Need feedback
 

I was just made aware of a situation that I need some feedback about:

A basketball referee is sending unsolicited scouting reports to the opposing teams that are coming to play their local high school. This official is an employee of said high school and a former coach at the high school.

What should, if anything, come of this? What are my responsibilities as a fellow referee? Do I need to notify my state association?

HELP!!!

Who told you about this happening? It is definitely unethical, but you may want to talk to an association officer about what you have heard and how you heard it. Hearsay can be an awful thing.

A coach who received one of the scouting reports told the school's AD who in turn contacted me.

I would advise the AD to contact your association.

Who cares. Nothing illegal here.

What kind of "scouting report?"

Detailed, 2-page scouting reports of the home team.

+1
And I would be cautious about what sort of personal information you share with this guy just in case you make him mad some day.

Personally, I think that maybe more of an issue for the high school that employs him.

The fact that he's an official really doesn't have anything to do with it, especially since I'm 99% sure he doesn't officiate his own high school's games.

I just looked in the case book/rules book and I couldn't find it, but somewhere doesn't it say that nothing that can be used as a scouting report can be compiled by an official for a high school?

Does anyone know where this is located?

To the Op'er, does this official work games in the same league or conference as the high school he is sending scouting reports on? If so, that's a huge conflict of interest and your local association needs to do something about it. As others have said, the AD needs to get on the phone to the assignor or board members of the association.

This official works in the same conference as the high school in question. Their local association is comprised of 6-10 officials and this particular official does work the games at the high school that they are providing scouting reports against.

That is a big no-no. But, in small rural areas, similar things are probably not uncommon.

If that's the standard...
 

...then, yeah, who cares. Otherwise, it seems like a case of questionable ethics. And an official with questionable ethics makes people wonder if the rest of us might do anything for a buck. Works for me.

It is an ethics issue if he is giving reports from games he has worked. I do not see it that way if he is going out and scouting for his HS that he works for outside of officiating the teams in question.

I guess you could report it, but be careful with that when you do not know for sure he is doing this. You could get yourself in the middle of something you do not want to handle.

Peace