Why We Don't Diss
 

Last week, I had a middle school doubleheader, girls then boys.

A number of officials verbally dump on middle school assignments, particulary those with no Y chromosones. That can come back to bite you very easily.

On this day, these girls knew what they were doing on the floor. The play was solid, a little physical, but still well in control. I had nothing but praise for this assignment.

The next night, I helped out a friend who's contracted to run the jumbotron at the University of Maine ("Black Bear Vision"). Normally, he gets some college kids to run the floor cameras, but during semester break, I'll grab a camera and a headset. The headset is for communication among the booth and the three cameramen. Most of the verbage is instruction, but we also bust each others' chops. (Familiarity breeds contempt.)

The other cameramen typically aren't basketball fans, so there's some grumbling when the score isn't that high. (I call it good defense; they say I'm full of it.) When discussion turned to games I had recently worked, I sang praises for the middle school girls' game I served the day before.

It's a good thing I did, because little did I know, working in the booth was an assistant coach from that very game. I wasn't aware of it until I went into the booth that night, and there he was, wrapping up. We exchanged pleasanties, and talked about what's next for the season. The discussion was genuine, yet it hit me like a ton of bricks that I'm glad I didn't fall into the trap of speaking ill of what some consider to be a undesireable assignment.

Simply put, you never know who is listening, so try to keep it upbeat. If the game you work isn't up to a certain level, leave it with "those things happen." It's still basketball.

really? a post on this? you have the same chances as winning the lottery as what happened to you here. the games are what they are; slow, boring and at times painful.

There is always something to work on in games that are ugly. Could be working on your counts. I did that last night--game wasn't ugly, but it wasn't close, either. My counts turned out to be pretty decent. Could be working the arc. Or FT administration. Or any number of things. The game IS important to the kids. And what better time to work on a weakness than a game whose outcome will not be in doubt within a few minutes?

It amazes me that some people who post on here in reference to girls/womens sports are even involved with them. I'm just saying..

Simply put, you never know who is listening, so try to keep it upbeat. If the game you work isn't up to a certain level, leave it with "those things happen." It's still basketball.[/QUOTE]

+1 and keep in mind that whatever level you are officiating, the game is a big deal to the kids that are participating no matter what the level. Lower level games are good places to practice your own personal weak areas.

And no thread on a topic like this is wasted. Sometimes you get a chance to work on things... like the ignore list.

Maybe, but it's a good lesson for life, as well. You never know who's listening and paying attention; nor what affect that might have on your future. Ignore that fact at your own risk.

Dang. You circumvented the feature.

Ok, now that's funny.

Odd Situations ...
 

Plus, you see odd rule situations in these low level games that usually only happen in these low level games, and you learn how to handle them, until one day, low and behold, you have the same situation, a once in a career occurrence, of this odd play in a high school varsity game, and you're now sure that you know how to handle it.

I like my middle school games. When I fully retire from my day job, I hope that I'm healthy enough to work afternoon middle school, and freshman, games. I'll probably be too old to keep up with those high school varsity whippersnappers, unless Connecticut decides to step up into the 21st century lose it's "Land Of The Two Person Game" label.

Why does anyone care what someone else does not want to do?

This is not up for a vote. If someone does not like working a level they do not have to work those games. So why would you justify what you do? :confused:

Peace

How was that a part of this discussion? I must have missed it.

Did you read the last sentence of the OP?

Peace

Did you mean the last sentence, or the penultimate sentence?

I still don't see how your response was relevant, but maybe it's my meds.
He wasn't saying you have to work it, only to be careful how you talk about it if you do work it.

No matter the level
 

I got into officiating basketball when I was 54 years old. I don't have visions of exciting tournament assignments and progressing through the ranks until I reach some defined pinnacle of officiating.

I enjoy my involvement in a sport I love, but wasn't skilled enough to play at an advanced level. I am motivated to keep myself in shape and I get some exercise during the season that keeps me reasonably fit, and I pick up some money that helps with the occassional unexpected bill or allows me to spend on something I really want but don't need, or hand a few dollars to my daughter when she needs new tires on her car but can't quite see her way to pay the bill.

