More handshake idiocy

[BayStateRef]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

How do the MIAA rules help you deal with a water bottle that cracks you in the back of the head? A bottle was thrown at an official in the WMass finals last season; fortunately it missed. But frankly, no sportsmanship initiative is worth that risk to me.

The MIAA has decided it wants this rule in place. I have two choices -- accept it or decline to work high school games sanctioned by the MIAA. The MIAA did a much better job this year of getting the schools to do their job. A school I was at last week had a site manager follow the protocol to the letter; last year at the same school, I could not even find a custodian with a key to the locker room.

I don't live in a risk-free world and I accept those risks in everything I do. I had a game last night that should have been 20 minutes away. But because of snow, ice, rush hour and Christmas shopping traffic, it took me almost 75 minutes to get there. Do I decline the game because there is ice on the roads? Or I might get hit by a holiday shopper gabbing on the cell phone? I respect your concern for our safety. But I also respect that when I work a high school game under MIAA rules, they get to set the rules. I can handle that...or I would not take the game.

[BillyMac]

Not counting the Bay State, are there any other interscholastic, or intercollegiate, sports where the officials customarily, or by rule, stick around after the game, or match, or meet, has been decided, for some type of post game handshake? Does the Massachusetts handshake edict only apply to basketball, or to all interscholastic sports in that state?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Not counting the Bay State, are there any other interscholastic, or intercollegiate, sports where the officials customarily, or by rule, stick around after the game, or match, or meet, has been decided, for some type of post game handshake? Does the Massachusetts handshake edict only apply to basketball, or to all interscholastic sports in the state?

I think it's routinely done in some other sports, and MA decided to impliment this grand experiment in warm fuzzies with all sports.

[BayStateRef]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

MA decided to implement this grand experiment in warm fuzzies with all sports.

All team sports, specifically: volleyball, soccer, football, field hockey, basketball, ice hockey, baseball, gymnastics, softball and lacrosse.

[BillyMac]

Mark Padgett: Do you hang around to observe handshakes after the croquet match after you have approved the final score?

(What a straight line. This is going to be good)

[Stat-Man]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Mark Padgett: Do you hang around to observe handshakes after the croquet match after you have approved the final score?

(What a straight line. This is going to be good)

I'm happy if my friends and associates even remember to shake hands after our croquet games

: I'm all for promoting good sportsmanship, but It's my own opinion that if you make a PGHS mandatory, it loses some of its significance and meaning and is a statement that whoever made the rule doesn't trust the participants to do it on their own.

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by Stat-Man

I'm happy if my friends and associates even remember to shake hands after our croquet games

: I'm all for promoting good sportsmanship, but It's my own opinion that if you make a PGHS mandatory, it loses some of its significance and meaning and is a statement that whoever made the rule doesn't trust the participants to do it on their own.

Why don't they have a post-session handshake at the statehouse every day that is observed by the sgt at arms?

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Not counting the Bay State, are there any other interscholastic, or intercollegiate, sports where the officials customarily, or by rule, stick around after the game, or match, or meet, has been decided, for some type of post game handshake? Does the Massachusetts handshake edict only apply to basketball, or to all interscholastic sports in that state?

I know that in the NJCAA, soccer officials must stick around for the handshake after the game. This is how one team was eliminated from being allowed to play in the postseason even though they won their conference regular season title, because one of the players started a post-game fracas and apparently not on just one occasion.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by BayStateRef

The MIAA has decided it wants this rule in place. I have two choices -- accept it or decline to work high school games sanctioned by the MIAA. The MIAA did a much better job this year of getting the schools to do their job. A school I was at last week had a site manager follow the protocol to the letter; last year at the same school, I could not even find a custodian with a key to the locker room.

I don't live in a risk-free world and I accept those risks in everything I do. I had a game last night that should have been 20 minutes away. But because of snow, ice, rush hour and Christmas shopping traffic, it took me almost 75 minutes to get there. Do I decline the game because there is ice on the roads? Or I might get hit by a holiday shopper gabbing on the cell phone? I respect your concern for our safety. But I also respect that when I work a high school game under MIAA rules, they get to set the rules. I can handle that...or I would not take the game.

Until officials are employees of the state, I think you have more recourse than "none."

[BayStateRef]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Until officials are employees of the state, I think you have more recourse than "none."

Individual schools do not have to follow MIAA rules either -- unless they want to participate in the state tournament, which is run by the MIAA. So most public and parochial schools follow the rules. The private schools have their own association/leagues with their own rules and they do not enter the MIAA tournament.

I can decide how to officiate my games, but my assignors might not agree with my decision. I say "might" because two of my assignors have left it up to me (and my partners). Other assignors have explicitly told their officials that they MUST take part in the handshake or they will have their games withdrawn. So being "independent" doesn't mean I can do what I want -- unless I am willing to accept the consequences of not getting assignments for high school varsity games.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by BayStateRef

Individual schools do not have to follow MIAA rules either -- unless they want to participate in the state tournament, which is run by the MIAA. So most public and parochial schools follow the rules. The private schools have their own association/leagues with their own rules and they do not enter the MIAA tournament.

I can decide how to officiate my games, but my assignors might not agree with my decision. I say "might" because two of my assignors have left it up to me (and my partners). Other assignors have explicitly told their officials that they MUST take part in the handshake or they will have their games withdrawn. So being "independent" doesn't mean I can do what I want -- unless I am willing to accept the consequences of not getting assignments for high school varsity games.

If the officials would come together on this stupidity, like they should, there would be no officials to assign.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

If the officials would come together on this stupidity, like they should, there would be no officials to assign.

Too many don't care.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Too many don't care.

And there are some that see this as an opportunity to work games they otherwise wouldn't (see last year's tournament).

I've never stayed for a PGHS, so I have no idea if this kind of thing happens in my neck of the woods.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

If the officials would come together on this stupidity, like they should, there would be no officials to assign.

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Too many don't care.

I care, but I happen to be on the other side in this debate. I like the efforts of the MIAA. I think that there are some details that need adjusting, but overall I support the idea.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

I care, but I happen to be on the other side in this debate. I like the efforts of the MIAA. I think that there are some details that need adjusting, but overall I support the idea.

Fortunately, you're on the other side of the country as well.

I get their purpose, and it's a nice thought. There's just no reason to have the officials standing there postgame when everyone's emotions are heated. As scrappy said, do it before the game if you want the refs there.