How to work with frustrating partner?
 

I'm not trying to say I'm the world's best official or even a good official. This is my first year with the association. But, I do take officiating fairly seriously and want to improve every game. Usually, this is achieved by asking my partner, and hopefully the following varsity officials, for advice, which I write down in my notebook while we are discussing the game. Rules reviews, this forum etc, are also part of that process. Counting AAU I've done about 35 games this year.

Today I had a partner for a small school Boys JV game who did numerous things wrong. Not little mistakes, just plain bad in all areas of the game: reporting, mechanics, judgement, communication, game management, etc. But, he did admit prior the game: 1. basketball wasn't his main sport he officiated 2. He had no aspirations of moving up( he was 65 years old) 3. He had a slow schedule that year. This was his third year in our association. I felt like I was Dick Bavetta out there with him.

Overall it was very frustrating. There was no Varsity game following so nobody could give us advice or pointers or say "what on earth just happened out there??!!".

Here is my question: If you have somebody who seems like they could care less and probably has 10-15 glaring things to work on, what should be done? I couldn't even bring up things for him to work on because he didn't seem like he wanted any advice. I almost called our assignor but figured it would be prudent to save my bullets.

All advice appreciated.

You can't help people that don't want to be helped. Best advice for when faced with this situation:

Get in, get done, get out.

Probably the most famous bit of advice ever given on this forum.

Get in. Get done. Get out.


Thanks Mick

It is what it is.
 

Unfortunately, you are going to have this situation repeated. You want an experience for you. That's human nature. You want feedback, a give and take. You want to learn something, or impart something to someone else. The good news is that most of the time you will get what you want. Unfortunately on some nights you won't. It is what it is.

Appreciate it when you have a good game, and when you don't, get it done and move on to the next game.

Save your bullets. He's filling a need, nothing more. This is going to happen. Maybe some day you'll see guys like this differently, or maybe you're absolutely right. Either way, as has been stated, get in, get done, get out. Shake the dust off your sandals and enjoy the basketball.

Rookie, do you use Arbiter for your assignments? If so, you can block certain partners, if you so choose.

I've never done it, as I never felt the need. But, in your case, I can certainly understand it.

I would save that grenade for a truly deserving target.

You can only do what you can and let the chips fall where they may. Just do your job and that is all you can do if someone is not on the same page.

Peace

Yes, if using Arbiter, the program gives you the ability to block partners.
But what are most association rules on this matter? Do most allow it? Are there limits? To my knowledge, it has never come up before in my association, which is using arbiter this year for the first time.

Pick One Situation ...
 

In your postgame, pick one, and only one, situation to discuss, and put it in the form of a question. "I have a question about how we switched, and inbounded the ball, after you called that backcourt violation. Nice call, by the way. You were right on top of it. Since I'm a rookie, I hope that you can help me out here. I really want to make sure that we did it right."

+1

I Took Your Harsh Critique Personally
 

I really object to your personal slam against my efforts to try to do a good job with you. I gave it my best, and this is what I deserve??? Why didn't you share your feelings with me after the game?

Oh, wait. I didn't have a game yesterday. Nevermind. ;)

The Arbiter settings can be changed to where you can not block partners, sites, teams, etc. My basketball association does not let you block anything except for dates, and you can not decline games. They are auto-accepted when you sign in. In my high school baseball group that uses the Arbiter, we can block partners, sites, dates, teams, etc.

When I was first starting out, it would bother me to have a bad partner( I probably was too) When I do a grammar/travel/aau game, I simply adjust and try and get through it. That said, I had the most aggravating veteran partner over the weekend for a travel tourney. Personality of a slug, it was all I could do from saying something on his performance, demeanor.

At the varsity level, it's being addressed at timeouts or halftime if there is a situation that could be problematic going forward in game.

He had no inspirations of moving up
 

He WAS 65 years old. WAS? Is he still around;)