Nightmare dillema

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

1. Get coaches who can control their players.
2. Realize it's youth AAU.
3. Remember that officials at this level are learning all about advantage disadvantage. During that process, contact gets no-called that should probably be called a foul. It happens to all of us as we progress.
4. I will never get between players about to throw a punch. Ever. Once it's at that point, all you can do is stand back, blow your whistle like hell, and take numbers.

Is there a certain tune we should be whistling like hell?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch

Is there a certain tune we should be whistling like hell?

I would leave this up to your venue. If you're in a rural school in the middle of Oklahoma, something by Toby Keith might be appropriate.

If you're in Wisconsin, maybe some polka.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I would leave this up to your venue. If you're in a rural school in the middle of Oklahoma, something by Toby Keith might be appropriate.

If you're in Wisconsin, maybe some polka.

Zing! Boom! Tarrarel!

Would they whistle John Denver in Colorado?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Zing! Boom! Tarrarel!

Would they whistle John Denver in Colorado?

Thanks, Rich, now I have that stupid song in my head.

West Virginia can have him.

[MRofficial]

Thank you all for your comments. I appreciate the different opinions and insights. In fact that is the reason I posted on this site, to hear the various differing opinions. It is my hope that all of you have a very positive summer, I know that I will have a better summer thanks to the songs that I have started to listen to again. For those attending camps and being scouted, best of luck and see you on the court!

[Texas Aggie]

yes I am a lawyer, but not a litigator

I'm a lawyer AND a litigator and I can tell you this: the law on these sorts of issues is very state specific, and many states have statutes on the books protecting officials from these such suits. I've seen negligence cases from other states' Supreme Court uphold a Plaintiff's win in a matter where the Plaintiff would be thrown out on summary judgment in Texas and other states. Recently, a Texas district court in San Antonio, which is not exactly an area reputed to be pro-defense, granted summary judgment in favor of high school football officials who were sued for negligence for (allegedly) not enforcing the sideline rule. This case will likely be upheld on appeal. The plaintiff in any one of these cases has an uphill battle to prove a viable duty owed by the official to the player. Without a common law, contractual, or statutory duty, there is no tort liability.

Even assuming the Plaintiff's attorney comes up with a viable duty, he also has to prove a breach of that duty -- a breach that proximately causes the harm complained of. The "harm" in your example is the result of a punch. Can the attorney prove the punch was caused by a breach of duty by an official? Not if I'm the defense attorney.

[just another ref]

So if I'm speeding and have a wreck, can I sue the cops?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by just another ref

So if I'm speeding and have a wreck, can I sue the cops?

No, but the guy whose mailbox you destroy can.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch

Is there a certain tune we should be whistling like hell?

I always whistle "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida".

[justacoach]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

I always whistle "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida".

The 3 minute radio version or the 8 minute megillah from the album???

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by justacoach

The 3 minute radio version or the 8 minute megillah from the album???

Well, I started whistling it in my head sometime in 1968 and haven't stopped yet.

[MRofficial]

WOW, looks like there is alot of whislting going on!

I admitt I had to learn too, I've missed calls and made bad ones as well, and you are right, I did learn from them. I also agree that this AAU thing has gotten out of hand. This job we call offciating is not a full time position, I totally agree that if people expect much they must be given much.

Fortunately I love the game and have passionately pursued to get better and at my level I am well compenstated, however I think that we all agree that there are those whom we have either seen or worked with as partners who you hope and wish you don't get again.

Now, it is clearly the role of the assigner to do the best of balancing the referee, but I'm sure it hasn't changed much from my days of doing summer ball, where the best is not necessarily assigned for various games due to the pay or scheduling conflicts. Having said that these two particular referee's will see a lawsuit from what I have heard, and this just brings a new dimension for us. Coaches should coach, but if they don't referee's should ref and keep the safety of the athletes at the forefront. I just believe that seeing the younger referee's, they are seldom prepared and have alot of OJT, which is fine, but I hope we all agree that there are several referee's who do not have what it takes to ref, not all who want to ref can nor should be referees.

Originally Posted by MRofficial

...but I hope we all agree that there are several referee's who do not have what it takes to ref, not all who want to ref can nor should be referees.

Yes sir, I'll buy that.

"If you can't see it, it wasn't meant for you to see,
If you wasn't born with it, it wasn't meant for you to be it" - DMX

[bbcof83]

Originally Posted by Ch1town

Yes sir, I'll buy that.

"If you can't see it, it wasn't meant for you to see,
If you wasn't born with it, it wasn't meant for you to be it" - DMX

Ha! I am willing to bet this is the first time DMX has been quoted on this board.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by MRofficial

Now, it is clearly the role of the assigner to do the best of balancing the referee, but I'm sure it hasn't changed much from my days of doing summer ball, where the best is not necessarily assigned for various games due to the pay or scheduling conflicts. Having said that these two particular referee's will see a lawsuit from what I have heard, and this just brings a new dimension for us. Coaches should coach, but if they don't referee's should ref and keep the safety of the athletes at the forefront. I just believe that seeing the younger referee's, they are seldom prepared and have alot of OJT, which is fine, but I hope we all agree that there are several referee's who do not have what it takes to ref, not all who want to ref can nor should be referees.

My question for you: on what basis do you think those officials should be sued? Because they missed some calls? Because they didn't get in the way of the players wanting to fight?
I hope the law suit gets thrown out on its as$, frankly.

What, exactly, should they have done differently aside from having better court awareness early? Did they set aside a safety rule that led to an injury?

And what is in red is so obvious it really didn't need to be stated.