Critical Officiating article from a local news paper.

[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.

[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.

[jdw3018]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

Life is politics.

Your entire post is spot-on, but this is the most true statement of all.

[canuckrefguy]

Originally Posted by 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.

Amen, BITS.

In ten years, I have never, EVER seen genuinely capable officials that weren't given opportunities if they sought them out - unless something was holding them back. Sometimes it was a flaw in their game, more often it was a flaw in their attitude.

Stop making excuses.

Start making changes.

Words to live by.

[Mark Dexter]

Originally Posted by canuckrefguy

In ten years, I have never, EVER seen genuinely capable officials that weren't given opportunities if they sought them out - unless something was holding them back. Sometimes it was a flaw in their game, more often it was a flaw in their attitude.

I still remember the old assignor for my board back in CT. He came to watch & speak at one of the new-member clinics, and his biggest mantra was "cream rises." Politics of course exist, but the best referees are going to be the ones getting assigned to the best games.

[gordon30307]

Originally Posted by Mark Dexter

I still remember the old assignor for my board back in CT. He came to watch & speak at one of the new-member clinics, and his biggest mantra was "cream rises." Politics of course exist, but the best referees are going to be the ones getting assigned to the best games.

le

You want to move up. Here's how you do it. Be reliable, work as many games as you can, know the rules, work on your mechanics, take the good with the bad. By that I mean if you agree to work a conference don't turn a game back just because it's hard to get to. If you agree to work a conference work the damn conference. If you have to turn a game back get a qualified replacement that the assignor knows and then call the assignor. Don't cancel at the last minute. If you're sick the day before and can't find a replacement drag your sorry *** to the game and do the best that you can. Join more than one associations and attend camps. Yes attend more than one camp each season. Are there old f**ks doing games they don't belong on. Of course there is. Just remember some day you'll be the old f**k.

[socalreff]

Originally Posted by gordon30307

le

You want to move up. Here's how you do it. Be reliable, work as many games as you can, know the rules, work on your mechanics, take the good with the bad. By that I mean if you agree to work a conference don't turn a game back just because it's hard to get to. If you agree to work a conference work the damn conference. If you have to turn a game back get a qualified replacement that the assignor knows and then call the assignor. Don't cancel at the last minute. If you're sick the day before and can't find a replacement drag your sorry *** to the game and do the best that you can. Join more than one associations and attend camps. Yes attend more than one camp each season. Are there old f**ks doing games they don't belong on. Of course there is. Just remember some day you'll be the old f**k.

Why do you put asterisks in to spell folks?

[JustCallIt]

In response to Back In The Saddle's self-serving diatribe in favor of the perpetual buddy club

What an absolute crock. I've been lurking for a long time, but this crock is so bad I had to remember my junk mail box name and register.

Playing good old boy politics is just an excuse for excluding people who are threatening, be it younger people, darker people or people of a different gender or orientation.

The fact is, ability should be paramount in assigning and promoting officials, not being pals. The only people who defend placing politics above ability are the people being protected by the politics. The fact is incompetent people who are buddies get favorable treatment because they are members of the buddy club.

Your answer is to join the buddy club.

Pathetic.

[jdw3018]

Originally Posted by JustCallIt

Playing good old boy politics is just an excuse for excluding people who are threatening, be it younger people, darker people or people of a different gender or orientation.

The fact is, ability should be paramount in assigning and promoting officials, not being pals. The only people who defend placing politics above ability are the people being protected by the politics. The fact is incompetent people who are buddies get favorable treatment because they are members of the buddy club.

I doubt BITS disagrees that ability should be paramount. He's simply stating that politics are always going to exist in any system so you have choices - you can either do your best to work within that system, or you can refuse to do so and try to change it. If you think a system is patently unfair, then don't work there or try to change it. But if it doesn't change to your benefit, you can be pissed about it, but that won't get you more games.

I thought BITS' statement was spot-on in that all systems exist for reasons - some good and some bad - and if you want to work the best and most games, the way to do that is to figure out how to work within that system.

If you simply can't because you believe it is immoral or unethical - more than just a PITA and less than fair - then work somewhere else or work to change it. But just *****ing about the "old boys club" won't get anything done but let you project your disappointment on someone else.

Most of these "buddy clubs" you talk about simply aren't as bad as you make them out to be. Do you often have to network and abide by rules? Yes. Is that bad? I don't see how.

