Early in the season I was calling 8th grade games at a local jr. high school about 10 miles from my home. The visiting school, from about 40 miles away, was a school that I had had problems with before, nothing out of the ordinary, just a vocal crowd and a short-tempered coach with 2 rather weak teams. The biggest problem is the principal. He introduced himself to me several years ago by saying that he strongly disagreed with the way I handled an illegal substitution ("These are young kids just learning, so you shouldn't call a T for this.") and things have gone downhill from there. Anyway, 2 or 3 minutes left, visitors up 3 or 4, and I call a double dribble on the visitors point guard. The coach got bug-eyed. He stepped 5 feet out onto the court and screamed, "You're crazy!!!" Whack. He got closer and louder. "You'll never do this to me again. etc. etc." Whack. Bye bye. (not in this game I won't) After a bit of a struggle, (partner handled it) he left. A lady from the stands and the principal came over to finish the game. She coached, he just sat there. Visitors went from up 3 to down 4, just a few seconds left, out of bounds. They call time out, I can't imagine why. I heard her say in the huddle, "The game is over." Now he steps out on the court and proceeds to tell me how sorry I am. I think: I really don't need to hear this. Whack. He says, "Good, call another one!" Whack. He says, "Why don't you just go to hell!" I say,
"Ball game," and walk away from him. He follows and continues to rave, "We'll never play again with you calling, we'll get back on the bus and go home." (We played the boys game immediately afterward without incident, other than him loudly griping about calls.) "I'm going to call your assignment secretary!!" I think: Good, be sure to mention the part about "go to hell." I haven't called any of their games since. My assignor and the local principals all said it was best to "keep you away from this idiot." True, I suppose, but I don't like it when the idiots run things. This week there was a tournament at the idiot school and my son's team was playing. Last night, we arrived, I showed my official's card and my wife and I walked in, but a few minutes later the doorkeeper came in and said sorry but Mr. (idiot) says we don't accept these cards. Well today a friend of mine went in, presented his card and was welcomed. Then mr. principal announced proudly to his doorkeeper, and everyone else standing around: "There's another guy coming in a little while, (called me by name), don't take his card. He has to pay."
Well, I guess he should hire competent help because when I arrived I flashed the card and the guy (different from yesterday) smiled and waved me in. Anybody else got a story like this, or an observation?

You've already talked to the assignor and that's good. If it were me, I would tell the assignor that I want every single game this team plays for the rest of the season. I want to show up and let the principal know that I'm in charge here and he doesn't get to intimidate me. Now that's just me, but I wouldn't let this -- ahem -- gentleman tell anybody where I can and can't work. If his team gets back on the bus and goes home, so much the better.

chuck

Since he is a priciple which means that within the school there is no one higher, I would go to the board of education and discuss this "leader ??". I am sure they would be impressed by his lead by example attitude that he exudes on the court in front of his pupils... And we wonder where the kids learn it from...

I agree with the Comments made by CMCKenna and Chuck-

I had a situation in the Adult Rec league last year where I T'd up a player. After the game he came up to me and said that it would be in my best interest if I never refereed another one of there games. I looked at him acknowledge his comment. Walked over to the assignor who was in the gym, and told him that I wanted every single one of that teams game for the rest of the season. I saw that player twice a week for the rest of the season.

AK ref SE

Why was the principal still in the gym for the boys game? I would have run him.

I think that in a school league, asking for every game that school has would give he appearance that you want vengeance on that individual and will get it by calling all his school's games. This calls into question immediately whether or not you would ref in an unbiased manner. This is not to say that you would call against a school to make a point, but you put yourself in a position of being on the defensive when your credibility is questioned.

On the other hand, pulling you from all of these games makes it seem like the inmates are running the asylum, an equally bad outcome. They should have left the schedule alone, and the assignor should talk to the principal's boss about his behavior. It is unacceptable for the principal to behave in this manner. He needs to understand his role in the school - and it is not to be the beligerent ref baiter.

That would not be my motivation, but I can see how it might appear that way. My motivation would be to show him that he can't run me off the court, and to stick his comments right back up his butt.

This is the impression that I would least like to give. I would rather seem vindictive (but not be) than let the coaches/administrators of that school think they had any influence over my schedule.

Again, that's just me. In reality, no assignor in his right mind would give me all the remaining games on the teams schedule.

Chuck

In suppot of CMCKENNA
 

I had a situation at a Frosh game where one of the parents of the home team conducted himself in a very disrespectful manner. His conduct warranted that he be dealt with by game mamagement. Unfortunately, "game management" was the 1st year coach on the bench, who was not the assertive-type.

Shortly after the game (when I was able to track down the AD), I brought this issue to the AD. He asked for details about the "adult" and promised to follow-up on the incident. He also gave me this philosophy which has guided my attitude in these situations. He said, "The gym is another classroom. I expect officials (and coaches) to treat it in the same as any other class."

I have used that philosophy as much as possible when dealing with situations like the original post on this thread. Given the fact that this was "game managment" I would approach the next level and describe how unprofessional and damaging his "modeling" behavior was.

