Rich:

I understand what you are saying about newbies and people who do not have high aspirations, but I would like to think that I am in a 3rd category. The group which is maintaining a solid core of officials at the JV and lower school levels because it allows them to be positively involved in basketball without sacrificing too much time from their family. Although I have worked a number of "reasonably local" varsity games I prefer to do JV and lower. As mentioned before, varsity level is much more time consuming and can be (the majority of the time) less difficult.

I did NOT feel like I was being singled out...
 

Chuck:

Sincerely, I did not feel as if it were a personal attack. I viewed it as an opportunity to discuss the differing approaches in game management at MS level.

As for getting a consistent enforcement of coach behavior expectations... not likely, because of the transient group of officials that work this level. Most of the newbies do not have the cajones (thanks Mark) or game management savy to "whack" them and the other group that Rich mentioned (uninspired) are too apathatic to commit to the "change".

Re: I did NOT feel like I was being singled out...
 

Man is this true.

I see new guys who either ring coaches up too much, or are afraid to do it at all.

Let me give you an example from last season.

2nd half, home team has the ball down by 5 or so, plenty of time left. A1 tries to drive around B1 at the sideline 5 feet in the front court. As she gets around the defender, there's a slight bump, the defender goes to the floor and A1 heads in for a layup attempt.

Home coach is screaming at me, what's that, where's the foul. I said to him (I was T table side), "coach, no disadvantage and you got a layup attempt". He proceeds to tell me that I gotta call that a foul and I'm a ........

I tried to educate, he quickly gets out of hand. He gets a T. Would he have learned by me passing on this. NO WAY. He didn't learn when I gave him a 10 second explanation.

Yes, there are coaches who, from the opening tip-off, start chipping and are not approachable. Their behavior needs to be addressed and if they present themselves above reproach then "whack" them.


Ahhhh yes, Middle School the land of learning for all. :)

I work mostly H.S. Varsity and some small J.College games. I also work the local M.S. when not working out of town. I have found that the coaches and parents really appreciate having good officials who make the calls work the game. I also take every opportunity to explain the calls to the kids. I have never had any coaches give us problems. I don't think I would ever give up the lower level games no matter how far I advance. When you see those games with young inexperienced officials the kids develop alot of bad habits because things aren't called that should be. I live in the sticks where there are alot of high school kids or people with no training to become officials doing the M.S. games.