I've been reffing 20 years....
 

Heard that as I was walking in to my games today. Gonna be an interesting two games.

Hmph. From your partner? A coach? A fan?

I don't think that because a person screams at the ref's while being a fanboy is really being an official.

"What association? I would really like to work with you some time." ;)

If it makes you feel any better, I had a coach say to me last night, "This is varsity basketball." Not sure what he meant, but I stopped listening to him the rest of the night after that comment.

Peace

At a MS tournament last week, there was a gal walking around the court taking photos. During a break, she took one of me and I asked her if she was taking them for ESPN. She chuckled and said "No, it's for Bloopers & Blunders" (whatever that is). I told her that if that was the case, she should be pointing at the coaches. :p

Tough Duty!
 

When I see a photographer, even if it's mom or dad, I might tell them, "Make me look tall, handsome, and minimize the size of my nose." Usually good for a chuckle!!

Sometimes they even offer to Photoshop it. :p

Fan, standing outside as I walked in. Thought about telling him I didn't believe him.

For some reason, it is a pet peeve of mine to use "ref" as a verb. "are you reffing?" Ugh

Ha that reminds me of the day I popped my college cherry at a small school in Illinois a couple years ago. Coach: "This is Division 1 basketball!" Uhm no coach it's JV basketball at a NAIA school, to be fair it was a Division 1 NAIA school. :D

I've heard, "That's a high school call" or "that's a high school strike zone" before. It's an attempt to insult, sure, but quite frankly, it doesn't change how I call games.

Why? Ref is short/slang for referee. Referee is both a noun and a verb. So, by extension, ref is a shortland/slang for either the noun or verb usage of referee. And at least some online dictionaries agree.

From a coach at a basketball game? Actually, I don't doubt it. :D

You are going to have to get over that. Not only does this apply in dictionaries, it is the jargon of our business.

Peace

"referee verb
refereed referee·ing

Definition of REFEREE

transitive verb
1
: to conduct (as a match or game) as referee
2
a : to arbitrate (as a legal matter) as a judge or third party
b : to review (as a technical paper) before publication
intransitive verb
: to act as a referee
See referee defined for English-language learners »
Examples of REFEREE

She refereed the basketball game.
He has refereed for several years now."

Referee - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary

TMI :eek: