Question from a fan

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Lastkidpicked

My question for you as officials: In that environment can you still officiate a game? Do you worry about being percieved as a "homer"?

Would you worry that after a close game the losing team might express their sour grapes by saying, "Well, no wonder. The center for that team is in the Ref's 4-H club!"

Thank you again for what you do.

I could literally give a damn what fans think of my job. They do not hire me and they certainly have no role in my working any game. And if the fans are that upset, they will probably see me again when they least expect it. Not something other than the entertainment value do I even consider their comments or what they think. They think everyone stinks if they do not call what they want and if most of them were given a whistle to officiate anything, they would pee down their leg the first few seconds of the game.

Peace

[Tio]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I could literally give a damn what fans think of my job. They do not hire me and they certainly have no role in my working any game. And if the fans are that upset, they will probably see me again when they least expect it. Not something other than the entertainment value do I even consider their comments or what they think. They think everyone stinks if they do not call what they want and if most of them were given a whistle to officiate anything, they would pee down their leg the first few seconds of the game.

Peace

+1...

Fans are biased and will always not be viewing the game from an objective point of view. Get your plays right. At the end of the day that is what matters.

I would be aware of the perception of being the "hometown" guy. Being extra careful not to be too buddy buddy with coaches, other fans, etc. We should really be doing this every night anyway no matter where the game is.

[just another ref]

Actually, I've found that the nastiest people are often the ones you know best.
When the local team loses a game called by the local ref, people often say things they (should) regret. Recently I called a game a mile from my house. The home team lost to a team they expected to beat.

Boys head coach is a pretty good friend of mine that I have known for many years. "Y'all should be ashamed to take money tonight." He later apologized, sorta.

One of the players is the grandson of the lady who babysat my son when he was small. He was like the little brother my son never had. This boy's mom approached me after the game. "Tonight when you take that striped shirt off, you should never put it back on!"

Basketball officiating is the opposite of Cheers. Sometimes you wanna go where nobody knows your name.

[fiasco]

Originally Posted by Tio

+1...

Fans are biased and will always not be viewing the game from an objective point of view. Get your plays right. At the end of the day that is what matters.

Agreed, but I also don't look down on officials who choose to remove themselves or block themselves from games where there could be a conflict of interest, perceived or otherwise. What works for you may just not work for someone else.

To each his (or her) own.

[grunewar]

I live in a BIG town for almost 15 yrs. I have coached my kids and hundreds more for that much time and think I've been a pretty solid member of the community. I can do any one of ~ 75-100 local HS, ~ 10 of which are w/in 15 minutes of my house. Chances of me knowing or having coached someone is pretty good. I don't do my son's school, but other than that, I'm not avoiding them. I can do the job and be fair and impartial.

I've shook hands with the Captains and had them say, "Hey Mr. G how are ya?" (No one has called me by my first name - but, that's another thread)

That being said, in a small town, with few officials, what are the choices?

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by grunewar

That being said, in a small town, with few officials, what are the choices?

The other choice is all officials travel 50-100 miles to call their games on a given night, sometimes literally passing each other in the road on the way.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by just another ref

The other choice is all officials travel 50-100 miles to call their games on a given night, sometimes literally passing each other in the road on the way.

JAR - I know we've had that discussion on the Forum before - "How far do you travel for a game?" I am very thankful I don't have to concern myself with that. Those are some dedicated folk!

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by just another ref

The other choice is all officials travel 50-100 miles to call their games on a given night, sometimes literally passing each other in the road on the way.

And if you made officials do that on a regular basis, you'd probably have no officials for some of the more rural small-town schools. These small areas have a tough enough time getting good officials and they'd be a lot less likely to work at all if all of their games were 100+ miles away.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by just another ref

The other choice is all officials travel 50-100 miles to call their games on a given night, sometimes literally passing each other in the road on the way.

I drive almost 100 miles a few times a season. The rural conferences here do something that the more urban and suburban conferences do not -- they pay higher game fees and also pay travel money (I'll work some schools that pay up to $50 travel). To me, it's a sign that they *want* officials from my area to come and work or that there's a shortage of varsity level officials in the area. And those schools pack the gym and provide an atmosphere rarely seen at bigger schools, where the gyms can be less than half full. It's OK to do this once in a while, but I do appreciate the rare occasion where I have to drive less than 20 miles, too.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I do appreciate the rare occasion where I have to drive less than 20 miles.

I had Catholic middle school games (not my parish) last night in the town that I live in. The distance, as listed on Arbiter, was 0 miles. Two "varsity" games, girls, then boys. Walked into the gym at 5:50 p.m. Home before my car warmed up. Eating dinner at 8:20 p.m. $82.00. Cash. As Jackie Gleason used to say, "How sweet it is".

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I drive almost 100 miles a few times a season. The rural conferences here do something that the more urban and suburban conferences do not -- they pay higher game fees and also pay travel money (I'll work some schools that pay up to $50 travel). To me, it's a sign that they *want* officials from my area to come and work or that there's a shortage of varsity level officials in the area. And those schools pack the gym and provide an atmosphere rarely seen at bigger schools, where the gyms can be less than half full. It's OK to do this once in a while, but I do appreciate the rare occasion where I have to drive less than 20 miles, too.

Our association is almost all small town schools in a rural area. The area serviced is about 135 miles long from top to bottom with the home of the association in the center. We are paid travel for all levels based on one car, one way, from the home of the association to the home school, regardless of actual distance traveled, with a minimum of $30. This money is split between the 2 or 3 officials working that night.

I live about 15 miles from the north end of our territory, so I have to travel more than most. But, when the game is on the south end, I usually drive down to meet a partner halfway, more or less, then ride with him.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by fiasco

I also don't look down on officials who choose to remove themselves or block themselves from games where there could be a conflict of interest, perceived or otherwise.

From our recently approved Code of Ethics and Conduct:

Board members shall recognize that anything which may lead to a conflict of interest either real or
apparent must be avoided. Gifts, favors, special treatment, privileges, employment or personal
relationship with a school or team which can compromise the perceived impartiality of officiating must be
avoided.

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I could literally give a damn what fans think of my job.

Literally that means that you could give a damn what fans think. You do care about what they believe. Going by the rest of your post you probably meant to say that you couldn't give a damn what fans think. You do not care about what they think.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by Cobra

Literally that means that you could give a damn what fans think. You do care about what they believe. Going by the rest of your post you probably meant to say that you couldn't give a damn what fans think. You do not care about what they think.

Wonder if he's gonna give a darn about this post.

(or as another poster might say, "He just might not give a carp!")

[bainsey]

I block myself from games involving my sons' middle and high schools (exhibition games notwithstanding). While I know I would be objective at them, there are plenty of schools to serve, so I don't see why I would even put myself in that position.

As for what fans think, consider the source.