I would never allow someone that was not a certified ref to officiate a real game, if it was a scrimmage ok. In my district in PA (this may not be the same for all in PA) You are not permitted to ref a varsity game with less than 3 officials. You may finish with 2 if one gets hurt. For sub-varsity you MAY NOT start or finish a game with only one ref. For years if a ref didn't show we would do it solo and get double paid. By rule we are not suppose to do this anymore. We must tell them the game is not permitted to be played. I know that some just ref it by themselves but by rule we are not suppose to.

So if someone doesn't show up to ref for whatever reason, they cancel the game? Wow...I would assume the penalty for no-showing a game is pretty harsh in your neck of the woods?

And if an official gets injured during a JV game?

That is not true for Freshman games. The OSAA only requires OSAA officials for JV and Varsity games. Most schools use OSAA officials for Freshman games but it is not required.

Varsity
 

Hopefully one of the Varsity officials are there and get dressed fast. I know if it happens most will just do it solo, but by district rule it is not suppose happen.

In WI, no game at any HS level is started with less than 2 officials. If an official doesn't show up and a licensed one isn't available, the game isn't started. Period.

CT Ink ...
 

We've got a guy with an IAABO logo tattooed on his upper arm. Really.

http://ts4.mm.bing.net/images/thumbn...e178feeaa465a9

One Person Mechanics ...
 

Here, in the Land of Steady Habits, we are instructed to only work with IAABO officials. We even have some suggested one person mechanics for those rare times when only one official is assigned, or for some reason, only one official shows up.

I know you'll be shocked, but I used to work at least 6 games a year in Illinois sans patch. We all came down from WI and none of us wore a patch. Nobody ever said a word about it.

Hey, you never see how grown men dress in Milwaukee? They figured they'd give a pass to you cheese heads:).

I know your stance on patches, believe me, people noticed you weren't 'patched' but you were uniform which is all that really counts.

Don't know about that. If I remember correctly (and I should since I'm a resident), the IHSA stopped making the patches altogether. Some guys now have the logo embroidered on the shirts, either on the sleeve or the left breast area.

Haven't Heard This In a While.....
 

We're not directed to watch the post game handshakes.....

Say Kids, What Time Is It ???
 

Agree. Here, in my little corner of the Constitution State, newbies, even though they have passed both the written test, and the floor exam, don't get their patches until the end of the season at our season wrap up business meeting. I've been sitting in the bleachers observing junior varsity games and have heard, on several occasions, "He doesn't even have a patch", from the peanut gallery.

You Do The Math ...
 

By contract, 150% game fee here in the Land of Steady habits. On our local board we only have 300 officials and cover 70 high schools, most with six programs, boys, and girls, varsity, junior varsity, and freshman. We also cover many middle school programs for these school systems. On a busy Friday, when we have a few injured, or sick officials, and several have college games, and others may have blocked out the afternoon, or night, for personal, or business reasons, we may not be able to assign two officials to every single game. Officials, especially subvarsity officials, are assigned doubleheaders, freshman game and the junior varsity game, or middle school game, and junior varsity game, sometimes in different towns.

It's comforting to be on this side of the Law of Supply and Demand.

And No, I Told The Site Director To Send Him The Check ...
 

Same here in my little corner of Connecticut. Varsity officials are required to be at the junior varsity game to observe the subvarsity officials, most of us are there at tipoff. Last season an official became ill in the junior varsity game, in the first period. I got dressed and finished the game for him.