I learn something from each assignment, mainly because I try to remember two or three things from each game and either read the book to see if I handled it correctly, or change the scenario somewhat to challenge my knowledge of the rules.

Sure there's well played games and poorly played games, but there's no where I'd rather be. And I would never make a negative comment to anyone about a game experience.

Kinda like your posts on this forum.

Don't worry about it. It obviously was not meant for you. ;)

Peace

Thanks, now I can sleep tonight.

really. middle school games are fast, exciting and a blast to work? Very few are, but the fact are the games most of the times are an exercise in patience and leniency.

but whatever, i work a handful of these games a year and i dont mind them and i enjoy them, but the fact remains these games are what they are. no need to get butt hurt because i dont think these games are for the most part exciting.

Makes no difference to me. I was just saying the games remind me of your posts.

Yep, and none of that addresses the OP, who simply stated it may be best not to express negative feelings about a particular game when you don't know your entire audience.

That is all great and wonderful, but why do you need to tell us this? If you like working a level, work that level. I am sure the vast majority are not going to care what you work anyway. I know I do not care what others think about the levels I do. I also work 3 sports, I do this because when I leave my house I want to enjoy the game. I just think too many here worry what others think of the level they are working. If you really enjoy working middle school, grade school or even Men's leagues, work them and enjoy them. You do not have to try to convince others why you are there.

Peace

fair enough

thats the point i was trying to make - much better said rut.

I love doing MS games and will take any that do not interfere with a HS assignment. It is fun to be around those kids who are in the learning phase of the game and although it is a 2 man crew here, it is a fairly light workout.

Robby

I enjoy them too. :o The gyms are smaller. It's loud, and the parents are still of the opinion that their kids are serious D1 prospects so they cheer and scream accordingly. Since Florida is really a HS football state, the middle school games sometimes have more fans than HS basketball games.

I do a good amount of middle school games. Just had two fantastic MS boys games today.

What I've found is that no matter the level, I can stay sharp. I've done every level from 3rd grade girls to JV boys. A foul is still a foul.

Then there's the old adage of "They're giving their best, why shouldn't they get our best?" If some official is going to half *** a middle school assignment because they think they're too good for it, they can hang up their whistle for good for all I care.

So are you saying that you will have to run as fast and as hard with Middle school kids as you would a HS Freshman game?

Let us not get silly here.

Peace

When 2 of the kids I had today are at least 6'3" and are faster now than I ever was...yeah:D

Seriously, though, of course not. I didn't break much of a sweat today. But that doesn't at all mean that I'm lackidaisical (sp?) out there.

Face it, at some point, doing MS and even kid rec games falls under the "giving back to the game" category (even though, ironically, you're probably still taking $omething from it). The kids are trying their best, so they still deserve our best -- physically, attitude-wise and mentally focused. If it doesn't make you sweat, that's great. (Some officials it will make sweat and, well, bully for them if they're giving it a good go.)

I never thought how much I was sweating or how far/fast I was running was the point of officiating (a needed element, perhaps but not the sole or most important criteria). There is still "good" basketball to be seen and officiated, whether it's HS V, frosh A or B, MS, Princeton or Dean Smith's four-corner stall.

All of it deserves conscientious effort and should be appreciated for the earnestness of the participants ... which basically loops back to the message in the OP. IMHO

Es tu, BktBallRef?

[QUOTE=BillyMac;715126]Plus, you see odd rule situations in these low level games that usually only happen in these low level games, and you learn how to handle them, until one day, low and behold, you have the same situation, a once in a career occurrence, of this odd play in a high school varsity game, and you're now sure that you know how to handle it.QUOTE]

Amen!!!
Actually happened to me last week. something came up in a middle school game, same thing came up in a varsity game 2 days later, and we got it right!!! (thank god, b/c it was my first as the "R" in a varsity game, so I'm REALLY glad i had the experience in the middle school game and got that
eff-er right in the varsity game!):eek:

I worked a middle school game last year. Filled in for a guy who was working a state football final. I worked it as hard and the exact same way I do a varsity game. Personally, I know no other way. I sweat just as much as I normally do.

OK, I regret this already, but:

Et tu, BktBallRef?
:D

Re-read the first part of the thread ending with snaq's response.

OK. Why? :confused: