I try to hammer this home whenever someone tells me a horror story about being confronted after the horn.

I've already removed my whistle (so someone doesn't grab the whistle and use my lanyard as a weapon -- one of the things I learned in the Earl Strom book -- of course taking my belt off and wrapping it around my fist as a potential weapon doesn't apply now that pants are beltless) and am heading out the nearest exit before anyone can confront me.

This is not about my area. All JHs are not governed by a single body in this state and are literally the wild, wild west of standards from one school to another. There are two JH organizations that run state tournaments, and they dictate their members and what they do with the officials, but that does not apply to every single area in Illinois. This is why I do not work them because most middle schools are not under a state or mostly state organizations where I live and why I have no desire to work these games even if I was mentoring an official. I can mentor them at a HS game.

During HS games the very same thing can happened as I have been put in a girl's locker room with a lot of room and had young girls walk into the room. Or even when we have a secure room had kids run through the room. It really does not matter what where they put you if they do not allow folks to have access. Not sure about you, but most schools close off multiple parts of a school during activities where a school is running.

You do not have to be worried about it, but these things often happen in youth or middle school games. Usually you do not see these things happen at the HS level because most states have a state body that dictates and the consequences are heavier.

Again this is also not about even confrontations. I want a room so I can talk to my partner about situations in the game and cannot easily be heard. I want a chance to unwind briefly after the game. If they give the teams a locker room so they can discuss strategy, not sure why any school cannot provide the same for the officials. Even when we work summer games with multiple tournaments, we try to secure a room that the public does not have access to without trespassing.

Peace

From the article:

"A spokesman for the Houston Independent School District said administrators and coaches were nearby and helped to "minimize" the disruption."

1) They consider this to be a "disruption"??? An assault is nothing more than a disruption???:eek:

2)The nearby coaches and administrators helped to "minimize" it? Guy gets a blindside punch in the head...how exactly did they minimize anything??:mad:

That one sentence tells us all we need to know about the Houston Independent School District.

Here is what is going to happen. Someone is going to sue these school districts for incidents like this and then things will change as a result. Until that time, this will keep happening.

Peace

And this is why I won't do anything less than HS JV games. I can't stand to deal with idiotic fans and coaches (not that they're much better at the HS level).

Not exactly. ORS 166.370 specifies that carrying a weapon in a public building (which includes public schools), loaded or unloaded, is a class C felony. The law has an exception provision for those with a license to carry a concealed handgun. There is also an exception that allows an unloaded weapon locked in a vehicle.

In 2005 there was a unsuccessful attempt to amend the law to allow a school district board to prohibit CCW license holders from carrying on school premises and other school sanctioned activities. It failed primarily because it was overly broad in scope.

Private facilities are free to restrict weapon possession in any way they choose. The clinic that my wife work for, for example, won't even allow an off duty LEO to carry on premises - they must lock the weapon in their car.

That said, carrying a weapon to a sporting event is, IMHO, a really really bad idea.

I work a lot of JH ball for my local junior high. I go to the game dressed, except for my shoes. They open the coaches office for us, which is right off the gym floor. People are in and out of there all the time, so I don't take anything that I won't need on the floor with me.

There's only one exit, and I always am a little wary if it was a close game...you never do know. I've never had any problems there, but it only takes one bad apple.

Perhaps so, but I suspect it is just a policy. I doubt they have any direct legal manner to enforce their policies aside from not allowing the person access to the premises under threat of trespassing charges. If such a person were to be on the property with a weapon, it wouldn't be a criminal offense like it would if they were to have a gun in a school or court house.

Correct. If someone refuses to comply, about all they can do is notify the individual that they must immediately leave the premises. If they then refuse to leave they can be arrested for criminal trespass, but possession of a weapon with appropriate permit to carry, in and of itself isn't a criminal offense under those circumstances.

Thank you for your information. I agree carrying a weapon to a sporting event sounds like a really bad idea; I was more thinking out loud than anything else. However, I did not know that there was an exception on the books for CHL holders.

For the bigger city refs, would a taser be a decent compromise? No idea on the law as far as owning or possessing one.

This Will Do The Trick ...
 

It would have to be pretty damn comfortable. Generally, I can't stand ankle holsters.

Interesting, thanks for setting me straight.

I still wouldn't carry while working a game...especially if I know the table personnel have their TASERS handy. :D

We do here. Gold Crown and YMCA, no dice, but school sponsored games come with a room.