I haven't been officiating a long time, and I've been exposed to a couple different setups. They each are different and they each have their own politics/challenges. But each system has one belief in common: officiating is about more than just calling the game. It's about being dependable, being cooperative and working well with your other officials. These are things that some call "politics." Many who understand this are simply tired of hearing the whining.

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by jdw3018

I doubt BITS disagrees that ability should be paramount. He's simply stating that politics are always going to exist in any system so you have choices - you can either do your best to work within that system, or you can refuse to do so and try to change it. If you think a system is patently unfair, then don't work there or try to change it. But if it doesn't change to your benefit, you can be pissed about it, but that won't get you more games.

I thought BITS' statement was spot-on in that all systems exist for reasons - some good and some bad - and if you want to work the best and most games, the way to do that is to figure out how to work within that system.

If you simply can't because you believe it is immoral or unethical - more than just a PITA and less than fair - then work somewhere else or work to change it. But just *****ing about the "old boys club" won't get anything done but let you project your disappointment on someone else.

Most of these "buddy clubs" you talk about simply aren't as bad as you make them out to be. Do you often have to network and abide by rules? Yes. Is that bad? I don't see how.

I haven't been officiating a long time, and I've been exposed to a couple different setups. They each are different and they each have their own politics/challenges. But each system has one belief in common: officiating is about more than just calling the game. It's about being dependable, being cooperative and working well with your other officials. These are things that some call "politics." Many who understand this are simply tired of hearing the whining.

Thank you. I could hardly have said it better.

[JustCallIt]

Well, gee, I guess if being asked to work with people who can't chug up and down the floor, can't see and think points of emphysis is a fairy tale, then I guess I'm bitter. Personally, I'm doing fine, but I see better officials in middle school games than in some varsity contests.

I never suggested that the non-cooperative ought to advance. But when the incompetent are protected, or people don't advance because "son/miss, you just haven't been doing it long enough, like old Fred over there" then it's politics at its worst and people who defend it are defending their comfortable status quo.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by JustCallIt

Well, gee, I guess if being asked to work with people who can't chug up and down the floor, can't see and think points of emphysis is a fairy tale, then I guess I'm bitter. Personally, I'm doing fine, but I see better officials in middle school games than in some varsity contests.

I never suggested that the non-cooperative ought to advance. But when the incompetent are protected, or people don't advance because "son/miss, you just haven't been doing it long enough, like old Fred over there" then it's politics at its worst and people who defend it are defending their comfortable status quo.

Get off your high horse. BITS never defended what you're complaining about.

[rockyroad]

Originally Posted by JustCallIt

Well, gee, I guess if being asked to work with people who can't chug up and down the floor, can't see and think points of emphysis is a fairy tale, then I guess I'm bitter. Personally, I'm doing fine, but I see better officials in middle school games than in some varsity contests.

I never suggested that the non-cooperative ought to advance. But when the incompetent are protected, or people don't advance because "son/miss, you just haven't been doing it long enough, like old Fred over there" then it's politics at its worst and people who defend it are defending their comfortable status quo.

Get your a$$ out there and seen by the local HS varsity coaches. Do their summer tournamnets and camps - volunteer to do them for free if you have to. Make sure they see how good you are. Then they will start contacting the assignors and asking "Hey, why isn't this stud working our regular season games? He's way better than old Fred you keep sending out."

In other words, quit the freaking whining about politics and do what YOU need to do to move up. Until then, it's all just sour grapes.

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by JustCallIt

Well, gee, I guess if being asked to work with people who can't chug up and down the floor, can't see and think points of emphysis is a fairy tale, then I guess I'm bitter. Personally, I'm doing fine, but I see better officials in middle school games than in some varsity contests.

I never suggested that the non-cooperative ought to advance. But when the incompetent are protected, or people don't advance because "son/miss, you just haven't been doing it long enough, like old Fred over there" then it's politics at its worst and people who defend it are defending their comfortable status quo.

Everywhere you go, you will find there is a system of some kind in place. Some are better, some are worse. Some are blatantly protecting officials whose "sell by dates" are long past. Blah blah blah.

So what are you going to do about it? If you work in an area where The Society for the Protection of Fred run the show, what are you going to do about it? Are you going to sit on the sidelines and whine about it? Or are you going to figure out how to work within that system, flawed though it may be, to advance? Because unless you have the power to change the system, those are really your only two choices.

Life is politics.

[Adam]

Ah, gee, sounds like someone's bitter.