Officiating a Team You Formerly Coached
 

I'm a first year official who has officiated 30 games so far this season. I would like to think I'm progressing and I, of course, have a great deal of veteran officials to thank. Last night I officiated a boys' 8th grade game involving a team I coached last year. I didn't coach any of the players since they were 7th graders last year. I don't believe (and neither did my partner feel) that I showed any bias toward my former team in any of my calls but, of course, the fans of the opposing team, naturally, felt differently. I ignored their comments as well as the opposing coach who said something like "Your last six calls were for white!" Nevermind that his team was undisciplined and, frankly, terrible. In my roundabout way, I'm asking, how do you handle officiating a game involving a team you formerly coached? Like I said, I believe I called a fair game, but, in the future, should I turn down the opportunity to officiate games involving my former team? Any thoughts will be appreciated.

Whether or not you think you called a perfect game, there is always going to be comments from people because you coached them last year. It is a lose lose situation for you, so I would definitely not call any more of their games. What usually happens is you call a little more than you normally would on the team you coached just to show that you are not being biased, which is not fair to them either. Just a bad situation all around.

8th grade & below: you did fine.

9th grade: consider not taking the game; borderline case, depending on your area.

JV & V: do not officiate for any school/team where you worked within the last 5 years. Even your home town can be dicey (depending on its size).

Thanks for the input. The assignor is, of course, aware that I coached previously and he has no problem with it either.

If you wish to avoid the hassle, then stay away from that school for a couple of years until the kids and parents change. You won't be as known and won't have to deal with the kind of garbage that you did during that game.

We have two Associations in my area. I purposely aligned myself with the Association that is further away, as my son and many of his friends, who I coached for many yrs, are still involved in Fresh/JV games in the closer Association.

I was assigned one my son's schools scrimmage games this yr as it crossed Associations and asked our Training Committee if I should ref it. They said it would be ok - but, never in regular season.

I do a lot of Rec Games for kids I've coached too, but, both teams usually have players on it so it's no problem.

I know I can call it fairly, as I have been forced into action to ref my son's teams before. But, as you allude, you just simply don't need this issue - there's enough to worry about.

Hey, did that kid dunk in warmups? TWEEET! ;)

Officiate like you would any other time. Don't sway from being consistent. That's how you stay professional and earn respect.

Every area is different, but if there's an opportunity to avoid the games in order to avoid the nonsense that people carry, you could do so.

Officiating former teammates
 

Any recommended waiting period before reffing adult rec leagues you played in? No need to put one's head into the mouth of the lion, but then again, if you need or want the work, especially in you're transitioning from player to official......

No doubt a lot depends upon the intensity of the league and personalities involved. (No matter how good you are, or they are, you're going to get picked at ...)

Any thoughts from the collective wisdom residing here?

Rec leagues are a different animal altogether. While I certainly understand the desire to get more games and more experience, a rec league where you know too many people could be a disaster unless these people already respect (not "like") you a lot. I would avoid it until you get enough confidence to give them a technical. Not that you'll have to, but you don't want to go in to the lion's den without a bullet in your gun.

We are in the perception is reality business. I wouldn't take a game there for a year or two....just me. That said, I actually reffed my daughter's lower level game in another sport a few years back. I don't regret it as it was a Daddy/ daughter moment, but the other coach figured out that I was a 'homer' in her opinion. It won't happen again. I don't do games at my kids high school even though they are gone, I know too many people.

If it bothers you and you can avoid calling these games, do so. If it bothers other people and that bothers you and you can avoid these games, do so. Otherwise, treat it like any other game and do the best you can. I have varsity games today involving the local high school from which my son graduated a couple of years ago. The girls head coach is a friend and actually is one of the officials in our local rec league. The boys head coach is a guy I grew up with and is on a short list of people I have known for 40+ years. Is this an ideal situation? No. But it's nothing I can't deal with.

Yeah, never! ;)

You must be a glutton for punishment!

I don't see a problem........

I think we worry too much about perceptions of other people. I do not care what people think as a factor of where and when I work. If someone is looking hard enough, they will find a presumed conflict. What if I went to high school with a coach? Should I avoid that game if my involvement was over 20 years ago? If you do this long enough you will know someone better than another person or you will have contact with someone in a way that someone else does not. Work the game if it matters to you and if it is not a varsity game, I see this as a real non-issue.

Peace

Personally? It's middle school ball, I wouldn't think twice. If your assigner knows and doesn't care....

And the comment in red would not have gone answered, either.

"Coach, don't accuse me of cheating."

I definitely know how to feel in this situation but not because I coached, but because I went to the school. I've had several incidents this past year of having the opportunity to officiate my high school ala mater (which I graduated from 8 years ago). After much discussion with the assignors, AD, and other school's AD it was decided that I not officiate any Varsity contests. Although everyone trusts my judgment, integrity, and abilities it is just easier for all parties to not have to deal with the perceived bias from the parents.

I just avoid the situation now that it's out in the open. Maybe after 15 years I'll be able to accept those games ;) However, I wouldn't accept to officiate a team you just coached last year. Just my two cents

-Josh

I transitioned from coaching to officiating last year. I blocked my old team last year, but this year I have not. There are obviously still players who I coached on that team, but I feel I am far enough removed from coaching them that it won't be a big issue.
As a teacher, I frequently officiate games with former students playing. Tonight, one of them, right in front of the other coach, said "Mr. Tarheel, whose ball is it?". The other coach gave me a strange look, but didn't question it.

