THIS had never happened . . . until now!

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by cardinalfan

I wouldn't get too offended by the comments. Until you explained it, I must admit I thought it was odd that you were requested by the coaches for a playoff game.
I guess every state or association does things differently.

Ditto.......still seems a bit odd.

[amusedofficial]

I'm sure the OP is honest, hardworking and a great official.

But the system his association uses stinks.

Anytime coaches exert any kind of influence over who works tournament or prestige games, there is a cloud over all officials in every game.

These two coaches may have played each other twice during the season, and gotten a look at their preferred coaches in a head to head tilt. But I doubt it. More likely, the teams didn't play during the season, or if they did it wasn't necessarily with the same officials. So a lot of the coach's impression is based on the official's work in games featuring a contending team against non-contenders.

If coaches can influence who works their games, then the coach of a contender makes a recommendation based, in major part, on the official's performance in games against a non-contenders, it leads to allegations that officials working such games are trying to get in good with the contending coach to get tournament games.

It stinks to high heaven. Let coaches coach, let officials ref and let evaluators evaluate.

[Zoochy]

I was lucky enough to be selected to officiate a 1st round and a semi-final post season District games. I believe the process of selecting officials goes this way. Coaches of the participating schools submit a list of 'Want' and 'Do NOT Want' officials to the Athletic Director. The AD's of the, host schools, gets together with the other AD's, of host schools, and select officials (Hopefully from the list). They select the officials for their final game first, then the semi-final, and so on. This year, School 'A' hosts District games. Official 'A' use to be employed by that school. He was the Varsity Boys Head Coach at one time and he also was the AD for that school. I believe he got selected for all 3 rounds at the school. 95% of the game is who you know, the other 25% is your skill.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Zoochy

I was lucky enough to be selected to officiate a 1st round and a semi-final post season District games. I believe the process of selecting officials goes this way. Coaches of the participating schools submit a list of 'Want' and 'Do NOT Want' officials to the Athletic Director. The AD's of the, host schools, gets together with the other AD's, of host schools, and select officials (Hopefully from the list). They select the officials for their final game first, then the semi-final, and so on. This year, School 'A' hosts District games. Official 'A' use to be employed by that school. He was the Varsity Boys Head Coach at one time and he also was the AD for that school. I believe he got selected for all 3 rounds at the school. 95% of the game is who you know, the other 25% is your skill.

Good thing only 3% is math.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Good thing only 3% is math.

Or, as Yogi would say, "Ninety percent of this game is half mental." Source: Sports Illustrated (May 14, 1979)

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by grunewar

Or, as Yogi would say, "Ninety percent of this game is half mental." Source: Sports Illustrated (May 14, 1979)

Makes sense to me. What about the remaining 10%?

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Makes sense to me. What about the remaining 10%?

I think that's the other half.

[Raymond]

I have no problem with the process in the OP's area. The thing is I don't think there is more than one coach who even knows what my name is, so I wouldn't get very many assignments if that were the process here.

I don't think too many coaches would request an official who can be walked all over. Because that means the opposing coach could walk all over him also.

[bigdogrunnin]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

I have no problem with the process in the OP's area. The thing is I don't think there is more than one coach who even knows what my name is, so I wouldn't get very many assignments if that were the process here.

I don't think too many coaches would request an official who can be walked all over. Because that means the opposing coach could walk all over him also.

In Texas, every coach has access to all the names and home locations (have to know where to send the checks) of all the officials that will work any of their games. They also have "preferred" lists and "scratch" lists that they submit to the Chapter Assignor at the beginning of each season and for district ballgames. (For the chapters I work for, there is a 10% rule, meaning they cannot scratch more than 10% of the Chapter membership at any time during the season. Other chapters may be slightly different.) The assignor and/or the Chapter Board then determine which officials call which games. Playoffs are a little different, obviously. During the season or during district, if coaches cannot agree on a chapter or officials, then they go to UIL who then assigns a chapter to the contest. The chapter then selects what officials go to the games. (I had 2-3 such assignments this year.)

Seems fair to me, but hey, this is the system I live in. Again, I am sure others will disagree.

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by Zoochy

I was lucky enough to be selected to officiate a 1st round and a semi-final post season District games. I believe the process of selecting officials goes this way. Coaches of the participating schools submit a list of 'Want' and 'Do NOT Want' officials to the Athletic Director. The AD's of the, host schools, gets together with the other AD's, of host schools, and select officials (Hopefully from the list). They select the officials for their final game first, then the semi-final, and so on. This year, School 'A' hosts District games. Official 'A' use to be employed by that school. He was the Varsity Boys Head Coach at one time and he also was the AD for that school. I believe he got selected for all 3 rounds at the school. 95% of the game is who you know, the other 25% is your skill.

Gee, I never thought I'd say this, But Illinois, land of Blago, seems to be very equitable compared a few states mentioned here.

[zm1283]

I'm not sure how prevalent this is in other states, but in Missouri coaches rate officials after every game. They use a 1-5 scale, with 1 being the best. At the end of the season, you have an average rating for the year. I don't think many officials really care for it, myself included.

For district tournaments, the district chairs (The athletic directors at each host site) draft officials for their site. The officials put in a request to work a district and they are put on the draft list.

[referee99]

Originally Posted by zm1283

I'm not sure how prevalent this is in other states, but in Missouri coaches rate officials after every game. They use a 1-5 scale, with 1 being the best. At the end of the season, you have an average rating for the year. I don't think many officials really care for it, myself included.

For district tournaments, the district chairs (The athletic directors at each host site) draft officials for their site. The officials put in a request to work a district and they are put on the draft list.

Post cards? Phone calls?

Anyone, does Arbiter.net have a coaches interface? So they can see the officials who are assigned, and give feedback/rate?

Wondering whether that functionality is built in to Arbiter.

[Texas Aggie]

So in your area the officials who are chummy with the coaches and please them get the games.

Since he didn't say anything close to that, why are you trying to start something?

[BillyMac]

Here in Connecticut, the coaches, all of them, not just the ones whose teams made state tournament (40% winning percentage), vote for officials to work tournament games. The ones with the most votes, work all the way to the state finals. The officials with fewer votes, drop out as the rounds progress. Some exceptions. If both schools are from our local board, then our officials will get those games. If one school is from board A, and another is from Board B, then officials from Board C, or Board D, will work the game. Believe it or not, the coaches make excellent choices. The guys who are selected for the tournament are usually our better officials, in terms of colleague ratings, and rankings. The ones selected for state finals are usually the cream of the crop, our best officials.