The judge to make the call?

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by BayStateRef

The officials still have authority if a fight or other activity took place after the score is approved...but only under MIAA rules. The sanctions are strong -- game (or multiple game) suspensions for the participants.

The exact rule from the MIAA:

“Fighting and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties will be within the authority of the official at all times at the contest site. The official’s authority extends to pre and post game oversight.” Implementation of this rule could have future consequences on the offender, but does not affect the final score.

BayStateRef:

The judge's statement that says the "official's (sic) authority extends to post-game oversight" proves that he has not read the NFHS Basketball Rules regarding the game officials authority. I am willing to bet dollars to donuts that he is not a sports official either. It is easy for this judge to put game officials in harms' way because he sits behind a large wood bar of justice protected by bailiffs and other court security personnel. I can assure you, that if he was to assume the game officials post-game duties, that the first time anybody accosted him he would do an 180 degree turn on his ruling.

MTD, Sr.

[JRutledge]

This kind of proves that states can do whatever the he!! they want to when it comes to mechanics or rules procedures.

Peace

[BayStateRef]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

BayStateRef:

The judge's statement that says the "official's (sic) authority extends to post-game oversight" proves that he has not read the NFHS Basketball Rules regarding the game officials authority. I am willing to bet dollars to donuts that he is not a sports official either. It is easy for this judge to put game officials in harms' way because he sits behind a large wood bar of justice protected by bailiffs and other court security personnel. I can assure you, that if he was to assume the game officials post-game duties, that the first time anybody accosted him he would do an 180 degree turn on his ruling.

MTD, Sr.

Mark,

The judge did not make that statement. As posted, it is the MIAA rule that gives the official this "authority." (Also...the judge is a she, not a he.)

Without getting too legal, the judge did not rule on the full merits of the case. Rather, she was asked to issue an injunction forbidding the handshake rule from taking effect when the season starts today. The legal standard for an injunction is much higher, requiring the officials to show that waiting for a full trial will cause "irreparable harm." As the judge said in her ruling, the officials failed to "demonstrate the required level of imminent, non speculative, substantial and irreparable harm to their physical, reputation, or financial interest."

As a varsity official, this affects me directly. I am comfortable there are enough "out" clauses that if I do not feel it is safe or if the school administration does not do its job, then I will not stay. I know there have been incidents and I am not trying to minimize them. But for me...and for many officials with whom I have spoken...this is not a big deal.

[ma_ref]

Season starts tonight. I'm sure most crews for tonight's games will stick around for the PGHS, due to the ruling last night. However, what will be more interesting is what happens when both officials don't stick around, or even more interesting, when 1 official refuses to stay and the other official wants to...

1 thing I didn't understand about the ruling was a quote from the MIAA's lawyer, who said that officials who don't stick around for the PGHS would be suspended. Suspended by who? MIAA doesn't have that kind of jurisdiction over officials, except by refusing them post-season tournament assignments. Local boards don't have that power either, as my board came right out and told us we're independent contractors and they can't suspend us for that reason.

The poo-poo is about to hit the fan. Strap yourself in folks, and get ready, cuz the already-bumpy ride is about to get bumpier!

[mbyron]

It sounds to me that there's boatloads of ego driving people to take inadvisable choices for the sake of ends of which they've lost sight.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by mbyron

It sounds to me that there's boatloads of ego driving people to take inadvisable choices for the sake of ends of which they've lost sight.

God, this sounds really good. I don't fully understand it, but it sounds really good. Thanks for making the Forum more classy.