To Just Another,I don't know if you saw my post last week but I had the A.D. of a school at a girls Var. game on my back the other day.After telling me to call it at both ends please roll eyes here I told him he should act like a A.D. and he left the building.My instructor has a complaint in with the disdrict A.D. and I'm waiting to get some satisfaction that this won't happen to someone else.I won't let this drop until this happens and hope you do the same.

The principal needs to be taken care of. If you whacked someone twice while on the bench, most associations require a report be filed with the state high school association. File it! Let ttem suspend him a week or so from a game. Let him explain that to the school board. If he gives you those kinds of problems, he does it with other refs. File reports on him let them trak his record. He wont be around very long.

when I was in Texas, I did a federation ballgame(softball) where the coach displayed unsportmanlike behaviour. I had a choice to write either the state association or the superintendent of that school district. I choose to write the superintendent with a narrative of what happened leaving out any subjective thoughts. I got a letter from that super. stating that they did not approve of that behaviour and that a letter went into that coach's file. In Texas, if the ref was right, they backed em 100%(at least that is what all assignors said). I suggest that you take the time to write a letter and send it to the appropriate person. If the district is worth their salt, they will take some action.

This story continues to unfold. I just learned that he related the above incident to some people last week at the tournament and said that I had "rubbed him the wrong way ever since." Both of the people he was talking to shot him down on this issue saying that they approved of the call. One other important point that I left out in my efforts to condense this too long post: This principal is also an official himself. He calls in a private school association so we never see him around here. Is this not the ultimate case of he oughta know better?

Actually, it's a sad case of he thinks that he is better than you. Why else would he instruct you on how to call the game?

[Edited by Nevadaref on Dec 22nd, 2002 at 07:40 AM]

I'm just a 2nd year ref in rec leagues, but also serve as a school principal who also mentors rookie principals, the behavior of the principal in this post is stupid, reprehensible, and is a poor reflection on him/her as well.

1. Gym is a classroom, just like Science or Math.
2. Schools being hammered today for teaching values and character traits like integrity, honesty, compassion.
3. Sports (along with band and the arts) is an extremely effective way to teach these values.
4. Principal is leader and the instructional head of the school-should be role model for faculty, staff, and community. S/he has high standard to meet.
5. Would be interested to see how principal would react if one of staff/faculty handled themselves in manner that principal handled self.

Suggest that you call Superintendent of schools for that school system, ask for name and mailing address of Supt. and write letter like previous poster discussed. Be sure to add in that you would be glad to speak with him/her if Supt wants to. Bet you dollars to doughnuts that Supt will call/contact you and resolve. Good old Boy network and "That's just the way principal is" is no excuse for this behavior. Feel free to add in points 1-3 into your letter.



Sorry for the rant.

ultimate irony
 

Last week, the same idiot-led school was visiting the same local school. For some reason, no officials showed up. A brief survey of the audience found only one solution. Mr. visiting principal called the games, by himself.

Nice to have a follow-up
 

Obviously, Mr. Visiting Principal DOES NOT GET IT. How sad for those kids to be exposed to such an incompetent "leader".:(

FYI:
In Wisconsin, this game would not have been played. TWO officials must be on the court, failure to adhere to this policy will make you liable if any harm would occur. Needless to say, not worth the risk... "to let the kids play"

No certified Officials = no Game

If this was planned by the officials to teach a lesson to the school administrator, does it really punish the "idiot" or the kids who want to play ball?

This is jr. high, which around here is unregulated. A school may have anyone they choose to call the games. The school in question has a different guy in charge of assigning games, instead of the association used by everyone else.
I'm told, third hand, that there was a good explanation for having no officials.
The guy forgot.

My question is....

Almost four years later....and this idiot is still the principal?????

Was his behavior from the OP reported? Did anything come of it? Or has this clown "turned over a new leaf?"

Just curious.......

I inquired locally and was politely told that nothing would happen so I'd be better off to forget about it. I don't know how accurate this is but was told that the only reason he had the job was because nobody else wanted it.

Nope, same guy. Check out the thread called, "some things are more important than money." That's him.

It is never our job to take any kind of abuse for the effort to "play the game for the kids." I think any official has other obligations than continuing a game when an administrator is behaving is such an unprofessional manner. If the administrator wants the game to continue, then he or she needs to behave in a way that would allow the game to continue. At least you will draw attention to the behavior of the administrator and they will have to answer why they behaved in such a way that would cancel a game.

Peace

I hate to be the skunk at the picnic, but if your son is playing in a tournament, why do you think you should get in for free? You are there as a parent, not an official. I presume all the other players' parents had to pay.

I am that principal and who do you think you are slandering my good name all across this virtaul smorgasboard of hate?

I will make sure you never work a 7th/8th grade game ever again. I will also make sure to give you dirty looks should I see you in public. I am waiting for the day my 8th grade team wins the state championship and I can let everyone know what a bad official you are.