There are bound to be conflicts of interest that come up. Once the game starts, I can't imagine it makes a difference for any official. If spectators/participants have a problem with it, it usually means they are really stretching for something to complain about - which you can take as a sign your are doing a good job!

Conflict Of Interest, Perception Versus Reality ???
 

I block out my hometown high school. My kids went there, played sports there, and I used to teach science in town before I retired, and became a chemist. I still have 69 other high schools to keep me busy. No big deal.

I have done games for both high Schools I attended. The first one when I was a sophomore in college at the HS I graduated. JVB & VG. First game was a buzzer beater won by the home team.

Locally, I refused to do games for my stepson's team, of course. But earlier this week I did a JV game between the HS I went to and the HS in the town where I now live. On the court 60 milies from here. Nobody could rightly accuse me of being a homer. I knew lots of people on both sides of the gym.

Next month I have the VG game between both schools here.

I would probably take other games for a season or two, though, in answer to your question.

The game was a good one. Locals lost 86-83 and outcome was in doubt until the last few seconds. One thing I have found in the past which was true again tonight. When they all know you, the noun of address gets more specific, but the complaint get more vague. Instead of "C'mon ref, that was a foul!" you hear
"C'mon (your name here) call the game right." This, of course, translates to "C'mon, (whoever you are) call the game for us!"

I did hear one I had never heard before. Local team scored. B1 took it out of the net and stepped out, after which I hear "Time out!" I could tell who it was, but instinctively turned to look at the local coach anyway, then turned back to follow the play. After the throw-in as I passed the bleachers, I hear a helpful mom: "C'mon (my name again) We called timeout!" And you just know that afterward she backed it up: "Y'all saw that! He looked straight at him and still wouldn't give him the timeout."

Gone unanswered? ;)

I try not to tell coaches what to do, so my version of this is: "Coach, are you aware that you are accusing me of cheating?" That usually does the trick.

Disagree. I know its different in areas other then my own but I'll relate my story. Last year GV game, a rivalry but not alot of talent just alot of noise.

1st half V coach is working me like there's no tomorrow. Jeez I would have bought a used car off him just to make him go away. Asking about this call and that call -the usual but very nice to me. H coach is yammering about every call-he got his call, Tweet T, and we moved on to halftime. In locker room I'm talking with partner. Clueless, he states H coach is great guy blah blah the kids. V coach hasn't said a word to him. I'm like jeez what did I do to get alll the love. Turns out partner assigns for H coachs summer leagues and V coach is aware of and plays in the league. So H coach has partner in his pocket and V coach also believes that.....I know none of us here would ever see things through "green eyes" but others can and do. Sorry its a no brainer don't do it. Your partner will thank you.

Once our oldest son entered JHS school I made sure that I did not officiate any sport involving his JHS (DeVeaux JHS) or his future HS (Start HS). And since I am know a VP of the athletics boosters organization at Start HS I doubt if I will ever officiate an event involving these two schools.

As it has already been stated, you can officiate a perfect game and it can still come back to bite you in your tuchus.

A number of years back, actually over 15 years back, the assignor of the league in which my HS was still a member, knew I was going to be in town to visit relatives and wanted me to officiate a boys' varsity game between my HS (ranked in the state's top 10 at the time) and another HS. I had the time to officiate the game but didn't because far too many people would have recognized me from my playing days when my HS won 17 league chamipionships in 21 years and I played on two of those teams (I think I broke my arm patting myself on my back, :D).

On the other hand, back in the day (over 30 years ago) when I was first officiating women's college basketball and my sister was playing golf for the Univ. of Miami's women's golf team I would officiate 5 or 6 games a year where UM was the visiting team even though the assignor knew my sister attended UM. Of course it was different back then, after the game each and every player and coach of both teams would shake the officials hands and thank them for taking the time to officiate the game. And I am talking about schools like U of Miami, Florida State, U of Florida, Florida Int'l. U, U of South Florida, and the like. One time I called the last four fouls on UM's captain in a game and she didn't talk to me for a week, because we were dating, :D.

MTD, Sr.

I'm Going To Give This Rumor Some Life, No Matter What ...
 

Was that before, or after, you dated Mary Struckoff?

WOW!!!!

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/laughing025.gif

Peace

You were officiating a college game in which your girlfriend was playing!?

LOL Excellent!

Hey, she didn't talk to me for a week. And they were the visitor's in the game too.

MTD, Sr.

I'm Not Giving Up, Someone Is Bound To Believe This If I'm Persistent Enough ...
 

She probably heard about you and Mary Struckoff.

I won't believe this until MTD denies it. :eek:

Times have really changed. Well sort of. :D

Peace

That's against the law in 48 states with the exception of Kentucky and West Virginia.........

Are you kidding? Assuming that there are no age issues, the law tells you who you can or cannot date? :confused:

Maybe this is a Canadian thing that you would not understand the premise of the comments; but he was making a joke about two states that rightfully or wrongfully is accused of people "Dating your sister" type behavior. I think you missed the joke. ;)

Peace

To paraphrase Rut, it's kind of an "uncledaddy" reference.

I think it is legal in Alabama and Mississippi. No wait, that has to do with siblings and first cousins. :D

MTD, Sr.

The uncledaddy phrase I get. :)

But West Virginia? I think of a nice state when I hear "Take Me Home, Country Roads".

what if you officiate a high school team from which you played for only 2 years ago?! ;)

That's why the women down here are such fast runners - they've been chased by their brothers since they were 12.

You went to high school for 21 years??

That would be a record.*




*Kenny Mayne

That's where they invented the toothbrush, you know. If it had been invented anywhere else, it would have been called a 'teethbrush'.