Just a Word of Caution...

[APG]

Originally Posted by zm1283

Edit: And by the way, I do agree with the part in the OP about schools complaining. If they refuse to provide somewhere to change, they can't complain about us dressing outside. With that said, even the middle schools I speak of above that start their games at 3:00 would find somewhere for us to dress if we wanted.

If someone has enough time to dress in the parking lot, I would think they would have enough time to find some place inside to dress. I'd ask the head coach where this is...most of the time, it's a closed off locker room for officials, sometimes a room, coach's office...sometimes it's been just a restroom, but any of those places are better than in the parking lot. Probably one of the reasons I'd never work baseball lol

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by AllPurposeGamer

If someone has enough time to dress in the parking lot, I would think they would have enough time to find some place inside to dress. I'd ask the head coach where this is...most of the time, it's a closed off locker room for officials, sometimes a room, coach's office...sometimes it's been just a restroom, but any of those places are better than in the parking lot. Probably one of the reasons I'd never work baseball lol

In baseball we still have to be cognizant of who is around, which is why I always am prepared with undergarments so that I am not exposed. This is why often you park in a relative private place away from everyone and do not get completely naked. And I would never get dressed in a public restroom because all it takes is some kid to walk in and claim you did something inappropriate. Then again in baseball there is no locker room for anyone unless you are working the State Finals.

I was involved in a basketball game where a very tall official ran into cheerleader while rotating in the lead position and a parent tried to press charges on that official for simply doing his job. And the police wanted to talk to him immediately after the game and it took weeks to get this situation resolved so that charges were dropped and nothing ultimately took place from this. I do not know about everyone here, but if that can happen directly on the court, what do you think might happen in a bathroom where it is your word against someone else's word as to what you did and your intentions? And that issue was all based on where cheerleaders were located on the court and the GM not taking charge in a situation where he should have taken full responsibility to secure the court and the area around the court.

I do not know about anyone else, if you are accused of some kind of sexual crime here, you lose your license until the issue is completely resolved.

Peace

[k_st8r]

One issue not addressed, most discussions are refrencing HS ball... HS ball is maybe 15-20% of the ball I do.... 2cnd grade through varsity, through traveling AAU ball (better than varsity), boys /girls, adult rec, tourneys, etc..

Have yet to do a HS game without a designated place for officials. All others a crap shoot or more like "bank on no place being available". Professionalism is based on the person doing the "judging". ie old school, new school what is professional to some isn't for others. I don't play assignors politics... I get games because I am a good ref that can handle any situation. when I step on the court it is business. what I do or how I am dressed is nobody's business before or after.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by k_st8r

Have yet to do a HS game without a designated place for officials. All others a crap shoot or more like "bank on no place being available". Professionalism is based on the person doing the "judging". ie old school, new school what is professional to some isn't for others. I don't play assignors politics... I get games because I am a good ref that can handle any situation. when I step on the court it is business. what I do or how I am dressed is nobody's business before or after.

Not sure it is nobody's business. Whether we like it or not this is still a business and someone is giving us games based on how we will make them look. Now you may not share the standard that is expected, but it still can and will be there whether you approve or not.

On the football board right now there is thread about a coin toss and a video linked to that thread. One of the main things that people are talking about is how the kid is dressed (hat direction) at the coin flip. It might not be there business to judge, but people will and it can affect what complaints they get. Not everything we do in life is judged on pure substance, we are judged on the packaging too.

Peace

[k_st8r]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Not sure it is nobody's business. Whether we like it or not this is still a business and someone is giving us games based on how we will make them look. Now you may not share the standard that is expected, but it still can and will be there whether you approve or not.

On the football board right now there is thread about a coin toss and a video linked to that thread. One of the main things that people are talking about is how the kid is dressed (hat direction) at the coin flip. It might not be there business to judge, but people will and it can affect what complaints they get. Not everything we do in life is judged on pure substance, we are judged on the packaging too.

Peace

I agree...emphasis on your coin flip scenario is ON THE FIELD/COURT. I don't think we disagree. there is acceptable and unacceptable, then there are the actual levels of standard.. ie appearance of uniform, crispness of mechanics etc... Here in KS/MO, we have a pretty high level IMO.. again I reiterate, "when I step on the court/field(since this is an officials blog, -when my responsibilities start through finish), it is all business."