scratched?
 

Heres a first, I got switched to a different game coming up. I asked my assignor if there was a reason because I thought the game I had to begin with might be a decent game. I was told that the coach thought I was too chummy with the other coach. I never talk to this coach out of when I would have his game. I might have him 2 or 3 times a year at most. I am cordial like I am with all coaches. Not sure what the deal is. Any advice, should I just let it go and not worry about it. This is the first time I have ever been scratched from a game before (that I know of) Just thought you guys might be able to offer some insights. Thanks

Avoid trying to break down the thought process on anything said/done by a coach which remotely involves an official.

Totally agree!!! I would never want to be an assignor. Too many headaches but my immediate thought is, did he go to bat for you and your credibility as an official. Does he change officials often because of a request like this. If so, too many headaches.

If that's the reason, your assignor needs a backbone. But other than that, let it go and don't worry about it.

I wonder if it's possible the coach had you confused with somebody else? But that's really beside the point...your assignor needs to be more of a stand-up kind of person. That accusation by the coach is serious, and obviously it's important to both teams at every game to give the appearance of being fair. The fact that he didn't even call you to respond to the coach's comment speaks volumes. If assignors around here acted like that, there'd be nobody left to officiate games.

How many games does this guy give you per season? Unfortunately there's probably not a lot you can do...but if it were me, I'd make sure I stay in touch with a few other assignors to keep my options open...

Agreed. Don't worry about it. And it is possible that your assignor doens't have a backbone. I had an assignor like that back in '01-02. It happens.

You just learn to let it go. Coaches a strange animals. I was scratched by a coach because he thought I changed my call. There was about to be a collision on the sideline --> block all the way. Right before the collision, the player dribbling the ball steps out of bounds --> violation instead of the foul. I signaled the block, but realized I jumped the gun. Blew my whistle again and called the out of bounds violation. I explained everything to the coach, he said once I made a signal I cannot change it. I told him I anticipated the call and should have waited. I signaled wrong but got the call right. I was scratched by the coach. Have not been back since. When the assignor requested the game DVD, he reviewed it and said I did anticipate the call, but MADE THE RIGHT CALL!!!!!! But the coaches have the power and so I was scratched. I was asked why if I got it right, he said that is just the way it is.

My friend's association says that no coach can scratch without a game DVD and the coach must state what the official did wrong. If the coach is wrong, tough luck. IF the coach is right, then the official is scratched. He said the coaches don't like it, but it has made them more aware of what we do right verses wrong.

Coaches scratching officials...total garbage.

Control the things you can control, and don't worry about the things you can't control.

I would talk to the assignor to try to get some more information: Does the assignor feel that I am too buddy-buddy with Coach B? Does the assignor feel that Coach A had a legitimate gripe? Why exactly did assignor remove me?

After that conversation, move on and don't worry about it.

That's what you get for having an assignor that's a guuurrrrrrlll. ;)

Some coaches are paranoid by nature. You are personally better off not doing the game. Assignors with a "backbone" that keep you on this game are doing you no favors. Good assignors put you in positions where you and your crew have the greatest chance of success in your games. In this case, your best-case scenario is survival without damage. I've seen threads about moving up too fast. Damage in officiating relationships between us and coaches/players is extremely hard to fix. Sometimes it is impossible to fix. Fair or not, often the best choice for an official is to avoid these situations. If you are good, it only affects your ego. If you're really good, your ego won't be affected by paranoid coaches.

There are plenty of other assignments out there. My guess is you'll get more than your share of those.

What you view as "cordial" might be perceived by others as "chummy."

Just food for thought.

Accept it and go on. I once had a coach ask that I not be assigned to his conference tourney game. Why? Because I had whacked one of his players and him the game before. Did it bother me? Can you say, "Nope!"

Once had a soccer coach refuse to speak to me in a pre-game because I gave his best player a red card a few days before for throwing a Mike Tyson haymaker at an opponent. Did it bother me? Can you say, "Nope." And, if he had asked for an explanation of a call during the game, I would have reminded him that he had made it clear he did not want to talk to me and he would have heard nothing in the way of an explanation. Just doing it his way.

you can ask your assignor why. and move on from there.

Did you just call his assignor a coward? :eek:


:D

What does the "success" of the officials have to do with the perception of a coach? :confused:

In some areas, officials and assigners are afraid of coaches and they let coaches dictate who officiates their games. The Oracle's development has been stunted by such tragedy.

I remember several years ago the first time I heard I had been scratched from a game. I couldn't believe it because I had never had problems with that coach or school before.
I had a game with the same coach a few weeks later, and he told me before the game he had scratched me from the previous game because "I tend to let 'em play, and he needed the game called tight that night".

I work for a different assignor now.

Thanks
 

First off thanks for everyones input, and a day after I have got over the initial shock of getting scratched. My concern is this with having coaches scratch officials. If some (not all) officials know this the way they may act/or call the game may change depending on whom they are officiating if they are thinking (If I do this... I my not do any more varsity here) AN example of this: I have a fellow official, who is a good official, when he started getting varstiy games he was doing a varsity game. THe coaches wife saw that he was on the game and before the game came over to him (she is also an official) she said that me and my husband think you do a good job and will be writing a letter to the assignor to tell him that we would like you to get more varsity games. Back to the game: Highly contested game, coach that wanted this official to start getting more games argued a call. Called time-out to "vent" to the official. The coach told the official loud enough for others to hear. Make the F ing call. The official did nothing. Was he worried that he wouldn't get recommended for varsity games? Would the same thing happen if officials thought they may be scratched? What happened to doing the right thing, this is why coaches imo shouldn't be involved in scheduling.

Great Point, we work the game for the kids...I hope?

I don't have conflict with coaches. I don't have conflicts with my assignors. Coach wants to scratch me? OK, there are plenty of other games for me to work where I'm wanted and appreciated. I also would not want to burden my partners with a situation like that. When there is a personality conflict between a coach and an official, it takes mental energy from the entire crew to manage it. That mental energy is better spent focused on the game.

There are no noblemen amongst coaches, officials, assignors, and AD's. All normal human beings. Coaches scratching officials is stupid. But officials can take the high road, and it's not that big of a deal.

Fair enough, but to suggest that anytime a coach scratches an official, for any reason, that the assigner is better serving everyone by agreeing is myopic.

In my opinion, a successfully officiated game is one where the better team wins, there are no cheap shots, and the coaches and players do not exhibit much negative emotion. When that happens, the officiating is invisble to everyone. And yes, I know that this is not possible in every game. But that's my goal every night.

When someone has a personality conflict with a coach (or a player), the chances of this happening are close to zero.

I've never bought into this phrase. We all have motivations why we officiate. For me, it's a challenge, a way to stay involved in sports beyond watching on TV.

I try to give the kids the best game I can, but I'll stop short of saying I do it for them. I do it more FOR ME.

I've articulated the same point on here before. I agree with your post whole-heartedly.

That sounds like a flawed system, not something dealing with only that official. I do not work in a system where the coach has that much control (or any control) over my schedule. If they try to, I will not work for the appropriate person.

I learned long time ago that trying to work at one school is silly. I will probably pass a hundred schools to get to that one. At the end of the day, who cares what one coach thinks. For all you know the recommendation might not mean anything in the first place. We give coaches a little too much power or credit on these kinds of things.

Peace

Exactly!!!!

Peace

Thanks for putting my thoughts into words. :)