Drunken Referree

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by asdf

There is absolutely no reason for any official, of any sport, at any level to consume alcohol prior to working a game that day.

None................

Weeelllllll. I do know of a specific situation where in a playoff football game where an official had a heart attack. There happened to be an experienced official that was watching not intending on working went to a resturant before the game and had a couple of beers. Well he was asked to sub in for the official that had the heart attack. He told the crew his situation and even school officials and the accepted him to work. After all they asked him. I am not sure your position works for all situations.

Originally Posted by asdf

If I am in the locker room and I detect alcohol on the breath of a partner, he/she isn't working. If he/she insists, then I tell him I am going to notify the game administrator, AD, coach and/or whomever else I can think of that the partner in quetion has alcohol on his/her breath.

If the guy/gal, is that dumb enough to try to work the game after that, then they deserve the subsequent forfeiture of their license.

So you are going to make someone not work because you "think" you smell something? What if the official denies it? What if you are wrong? I understand that you want to take a hard line here, but you better be right or able to prove it. Because is all you smell is something you think is alcohol and it is not alcohol, that might be a bigger problem. I agree I would be concerned, but not sure you can deny someone working just because of what you think.

Peace

[amusedofficial]

There should be no booze on the breath, let alone drunkenness, by an official at a kid's game and it should not knowingly be tolerated by anyone who is serving as an official at a kid's game. The stakes are too high and the standard of nontolerance is too well established. Team members involved with alcohol face being kicked off the team, and that is an educational stand taken by institutions and leagues. The only reason we are there is to further the educaational programs of the institutions involved. NO we're not teachers. But we are placed in a position of responsibility and authority involving minors.

We owe it to the institutions for which we do these games not to violate that precept.

That's the easy part. The hard part, as it is in any honor system, is to enforce it. We are paid to make judgment calls in games, but not to impose moral judgment on co-workers. Involvement with alcohol by someone in authority at a kid's event is a grave offense.

Maybe boards ought to establish a protocol in which officials know going in that other officials have an obligation to speak up if there is a substance abuse issue.

And for Pete's sake, if you have a beer at lunch grab a tin of Altoids.

[asdf]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Weeelllllll. I do know of a specific situation where in a playoff football game where an official had a heart attack. There happened to be an experienced official that was watching not intending on working went to a resturant before the game and had a couple of beers. Well he was asked to sub in for the official that had the heart attack. He told the crew his situation and even school officials and the accepted him to work. After all they asked him. I am not sure your position works for all situations.

Works for all situations....... No game is that important to have this guy working.

The school official(s) that agreed to this should be fired.

The experienced official (with ZERO integrity) should lose his license.

[SAJ]

Originally Posted by asdf

The experienced official (with ZERO integrity) should lose his license.

Why was he at fault here? He told everyone his situation. They ASKED him.

It'd be interesting to see this actually happen in your presence. It's easy to say you're going to do something, but when it actually happens people don't always backup their statements.

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by SAJ

Why was he at fault here? He told everyone his situation. They ASKED him.

It'd be interesting to see this actually happen in your presence. It's easy to say you're going to do something, but when it actually happens people don't always backup their statements.

I think he has other issues

[asdf]

Originally Posted by SAJ

Why was he at fault here? He told everyone his situation. They ASKED him.

It'd be interesting to see this actually happen in your presence. It's easy to say you're going to do something, but when it actually happens people don't always backup their statements.

First..... who cares if they asked him. ( I do find it odd that he's got his gear with him)

He should have told them NO !!! The game could have gone on with 4.

Second.....

I hope I am never put in this situation. However, if I am, I guarantee you that I am handling things as previously stated.

FYI.... in case you haven't figured it out by now, I could care less what people think of me. I am who I am.

Straight forward, blunt, honest. You don't like it.... tough.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by asdf

First..... who cares if they asked him. ( I do find it odd that he's got his gear with him)

He should have told them NO !!! The game could have gone on with 4.

Second.....

I hope I am never put in this situation. However, if I am, I guarantee you that I am handling things as previously stated.

FYI.... in case you haven't figured it out by now, I could care less what people think of me. I am who I am.

Straight forward, blunt, honest. You don't like it.... tough.

As much as I'm against working with a detectably "drunk" partner. I disagree with you here. A drink, or even two, a couple of hours before the game (as it seems was the case) will have largely worn off by the game time. I have no problem with this guy working. He even had the wherewithal to bring up the issue and leave it in the hands of those in charge.

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

As much as I'm against working with a detectably "drunk" partner. I disagree with you here. A drink, or even two, a couple of hours before the game (as it seems was the case) will have largely worn off by the game time. I have no problem with this guy working. He even had the wherewithal to bring up the issue and leave it in the hands of those in charge.

Drunk is a broad term. For many people, a drink, or even two, would have little or no effect to wear off. They could have two beers on the way to the game and nobody would know the difference.

[ref2coach]

Most humans process ~1/2 ounce of pure alcohol per hour. 1 shot of liquor, 1 beer, 5 oz wine each have ~1/2 ounce of alcohol. So depending on what time the drink(s) were consumed in relation to tip off time there may be absolutely no alcohol remaining in the blood stream.

Source, My Wife a full time Alcohol & Drug Counselor.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by just another ref

Drunk is a broad term. For many people, a drink, or even two, would have little or no effect to wear off. They could have two beers on the way to the game and nobody would know the difference.

That is why I said "detectably drunk".

If someone else can tell they've been drinking, they've clearly had too much to be working a game.

They may have had too much to be working with a level less than "detectably drunk", but that is a different point.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by asdf

Works for all situations....... No game is that important to have this guy working.

The school official(s) that agreed to this should be fired.

The experienced official (with ZERO integrity) should lose his license.

Where do you get off saying he has zero integrity. I do not think that means what you think it means.

[asdf]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

So you are going to make someone not work because you "think" you smell something? What if the official denies it? What if you are wrong? I understand that you want to take a hard line here, but you better be right or able to prove it. Because is all you smell is something you think is alcohol and it is not alcohol, that might be a bigger problem. I agree I would be concerned, but not sure you can deny someone working just because of what you think.

Look harder..... nowhere do I mention the word "think". I am not going to take a hard line unless I detect alcohol.

Trust me..... he/she isn't working with me that night. One way or the other, the game is going to be worked with one less person than originally scheduled.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by asdf

Look harder..... nowhere do I mention the word "think". I am not going to take a hard line unless I detect alcohol.

Trust me..... he/she isn't working with me that night. One way or the other, the game is going to be worked with one less person than originally scheduled.

Just how do you think you're going to detect it? Do you have a breathalyzer in your bag? The smell can be meaningless, frankly, as many things can mimic the odor of alcohol. Even on the road it only provides probable cause for the cops to search further.

[asdf]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Just how do you think you're going to detect it? Do you have a breathalyzer in your bag? The smell can be meaningless, frankly, as many things can mimic the odor of alcohol. Even on the road it only provides probable cause for the cops to search further.

How do I detect it?

1)The industry that I work in requires me to be trained in this type of detection.

2) I am also a parent of former and current teen-agers.


I have never met anyone who has mistaken the odor.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by asdf

I have never met anyone who has mistaken the odor.

Perhaps you just don't know the right diabetics.