Official in stands yelling

[grunewar]

Report him. Don't let him walk all over his "fellow officials." (if he even is one).

[CMHCoachNRef]

Originally Posted by StripesOhio

Looking for some input here:

There is certified official who travels to games in our area and sits in the stands. I'm not sure if he actually officiates any games or if just has his certification. He is also a member of my association.

While he is at games, he loves to bark and scream at calls (or no calls) made by officials on the floor. He has spoke up in meetings about what he does. He also asks about situations he sees and asks for clarification at said association meetings.

Tonight, I'm working a JVG game and my partner and I both called a very good game. We had no complaints from coaches or players (other than small questions about calls---no problems) in what was a fairly sloppy game.

Now, the guy mentioned above so happens to be at this game. And I hear him roaring from the stands most of the game. At one point, he was screaming so loud I looked at the home teams coach and put my hand up (as to say enough coach.) Immediately as I did this I realized it wasn't him who had yelled. As I passed him next time down the floor I told him I realized after I put a hand up that it wasn't him. He said no big deal.

Now, my question is this.

Is this sort of behavior tolerable from a certified official in the stands who is so vocal? Isn't his screaming and complaining bad for those on the floor? (not doing any favors)

My gut feeling is next time I see him at an association meeting that I'll politely tell him, "Next time I see you at a game I'm working and you are being overly loud and critical of the officials I'll have you ejected from the building." Hell, maybe I'll just report him to the State office.

Thoughts...

Stripes,
I know an official from Central Ohio who was required to write a documented letter of apology to each of the officials in a similar situation. He refused. He was subsequently suspended until the letter was written.

[zm1283]

This guy would not be around anymore (officiating) if he was in our association.

[Camron Rust]

In all likelihood, he would be kicked out of our association for such behavior.

[Loudwhistle]

I had a situation that goes along with breaking the code of respecting the difficult job officials try to do. This happened 8 years ago, but I remember it very well. All the reffs in this situation were volunteering there time. This was a middle school tournament game and it was the final 7 seconds. It was a one point game at this point with blue leading. I whistled a block on the blue team which gave the red team two foul shots. Both shots were made, and red eventually won the game. My partner and I go into the reff room after the game and are shooting the breeze. In walks an official that had done a couple of games with me earlier that day already. He says to us, "man you guys really F*&%^$$ that game up." He then takes off his jersey, crosses his name off the next game that he was already signed up to officiate and stomps out of the room. Partner and I were in such shock that neither said a word until after he left. We found out later that his son was on the losing team. I'll guarantee you that he will never reff another game in that gym. He's been totally blackballed from our association.

[BBallEvaluator]

We had an incidence like this where an official from a local association was doing something like your incident at a game that was being officiated by referees in another association's location. His association was contacted and he was reprimanded by his associations ethics committee. He was required to send an apology to both officials and the coaches in attendance. He lost games for one week and was placed on probation for the coming season. Had he not complied with the apologies he would have lost his entire schedule and could not be a member at any state association.