Officiating philosophy

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

The only reason I can see to be aware of "home vs. visitor" is to make sure they're wearing the correct jerseys. Other than that, I couldn't care less - and I certainly don't let it affect my calls or the way I treat each team and/or their coaching staff.

If the visitors don't like being booed by the disproportionate number of home fans, they should have stayed in bed. What's that got to do with how an official should call the game? I'll answer my own question - nothing!

According to prior posts Tio has already answered the question.

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

What's that got to do with how an official should call the game?

Originally Posted by Tio

The visiting team and coach are more paranoid than the home team.

They are usually travel weary, have had the fans jeering them since warmups, and now have 3 officials that the coach has never seen work before......

Unfortunately, there is some truth to the "hometown cooking" syndrome.

So, I try really hard not to do anything to fuel any perception of unfairness.

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

What's that got to do with how an official should call the game?

Originally Posted by Ch1town

According to prior posts Tio has already answered the question.

Originally Posted by Tio

The visiting team and coach are more paranoid than the home team.

They are usually travel weary, have had the fans jeering them since warmups, and now have 3 officials that the coach has never seen work before......

Unfortunately, there is some truth to the "hometown cooking" syndrome.

So, I try really hard not to do anything to fuel any perception of unfairness.

This is a non-answer. We all try hard not to fuel any perception of unfairness. Unfortunately this perception flourishes practically everywhere, by both home and visitors.

Tio states that home/visitor does not affect his judgment.

Originally Posted by Tio

Home vs. Visitor exists and is something we need to be aware of....... not use to assist in judgement.

So what was the point?

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by mu4scott

I'll stick w/ the game management philosophy of a guy who works more D1 games than anybody in the country. Seems to be a pretty successful path.

The highest level I've ever officiated is high school varsity. I've done a few league semifinals and finals, never a state tournament game. I've been doing this for twenty seven years, and I've never differentiated between the home or visiting team, and I've never heard anyone representing the NFHS, or IAABO, suggest that we do.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by just another ref

So, a part of your game awareness is to be cognizant of which team is home and which team is visitor because.......??

Home team gets last ups.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by Tio

Have you ever worked a rivalry game?

Yeah - two years ago I worked an intense rivalry game. It was a sixth grade girls game between Tigard and Tualatin (those of you in the Portland area know how heated this is) at a Tigard gym. There were two fights in the parking lot, one between two dads and one between two moms! I know my officiating had nothing to do with the fights because they both happened before the game.

The fans were rabid and there were twice as many supporting Tigard as Tualatin. However, despite the fact that two of the Tualatin girls (and one of the Tigard girls) started crying during the game, I didn't make any calls in favor of the visitors intentionally! I called it absolutely by the rules of that particular kids league and evenly from start to finish.

Man, those "rivalry" games are really tough to work!

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Home team gets last ups.

And last change on the ice.

Yep and any questionable OOB calls goes the home teams way

[btaylor64]

Originally Posted by mu4scott

I'll stick w/ the game management philosophy of a guy who works more D1 games than anybody in the country. Seems to be a pretty successful path.

Mu4Scott,

I am
not trying to attack you in any way. That's not what I post on here for, but I should have guessed that you would listen to philosophies like Steve Welmer. You know if you put him in the breakdown system like they have for the NBA, I would bet he gets maybe 70% of his plays right. Steve is a great communicator and that's how he gets those 100 game seasons. I on the other hand am not working games for the coaches, I'm working for the players and the game. I believe you should be a great communicator but playcalling should be first.

Also I hope you know that Steve welmer does not work in the ACC as far as I know, he was fired from the SEC and he has never worked past the sweet 16. I respect the man as a communicator but not as an overall GREAT referee. My opinion.

Like I said in the other thread about game mgmt, the term needs to be revamped. There are RARE instances when you should call a foul for game mgmt reasons.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Tio

Have you ever worked a rivalry game?

I worked one of the biggest in my state. Not because the teams had history, but both teams had not played in 35 years. And I was fortunate to work the only two games they played in 35 years the past two years. Both teams were in the same town and one was a Catholic school and the other was one of the most successful schools in the state (if you include state final appearances and overall playoff success). The first game had over 4000 people in attendance, the second game had just under 2500 (size of the gym of course). Both games were on live local TV and tickets were sold out before the season started (both games were the first weekend in January). It could not get any bigger to me from a high school standpoint and who was home or visiting was not a concern. I guess I had to call the school that was hosting and see where to park. And I guess it was nice to know who was paying me that night. I have never been involved in a game that involved so much hype and interest during the regular season or post season.

They played home and home in a two year period and it was hard not to know who the home team was and who the visiting team was. They will not play again at this point. It did not make a bit of difference to me other than which gym I had to drive to. I do not understand why this is a game management issue. If it was not a big deal to me during these two games which was a really big deal to these people, do you really think it is a big deal to me when there are hardly anyone in the gym? I guess we all have to worry about something.

Peace

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

...... but both teams had not played in 35 years.

They were probably a little rusty.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by just another ref

They were probably a little rusty.

I'm just surprised they used players who are 35 years old....

[Adam]

So what happens when the home coach has a history with you and always complains he's getting screwed? Are you going to try extra hard to not perpetuate any fears of unfairness?

[SWMOzebra]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Personally, I disagree with any philosophy that gets into worrying about any calls that might be made differently between the home and visiting teams. Call consistency is much more important imo.

I read all 5 pages (so far) of the thread and this is what I personally took away as the most important point.

Kudos to Jurassic, though I do feel like I might be in "The Twilight Zone!"

[zebraman]

I just can't get past Welmer's math comprehension.

150%? Is that the new math they are going to teach my kid in first grade?

Also always cracks me up when someone refers to themself in third person.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by zebraman

150%? Is that the new math they are going to teach my kid in first grade?

Concur! I am always curious when an athlete says they will give 110%! How do you give more than a 100% effort?

I guess they "step up" their game! (another great expression (sarc))