Critical Officiating article from a local news paper.

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

What the hell is hopping?

I have no idea. But this guy sure got his panties in a wad about it.

[shawn29]

Hopping is a game interrupter.

[canuckrefguy]

....when it said "officials are making up their own rules" and "officials think they're bigger than the game."

What a piece of garbage.

[MadCityRef]

"Gannaway believes the critical officiating issues the IHSA is trying to address ... deal with the fact that officials are getting older and that qualified, young officials aren't filling the void."

So Dave thinks 1) there are not enough new, young officials coming in, or 2) the current young officials aren't good enough to take the place of older officials.

It's not about filling the void, but not having the opportunities to move up and take the games the "good ol' boys" guarantee the oldsters. I shouldn't have to wait until someone dies to move up. (Which is the case for Utah post-season, btw.)

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by MadCityRef

"Gannaway believes the critical officiating issues the IHSA is trying to address ... deal with the fact that officials are getting older and that qualified, young officials aren't filling the void."

So Dave thinks 1) there are not enough new, young officials coming in, or 2) the current young officials aren't good enough to take the place of older officials.

It's not about filling the void, but not having the opportunities to move up and take the games the "good ol' boys" guarantee the oldsters. I shouldn't have to wait until someone dies to move up. (Which is the case for Utah post-season, btw.)

Here is the problem, this is not Utah. And there are young officials that get opportunities all the time. The problem is there are not enough of them. The average new official is not in their 20s anymore. The trend that is being seen by the stats and associations is the fact that many people that are getting into officiating for the first time are in their 40s after their kids stopped are starting to go to college or stopped playing HS sports. It has nothing to do with "good ol' boys." I have been at this for about 13 years now and I am in my mid-30s. I run a New Official's Class and I am the youngest person in the room teaching people that are mostly older than I am. Nothing wrong with that, but someone in their 40s is not likely going to be around for 20 and 30 years.

Peace

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

As near as I can tell, a "game interrupter" usually occurs when someone happens to disagree with a call that you just made.

While there is certainly some of that in there, I think of it as "too literally following the written rule and not the spirit-and-intent of the rule."

Or, "not properly applying A/D to the call"

Or, "being a plumber."

And, yes, it can be used as a crutch for not making a call, and, yes, the pendulum can swing too far to that side.

[Junker]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

What the hell is hopping?

I'm glad someone finally said this. I can't say I've called a hopping violation in all of my years. I'd really like to see what the approved mechanic is.

This article is bs. How are the coaches and fans interviewed making valid points when they are using terms such as "hopping"? I suprised they didn't talk about "over the back" not being called enough. The least they can do is be informed about the rules before they get critical with officials.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by Junker

I can't say I've called a hopping violation in all of my years. I'd really like to see what the approved mechanic is.

Here's the instructional sheet I got at camp.

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

Here's the instructional sheet I got at camp.

By the photos provided, if you look closely especially at the last photo,I think this one is the controversial hopping and flopping mechanic.

[ILRef80]

One thing I'd like to comment on. I'm one of those young officials and have been a basketball official for 3 years. I'm 27 years old. I work hard, study the rules and feel like I do a great job. Yet, I still see a lot of politics that go on. I worked a few varsity games last year and will work a few more this year but my schedule is mostly filled with JV and JH games and I'm ok with that. I'm concerned about the coming years where it seems that certain assignors and schools continue to hire based on the buddy system. It's very, very discouraging to new officials.

[Adam]

Three years in and your getting some varstiy games? Quit whining, you're doing fine.

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by ILRef80

One thing I'd like to comment on. I'm one of those young officials and have been a basketball official for 3 years. I'm 27 years old. I work hard, study the rules and feel like I do a great job. Yet, I still see a lot of politics that go on. I worked a few varsity games last year and will work a few more this year but my schedule is mostly filled with JV and JH games and I'm ok with that. I'm concerned about the coming years where it seems that certain assignors and schools continue to hire based on the buddy system. It's very, very discouraging to new officials.

Right on schedule laddy.

[ILRef80]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Three years in and your getting some varstiy games? Quit whining, you're doing fine.

I'm not whining though. I'm just stating that I notice the buddy system. I'm happy with my progress, believe me. And I'm not one to get upset about what level of games I'm working, at least with the amount of experience I have. However, I can see how others can get frustrated.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by ILRef80

One thing I'd like to comment on. I'm one of those young officials and have been a basketball official for 3 years. I'm 27 years old. I work hard, study the rules and feel like I do a great job. Yet, I still see a lot of politics that go on. I worked a few varsity games last year and will work a few more this year but my schedule is mostly filled with JV and JH games and I'm ok with that. I'm concerned about the coming years where it seems that certain assignors and schools continue to hire based on the buddy system. It's very, very discouraging to new officials.

If you are complaining about politics and you are getting varsity games after only 3 years, do you consider your success political or based on talent? I could make the case that you have a buddy helping you out. If I were you I would be happy that you are even getting any varsity games. There are many officials it took longer to get those games.

Peace

[Back In The Saddle]

Politics is a reality in any organization in any part of life: work, school, dating, civic organizations, officiating, etc. I'm not talking about cloak and dagger stuff, back-stabbing others, stepping on people, or sleeping your way to the top. Though that does go on some places.

I'm talking about knowing how the "system" or "group dynamic" works, and using that knowledge to your advantage, to get into a particular group and move up within it.

The world is full of bitter people who steadfastly refuse to "get" that. You hear them whining about the "good old boy" system and how they're being held down. Most of them think too highly of their own opinions and skills to ever see that they're deficient in some area and THAT holds them back. They make sneering remarks about "sucking up" and how they'll never be one of "those guys." Really they're just unwilling to do what's needed to get positive attention from, and perhaps even build genuine friendships with, those who matter.

In my experience, people who consistently whine about "politics" either don't get how the system works, just don't like how the system works, are too lazy to work the system, believe the system simply owes them, or consider themselves "better" than the system. But all of them blame the system. It's so much easier than taking personal responsibility and making meaningful changes.

But that works to your advantage, if you're willing to work the system.

Life is politics.