Customer Service ??????

[Tio]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I have heard this comment before. I am not sure I agree with it. I think first and foremost we are there for the game, not the coaches and players per say. And whether we like it or not our jobs are often in conflict with what coaches want to do anyway. I do agree that many times assignors and associations I have heard use this are a little worried what the coaches think or how their relationship with the coaches affect their jobs.

Peace

We worry too much about this garbage. Get your plays right and be professional and you will move up. Officials who try to buddy up with coaches bury themselves.

[MD Longhorn]

If you heard it at several meetings there may be something else going on... perhaps something political or behind the scenes. Perhaps there's another association trying to take your area's games. Perhaps the AD's met with your officiating leaders and complained - maybe not about during-game officiating, but about pre-game attitudes or somesuch. I think it's likely there's more to this than just the surface.

[Adam]

Sounds to me like a new-fangled term for "be approachable." It's not always true, but if the complaint is widespread enough that your associations are addressing it in meetings, I would guess the coaches are just *****ing that the officials aren't listening to their complaints during the game and the balance of power in your area favors the coaches.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Sounds to me like a new-fangled term for "be approachable."

That's a charitable interpretation. The problem with treating our avocation in terms of "customer service" is that the customer is always right.

Field #7,353 where the "business model" does not apply.

[rockyroad]

Our association approaches it this way - we provide a service to the schools. We need to be accommodating to the schools in certain areas: Be on time, be prepared, be professional, provide a quality product. If we don't do those things, they will find officials somewhere else. We do not "schmooze" with coaches, and we apply the rules as written...but we do need to be responsive to the schools needs.

[Tio]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

Our association approaches it this way - we provide a service to the schools. We need to be accommodating to the schools in certain areas: Be on time, be prepared, be professional, provide a quality product. If we don't do those things, they will find officials somewhere else. We do not "schmooze" with coaches, and we apply the rules as written...but we do need to be responsive to the schools needs.

You have just provided a great definition of professionalism.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Tio

You have just provided a great definition of professionalism.

Yep, and that's what our association stresses; professionalism. Regardless of what you do 9-5, being an official is being a professional. Here, that means showing up in business casual attire (rather than jeans or sweats, although jeans are ok on weekends), showing up on time, treating the school staff with respect, leaving the changing room as clean or cleaner than we found it, and conducting ourselves as adults on the court.

But "customer service" stinks of undue deference to coaches.