Thinking about quitting

[CaRef5]

those church going hypocrites...f*** em



not srs






well, sorta srs.

[Remington]

Originally Posted by CaRef5

those church going hypocrites...f*** em

not srs

well, sorta srs.

Church league misconduct is really a foreign concept to me.........I play in a church league that is very competitive (many former JUCO/college players) and in our league we range in age from 25-45. I have never heard a word from any players or fans in the games. In fact, we call fouls/violations on ourselves if the officials miss one.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Remington

Church league misconduct is really a foreign concept to me.........I play in a church league that is very competitive (many former JUCO/college players) and in our league we range in age from 25-45. I have never heard a word from any players or fans in the games. In fact, we call fouls/violations on ourselves if the officials miss one.

That's great, but from what I can tell your experience is not the norm.

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by Remington

Church league misconduct is really a foreign concept to me.........I play in a church league that is very competitive (many former JUCO/college players) and in our league we range in age from 25-45. I have never heard a word from any players or fans in the games. In fact, we call fouls/violations on ourselves if the officials miss one.

This is incredibly rare (unfortunately). I'm not sure why it is exactly (although I have my theories), but on average church leagues and religious schools seem to have more discipline issues than their secular counterparts.

[River Ref]

I concur.............You quit and they win. I would have called the cops too.

[IowaMike]

I did exactly what you are contemplating four years ago. I was working a lot and the last several games of the season were less than pleasant. I worked a jv/varsity boys doubleheader late in the season where we called technicals in both games and had fans yelling insults at us for most of the night. Just a nasty, mean environment. At the end of that season I felt like I'd had enough. I still felt that way the next fall and walked away from officiating. In many ways it was nice to have the free time and I found that the season off did me a lot of good. However, I did start to miss officiating and got the itch again the following season, so I got back into it.

I found that I have a different attitude towards it since I came back three years ago. I work fewer games and don't let a run of bad games get me down too much because I now know that in the long run I would miss the game if I gave it up. Working less has helped me to maintain my level of enjoyment in officiating and the time off a few years ago gave me some good perspective. Some day I know I will give it up completely but I don't think I'm there yet; in general, I still enjoy it 95% of the time; that's a higher percentage of enjoyment than most of the things I do every day.

[Terrapins Fan]

Thanks guys. Your opinions mean a lot. I came here ( and Gary's board ) 11 years ago thinking I knew something about basketball and I knew very little. I learned a lot.

The biggest thing I think anyone can learn here is how to enforce the rules. They aren't cut and dry. I use the Tower Principle a lot ('It is not the intent that the rules shall be interpreted literally, rather they should be applied in relation to the effect which the action of the players has upon their opponents. If they are unfairly affected as a result of a violation of rules, then the transgressor shall be penalized. If there has been no appreciable effect upon the progress of the game, then the game shall not be interrupted. The act should be ignored. It is incidental and not vital. Realistically and practically, no violation has occurred.' Advantage/disadvantage )

I will keep you up to date on my decision. I love officiating ( and I came to it from coaching which made officiating harder to do ). The fans are getting worse. I think we need a Zero Tolerance policy for the fans for insults toward the officials, not sure that's the answer, but it's a start and would send a message.

[Welpe]

You are in good company...I have different reasons for considering not coming back next season but know you aren't alone in your thoughts.

I am not going to make any decisions now but will give myself some down time away from it to make a decision. I certainly recommend doing the same.

I'm positive you will come to the right decision for you.

[26 Year Gap]

Give up the types of games that are the most grief-filled. You will wonder why you didn't do it sooner.

[ref3808]

I hope you stay with it. The game needs good officials, and to my mind anyone who comes here to read, ponder and discuss with others is taking one of the steps toward being one of the best.

I think sufficient rules already exist for governing behavior, be it players, coaches or fans. What's needed is for site administrators to step in earlier and be more proactive in taking care of probem individuals before they become even larger problems. I give a lot of credit to our town AD who at every home game is a visible presence in the gym and takes action when it's required that he do so.

Coaches need to take more seriously that they are resposible for the conduct of their teams. (and I don't mean just their bench during the games) They set the tone and in much the same way as we are told what we don't penalize we condone, the same is true for their programs. Too many players believe participation in athletics is a right, and not something that's earned and requires a consistently high standard of conduct.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Terrapins Fan

Thanks guys. Your opinions mean a lot. I came here ( and Gary's board ) 11 years ago thinking I knew something about basketball and I knew very little. I learned a lot.

The biggest thing I think anyone can learn here is how to enforce the rules. They aren't cut and dry. I use the Tower Principle a lot ('It is not the intent that the rules shall be interpreted literally, rather they should be applied in relation to the effect which the action of the players has upon their opponents. If they are unfairly affected as a result of a violation of rules, then the transgressor shall be penalized. If there has been no appreciable effect upon the progress of the game, then the game shall not be interrupted. The act should be ignored. It is incidental and not vital. Realistically and practically, no violation has occurred.' Advantage/disadvantage )

I will keep you up to date on my decision. I love officiating ( and I came to it from coaching which made officiating harder to do ). The fans are getting worse. I think we need a Zero Tolerance policy for the fans for insults toward the officials, not sure that's the answer, but it's a start and would send a message.

My basic thought: Don't let church/rec league players chase you from the game. Stop doing those games, but keep working the hs circuit.

Maybe inform the league directors why you've chosen to stop working those leagues. Nothing accusing or demanding, just informing them that you've stopped working their games and why.

[refiator]

My second year of officiating, I was followed about 20 miles after a game...from a redneck area north of Atlanta. I sped up, they sped up, I slowed, they slowed. Never scared, but still eye-opening. I lost them when I git into Atlanta traffic. Made me think, but 22 years later I am still at it, and never again such a problem. It would take a lot more than this for me to give up this passion.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by refiator

My second year of officiating, I was followed about 20 miles after a game...from a redneck area north of Atlanta. I sped up, they sped up, I slowed, they slowed.

Call 911. Drive to a busy public place, or better yet, drive to a police station.

Way back before cell phones, I was followed while on my way to make a night bank deposit from my college restaurant job. I decided to head toward the police station when the follower "lit me up". I guess that I had rolled through a stop sign on my way to the bank. I was so relieved to see the police officer that didn't ticket me after I had explained to him that I was on my way to the police station.

[Maineac]

Originally Posted by Remington

In fact, we call fouls/violations on ourselves if the officials miss one.

Another reason for me to not want to do these games....

[JBleach85]

I probably sound like a broken record, but don't let those church/wreck games get to you. When I first started officiating 7 years ago when I was 18 I would get a lot of crap from everyone and at times thought that I would have to deal with a crazy player after a rec game. I have come to find out that as much as I love officiating I really started to hate doing church/rec league games.

If you have a passion and the fire still burns don't give up. The only thing you can is get stronger from these situations and let it roll off of you. Yes, you can not accept those games and stick strickly to high school/college basketball which all of us love on this forum.

I think each of us does this because we love the game and we all know that there are going to be those few bad eggs out there that tries to get on our cases.

I deal with it all the time, I am 25 and work Division 2 and 3 Women's College basketball and let me tell you some of the things heard towards me in regards to my age and how I should still be in high school, but that is a different subject for another time.

Anywho, stick to your guns, and never let anyone ruin what is fun for you. Like everyone else is saying if you walk away it is saying that you quit and everyone else is winning!

Peace,
Bleach