Nope - not gonna do it

[fiasco]

Originally Posted by Smitty

I am not interested in training adults to behave properly. It's a waste of my valuable time.

My job isn't to train anyone. It's to enforce the rules. Maybe that's your problem. You and I look at officiating differently.

Like once when I was doing a Jr High game and I used the resumption-of-play procedure on a girls team who wouldn't come out of their huddle. One of the parents on the front row screamed at me, "Come on, ref, it's your job to teach the girls!"

To which I promptly turned around and said, "On the contrary, sir. That's the coach's job."

[Smitty]

Originally Posted by fiasco

My job isn't to train anyone. It's to enforce the rules. Maybe that's your problem. You and I look at officiating differently.

Like once when I was doing a Jr High game and I used the resumption-of-play procedure on a girls team who wouldn't come out of their huddle. One of the parents on the front row screamed at me, "Come on, ref, it's your job to teach the girls!"

To which I promptly turned around and said, "On the contrary, sir. That's the coach's job."

Now you're just being silly. And you really should stop trying to insult me. You're making yourself look ridiculous. "Maybe that's your problem" is just a stupid thing to say. You're comparing apples to oranges. Give it a rest.

I'm heading to lunch, so feel free to get the last word in. Make it one that really gets me good.

[fiasco]

Originally Posted by Smitty

Now you're just being silly. And you really should stop trying to insult me. You're making yourself look ridiculous. "Maybe that's your problem" is just a stupid thing to say. You're comparing apples to oranges. Give it a rest.

I'm heading to lunch, so feel free to get the last word in. Make it one that really gets me good.

I'm not trying to insult you. I'm just saying that I've never looked at officiating as an opportunity to train players. That's the coaches' jobs. If I was out there to train players, I would have to stop at every whistle and tell little Bobby why he's traveling. That would get annoying after a while.

I can see how looking at officiating in that manner could make you frustrated, though.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by fiasco

I'm just saying that I've never looked at officiating as an opportunity to train players. That's the coaches' jobs.

I had a game last fall in a "competitive" MS league. I was working a 6th grade girls game and made a five second closely guarded call. The coach went nuts and yelled at me, "How are they supposed to know about that rule? They're only in 6th grade."

I looked at him and said, "Most teams have something that teaches their players the rules. It's called a coach. I think you can buy them at Wal-Mart. I'm sure you know where that is, since you apparently buy your clothes there."

He wasn't happy but my partner cracked up.

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

I looked at him and said, "Most teams have something that teaches their players the rules. It's called a coach. I think you can buy them at Wal-Mart. I'm sure you know where that is, since you apparently buy your clothes there."

He wasn't happy but my partner cracked up.

Man, I have got to get a game with you someday! It sounds like your crew has a great time.

I'm sure you know where that is, since you apparently buy your clothes there
Classic

[fiasco]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

I had a game last fall in a "competitive" MS league. I was working a 6th grade girls game and made a five second closely guarded call. The coach went nuts and yelled at me, "How are they supposed to know about that rule? They're only in 6th grade."

I looked at him and said, "Most teams have something that teaches their players the rules. It's called a coach. I think you can buy them at Wal-Mart. I'm sure you know where that is, since you apparently buy your clothes there."

He wasn't happy but my partner cracked up.

Funny, but over the line. I'd never make a personal insult at a coach, no matter how bone headed he/she is. Bad form.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

I had a game last fall in a "competitive" MS league. I was working a 6th grade girls game and made a five second closely guarded call.

Dude.

[Mark Padgett]

I know the terms "competitive" and "6th grade" are incongruous, but that's the terminology the leagues around here use. It's to differentiate the purely recreational leagues from the ones that try to "train" kids to play on HS teams.

For instance, there's two leagues that operate in my city. I'm on the Board of the rec league. We have about 900 kids in grades 3-12 who (most of them, anyway) play for the fun of it. We try to emphasize sportsmanship, fun and fundamentals over competitiveness. We're pretty successful at it, although there's bound to be some exceptions. Some of the "better" players can't afford to play in the other organization so they wind up on one of our teams. Our policy is that any kid who wants to play can play. We even have a "scholarship fund" to help kids from low-income families. No one is flat turned away.

The other league has kids from grades 5-8 and has teams in about six or seven cities in this area. Players are selected at tryouts. It's relatively expensive to play in this (and similar) leagues around here. The emphasis is on winning. I referee in this league, too - and there's a huge difference in the attitude of the parents. In all fairness, most of the coaches are OK with the refs and I've come to know a few of them from working their games over the years. Oh yeah - these guys pay at the game, usually in cash, sometimes by check.