YOUR MOTHER IS A HAMSTER AND YOUR FATHER STINKS OF ELDERBERRY!!!

Of course you are just another ref -- you all the same -- elderberry eating hamsters.

Happy Halloweenie btw...

http://www.siege-engine.com/seuss/taunters.jpg

Now go away or I shall taunt you a second a-time!

Outstanding idea!

Around here, it is a perk of being an official. If you have an official's card, you get in free, no matter who is playing. Jr. highs are not obligated to accept these cards, but every one I have ever attended does honor them.
The point here is that my card was refused, while another guy's identical card was accepted. I am told that this qualifies as discrimination, which goes past the point of showing ones a**, and reaches the point of being against the law.

If you had ever met this guy, you would not claim to be him, even in jest, and, being a principal, he probably knows how to spell virtual. Until I got to the Happy Halloweenie part, this post made the hair stand up on the back of my neck.

Big jump there to call it discrimination. You did say yours was accepted then they came to find you to say it wasn't. Did the very same person let the other official in? Was it before or after you were informed that you had to pay? If after, Was it possible that someone else came along and re-corrected them? If before, did they try to find the other person but were unsuccessful? Was the other person a friend of the ticket taker? The questions could go on.

Perhaps it was discrimination but I'd be careful about throwing around those accusations simply because someone else got in free and you didn't. There could be 100's reasons that it occured (and, yes, one of them actually is discrimination).

This probably will not be popular but I would have no desire to ever work a game with this team again. I have never had this situation where a person (coach, player, admin, parent) has attacked me personally so I am speaking off of my thoughts, not personal experience. If this happened to me I think I would gladly excuse myself from working any of their games again. I would call my assignor and association president and tell them I have no desire to work this school again. I know if I had to continue to work this team's games I would come home frustrated over one person who, from reading the posts, I do not think I can do anything about. Writing letters is great and I would do all those things, but from what just another ref says, it probably will not aftect this principal. Unfortunately, some people will not learn. So maybe it is time to stay away from him and continue to enjoy this wonderful game with other groups of people. I referee because, something my wife cannot figure out, I love to referee. If something makes me start to not love it I need to adjust fire or think abour giving it up. Maybe this is one of those times that adjusting fire is appropriate. Just a thought. :)

I don't know what defines discrimination, I was told this by someone else.
What happened is, the first day I presented my card and was allowed in.
But the principal saw me come in and sent the doorkeeper to get the money:
"Mr. principal says we don't honor these cards." This is his right. But the next day a friend went to the tournament, presented his card, and was allowed in. Principal was standing there, and announced, "Yeah, this card is okay, but there's another guy who will probably be here later," called my by name, "don't accept his card." Sounds kinda discriminatory to me, but I am not an attorney, and have not stayed at Holiday Inn Express recently. By the way, the people there know their principal by now, so the guy let me in with my card anyway.

The main point here, I think, is to forget jumping on your legal-rights-high-horse. This principal may be a jerk, but please don't waste the time and resources of the public (via the legal system) because you had to pay an entry fee to see your son play a basketball game.

What about scratch lists?
 

In reading the comments of this posts it makes me think of the scratch list system that is employed in varsity games in my association. Each coach can scratch up to three officials without reasons. In fact, in the 5 years I have been calling basketball in this area the only scratches that I have received are by coaches who I have never called any of their games. In fact, since the scratch lists does not apply to scrimmage games, I once called a scrimmage game for one of the coaches who I was told I was scratched by. After the game, the coach approached me and congratulated me for a well called game, and he was impressed by my game management and professionalism. He proceeded to ask me for my name and information so that he could put me on his preferred list of officials and possibly recommend me for playoff consideration. I informed him that I do not think I could be on both his preferred list as well as his scratch list. The look on his face was astonishment. He said "Why would I scratch you when I do not even know you?"....my point exactly. I am not sure, even today, how the scratch lists work, but my point is that are scratch lists not an example of the inmates running the asylum.:rolleyes:

Some view scratch lists as a sort of compromise. It's a way of keeping conflicting personalities away from each other. Personally, I don't care for the idea, as it arbitrarily limits an official's options.

what about?
 

I would be interested to know that in your area if officials are given any reason at all that they are scratched or even if the coaches have to submit something in order to have an official scratched, or can the assignment secetary can just say that you are scratched, but yet have no evidennce at all that you are scratched. I am not even sure if I truly was ever scratched by some of the teams. I don't normally subscrube to conspiracy theories, but if it was true that you were never scratched could this be a way of keeping an official from calling certain games or teams....Just something I had been thinking....if I could put any credednce in what the coach told me...:confused:

Believe me, I am the last person to jump on a legal-rights, or any other kind of high horse. But I was not opposed to this guy's boss (the superintendent?)
knowing how he was conducting business. After casual inquiry, I was told by people who should know about such things not to bother, so I didn't even do that.

I don't even know if this area has such a list. I'm new here, and just getting started. I'm relatively certain my old association doesn't have such a list. I was just speaking philosophically.