Officials Uniform Problems

[Rich]

Originally Posted by jeffpea

if you arrive 30 minutes before the game, then you can handle the "paperwork" and have plenty of time to avoid these problems (if you haven't done so already by contacting your partner). people who do not arrive on time to games/meetings/appointments ultimately made a decision earlier in the day that what they were doing was more important than leaving to get to the game on time....

I work nothing but varsity HS and juco games, well, except when I don't.

A local guy I've worked youth football with got assigned a state final this year and asked me to cover a middle school game for him if his game conflicted. It did. I did.

I showed up at 3:45PM for the 4:15PM tipoff with my wheeled bag, dressed in nice clothes like I do for every game I work. There was nobody in the gym. I sat down and waited 15 minutes before anyone arrived.

I asked where I could change. The woman shrugged and said, well, there's a bathroom over there. Our officials come dressed. I was clearly an oddball.

My partner walked in at 4:10PM. I had already taken care of the book and talked to the captains. I decided to just relax and have fun, and I did. The guy wasn't the worst partner I've ever had, nor was he the best. The coaches were well behaved, mainly because I think I scared them.

My point is this: Showing up 30 minutes before an early game may make sense until it just doesn't. OTOH, I feel late if I show up less than an hour before a varsity game.