group that I thought (and still think) is best for me. Having spoke with folks in both groups, there are still bad feelings to this day over the rift.

That's unfortunate.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by SWMOzebra

Yes, each organization prohibits its members from accepting assignments from the other. The large group even prohibits its members from accepting collegiate assignments from the smaller group's assignor.

It's an unfortunate situation where a group of unhappy officials broke with the large organization over a question of where the $$$ went and started the smaller group. It all happened before I became an official, so I went with the group that I thought (and still think) is best for me. Having spoke with folks in both groups, there are still bad feelings to this day over the rift.

That does not sound like politics. That sounds like a stupid system.

Peace

[SWMOzebra]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

That sounds like a stupid system.

Agreed. But politics is the reason the "stupid system" exists.

[truerookie]

Originally Posted by SWMOzebra

Yes, each organization prohibits its members from accepting assignments from the other. The large group even prohibits its members from accepting collegiate assignments from the smaller group's assignor.

It's an unfortunate situation where a group of unhappy officials broke with the large organization over a question of where the $$$ went and started the smaller group. It all happened before I became an official, so I went with the group that I thought (and still think) is best for me. Having spoke with folks in both groups, there are still bad feelings to this day over the rift.

Springfield: southwest missouri baskeotball official association / basketball officials of the ozark? (k. h. V d. v.)