Why do officials...

[stiffler3492]

I haven't done any varsity stuff yet, but I'll echo what JRut said. I've never seen Varsity officials without their pregame jackets on.

In my experience, for the underlevel stuff, main gym games get jackets 95% of the time. Maybe a Saturday morning Frosh B game might get the non-jacket treatment. Most back gym games will get the jacket treatment as well, though back gym games are more likely to get the non-jacket treatment.

I think the thing that contributes to the non-jacket treatment is either a doubleheader, or the fact that halftime is so short we won't even worry about heading back to the locker room, so we don't want to have worry about jackets.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by stiffler3492

I haven't done any varsity stuff yet, but I'll echo what JRut said. I've never seen Varsity officials without their pregame jackets on.

In my experience, for the underlevel stuff, main gym games get jackets 95% of the time. Maybe a Saturday morning Frosh B game might get the non-jacket treatment. Most back gym games will get the jacket treatment as well, though back gym games are more likely to get the non-jacket treatment.

I think the thing that contributes to the non-jacket treatment is either a doubleheader, or the fact that halftime is so short we won't even worry about heading back to the locker room, so we don't want to have worry about jackets.

Just as you said, we tend to treat varsity night games (prelim, sophomore or whatever you call JV) different than non-varsity night games. Really that is the approach here for the most part.

After all everyone else is out there in a warmup, so why not us? A lot of things we do anyway is ceremonial, so it really does not matter if it is practical at the end of the day.

Peace

[amusedofficial]

The reason NFHS refs (yeah, yeah, yeah, local adoption) are told to wear jackets is simple.

the NBA does it.

NCAA does it.

We need to pretend that some obscure high school game in some backwater town in as important as hte NBA or NCAA.

So we wear jackets. So we can be like the big boys.

[just another ref]

Here's an idea. We wear jackets (or not) based on the temperature. Around here when the small schools start in late October it can easily be in the 80's.
On these days, my jacket never leaves the house. Beyond that, it depends on the gym. Some places, if you leave your jacket at the table, it winds up on the floor, or someplace on the bleachers where it may get stepped on. With all this in mind, I lean toward leaving mine in the locker room.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by just another ref

Here's an idea. We wear jackets (or not) based on the temperature. Around here when the small schools start in late October it can easily be in the 80's.
On these days, my jacket never leaves the house. Beyond that, it depends on the gym. Some places, if you leave your jacket at the table, it winds up on the floor, or someplace on the bleachers where it may get stepped on. With all this in mind, I lean toward leaving mine in the locker room.

Well in this part of the state we do not do games until November, so it is not that hot. Not an issue around here.

It is usually typical here that the table puts the jackets in a relatively save place and it is not uncommon for the GM to take our jackets to the locker room before half-time.

But I thought they did not give you guys a locker room?

Peace

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

But I thought they did not give you guys a locker room?

Peace

Figure of speech, so you'd understand. We pretty much always have a room, just very seldom have lockers.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by just another ref

Figure of speech, so you'd understand. We pretty much always have a room, just very seldom have lockers.

So you need lockers to change in that room?

If that is the case I would come dressed too.

Peace

[APG]

Originally Posted by just another ref

Figure of speech, so you'd understand. We pretty much always have a room, just very seldom have lockers.

I've very rarely worked at a place that provided us lockers. That's never been a reason for me to come to a game dressed...which is what I got from JRut's post.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by amusedofficial

We need to pretend that some obscure high school game in some backwater town in as important as the NBA or NCAA.

From my pregame: Every game is the most important game being played anywhere tonight for these kids, fans, and coaches. Let’s make sure we officiate the game keeping that in mind, through effort, and attitude.

You may not believe me, but I abide by this statement about 95% of the time. The rare exception may be the fourth game of a Catholic middle school girls junior varsity (fifth and sixth graders) quadruple header, especially if it's a boring, blowout game. Other than that, I treat every game as if I'm officiating an NBA, or NCAA game, in Madison Square Garden. I don't have to pretend. I just love interscholastic basketball, I love officiating interscholastic basketball, and I always try to give it my 100% best effort.