Verbal Abuse - how much is too much?

[Adam]

1. If it's personal, don't tolerate it at that level. The more you take, the more they'll give.

2. If I know a guy is a ref, he gets a shorter rope due to a higher standard to which I hold fellow officials.

3. If he has taken the opportunity to tell me he's an official (as opposed to me just knowing for various reasons), the rope gets even shorter. If he so much as looks at me sidewise while talking to me, T.

4. I'm convinced that most rec leagues need more Ts handed out, not less.

5. As BktBallRef stated, it doesn't matter if I screwed a call or not; players and coaches don't get to address me like that.

6. Completely separate issue, but you said it was a late call and then that you had screwed the call. Was it a correct call, or was it late and wrong?

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

4. I'm convinced that most rec leagues need more Ts handed out, not less.

The majority of mine are handed out here......and unfortunately, I'm one of the only ones who hands em out. That's part of the problem. So many officials take it at that level and then when we come along to enforce the rules........oh well! WHACK!

[JRutledge]

If they get personal or question my integrity that usually needs to be addressed. Even if you do not give a T, these should be addressed in some way. Either a quiet little talk or sometimes a public one meaning everyone knows I am talking to that player or coach. What you decide to ultimately penalize or not penalize is up to your personal standards and experience. It is also good to know what the standard for that league or level is as well because some assignors/leagues might have a strict policy how to handle certain behaviors.

Peace

[RobbyinTN]

I refuse to do adult rec games and don't really like to do any kind of rec game. In the adult leagues, the players are a$$es many times and I refuse to take it so needless to say, it is an unpleasant game for all involved. In the younger rec leagues, while I enjoy working with the kids, I notice I am not as sharp at the next varsity game as I normal am if I did a rec game the night before. I think doing the rec league games actually hurts me as an official as often they want you to be more lenient on calls and I find that hard to do.

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by RobbyinTN

I think doing the rec league games actually hurts me as an official as often they want you to be more lenient on calls and I find that hard to do.

+1 Alternating from one to the other is a challenge.

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by RobbyinTN

I refuse to do adult rec games and don't really like to do any kind of rec game.

I friend of mine runs a men's league. I've never worked it, but he tells me how he took care of unwanted behavior: fines.

If you get T'd up, it's a $25 fine, payable immediately. You cannot go back into the game until it's paid. (It makes for some interesting scenes of players hitting up their teammates.) If you get a second T, you're done, and you cannot play the next game until $25 is paid.

The league has 17 teams, so they apparently abide by it.

[OnePutt]

Generally, is the comment 1) disrespectful or 2) unsportsmanlike? Sometimes I like to add a third: Is it something you wouldn't say to a cop who has pulled you over for a traffic violation? How 'bout "you suck, Gumshoe" as he walks up to ask you for license, proof of insurance, and registration?

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by OnePutt

Generally, is the comment 1) disrespectful or 2) unsportsmanlike? Sometimes I like to add a third: Is it something you wouldn't say to a cop who has pulled you over for a traffic violation? How 'bout "you suck, Gumshoe" as he walks up to ask you for license, proof of insurance, and registration?

While I understand your point, how does that comment NOT fit under both one and two?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by RobbyinTN

I think doing the rec league games actually hurts me as an official as often they want you to be more lenient on calls and I find that hard to do.

Why more lenient? Maybe they can play through more contact, but I see no reason to be "more lenient." Just call your game, and don't accept any grief.

You're right, though, if that doesn't work, don't do the games.