The root of the problem

[Terrapins Fan]

We had a game last week in our board where the coaches ( head and assistant ) of one team together had 5 "T"s both were ejected and refused to leave. ( 4th Q about 4 minutes to go ) Head coach also refused to sit down.

Not wanting to end the game the officials allowed the game to continue. About 2 minutes later they ended the game on a forfeit as the coach continued his behavior that lead to the "T"s.

I am not sure things are getting better. Last year we had 10 officials start their training and ended the season with just 2 new officials.

[RobbyinTN]

Originally Posted by Terrapins Fan

I am not sure things are getting better. Last year we had 10 officials start their training and ended the season with just 2 new officials.

Some guys can't handle the "abuse" and being new they will (1) make some mistakes that will irritate the coaches and (2) are uneasy about handing out Ts. I was that way when I first started - my first T was the hardest but once I saw that it worked, the others came easier. Still don't enjoy giving them but if they earn them I will give them.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Terrapins Fan

We had a game last week in our board where the coaches ( head and assistant ) of one team together had 5 "T"s both were ejected and refused to leave. ( 4th Q about 4 minutes to go ) Head coach also refused to sit down.

Not wanting to end the game the officials allowed the game to continue. About 2 minutes later they ended the game on a forfeit as the coach continued his behavior that lead to the "T"s.

I am not sure things are getting better. Last year we had 10 officials start their training and ended the season with just 2 new officials.

It's happening all over. Not only are we losing the new officials every year, we also lose some older officials also that just don't want to deal with the continuous abuse any longer. Imo the local officials along with their governing bodies have to be proactive when dealing with abuse to their members. And the people that pay us have to realize that it's just not our problem, it's theirs also.

New officials very obviously have a lot to learn. And they will make mistakes while they are learning. Hell, all of us are still learning and will make mistakes every now and then too. But it's sad to run into some people that think that's just perfectly peachy-keen to try an gain an advantage for their team by intimidating new officials. Or weak officials. It's even worse when you hear crap like "the officials deserved what they got because they didn't do a very good job." Even poor officiating is no real excuse for the abuse that gets heaped on them.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

It's happening all over. Not only are we losing the new officials every year, we also lose some older officials also that just don't want to deal with the continuous abuse any longer.

So far, the abuse has not been bad in my experience and where it has, it has been handled swiftly. I am also not new to officiating and in general, I find the fan "abuse" to be pretty entertaining so perhaps I am better able to cope.

What has planted the seed in my mind to reconsider returning next year is the amount of games I've worked solo this season. I understand having to do it on occasion when something unusual happens but it seems to be the norm here that for the second half of the season, you will be lucky to have all four officials show up to a school to cover both gyms.

I'm trying to stick it out for a varsity schedule but I have a feeling it will be several years before I am working a predominantley varsity schedule. I loathe working by myself so much, I'm not sure how much longer I want to stick it out.

[PG_Ref]

Originally Posted by Terrapins Fan

We had a game last week in our board where the coaches ( head and assistant ) of one team together had 5 "T"s both were ejected and refused to leave. ( 4th Q about 4 minutes to go ) Head coach also refused to sit down.

Not wanting to end the game the officials allowed the game to continue. About 2 minutes later they ended the game on a forfeit as the coach continued his behavior that lead to the "T"s.

I am not sure things are getting better. Last year we had 10 officials start their training and ended the season with just 2 new officials.

Wow ... what part of MD r u in?