Yep, it's a great way to learn how to tell the difference; as long as you don't have to sacrifice anything (mechanics) in the process.

This is exactly why I don't work events ike this anymore. About 2 years ago, I worked an AAU tournament that was being run by a local high school varsity coach who has a reputation for being a bit of a jerk. Early in the game he started his antics, and I stuck him. When he wouldn't stop, and my partner wanted no part of a conflict because he was concerned about future high school assignments, I tossed him.

On my way home from the gym that night, I got a phone call from the assignor, saying that although he supported what I had done, the tournament director (the coach I had just pitched) didn't want me back, so he was taking me off the the games I had for the rest of the tournament. I thanked him for doing me a favor, and haven't done any of these games since.

Your assigner needs to not let coaches push him around like that. That said, some assignors might take you off "his" tournament, but would be sure to assign you to his games 4-5 regular season road games the next season. Coaches will get the message and will stay away from these issues after a few times of that happening.


I had a similar incident occur 2 years ago in a summer AAU game. I ended up tossing the coach. It turns out that the coach was a real HS coach from another area of the state (Boys 5A team that had been deep in the playoffs a time or two recently). The coach complained to the tournament director who forwarded it to the tournament assignor and he forwarded it to me. It was claiming I needed to taught the FT violation rules better because I really didn't understand them (I had called his player twice in a row for going in WAY early, including an brief explanation the first time...his player was sticking his foot out and across the adjacent lane space, and he blew up yelling with profanity over it).

Fast forward a couple of weeks and I'm an evaluator at an officials camp that he has a team at. He says a few words to me realizing I'm not the rookie he figure I was.

Fast forward 1.5 years...his team and I end up on the same game on the state quarter finals. He didn't say much to me that night, even in a loss. In his next game in the consolation bracket, he ended up getting T'd (by someone else). And from reports of things he said as heard by neutral parties (officials) in the stands, he deserved a couple more....but the game officials were out of hearing range.

Just Desert for Just Desserts?
 

:eek:

I'm not a real big boycott-kinda guy, however, this just might merit a personal contact to one's closest forty-eight or so officiating associates to inform them of the situation. Hopefully his experience with the remainder of the season's slate of fresh, out-of-the-box newbie officials -- all that there would be left -- would convey an adequate message.
Sometimes one must be led to lie in the bed he's made for himself.

The discussion that is being had is actually the "chicken or the chicken egg". I don't think anybody is debating whether chickens came before eggs in general, cause we know eggs existed millions of years before chickens or chicken eggs for that matter.

Just my $.02 :D

Look For The Union Label ...
 

Mr. Annoying Metaphor Guy?

The assignor was clearly a wimp. I would've pulled all his officials for the rest of the tournament. Good luck finding people, coach.

As other people have stated previously often times in AAU or other summer league games the assigners have a business relationship with the tournament director/coach. Director doesn't want coaches or players being tossed cause they won't pay to come back next year and assigners want the money and (sometimes) will back the director versus the ref.

I have worked these leagues and have had assigners state we are calling too many t's and to "grow thicker skin". I just continued to call the game and dealt with coaches the same as I always do...if the assigner doesn't like how I call games...oh well. As other people have stated $20-25 isn't worth the bs that goes along with AAU tournaments. Now if you need the money, best bite your lip and follow what the assigner wants.

@ Camron....I know the coach you are talking about. He ran all over me at the camp you were evaluating...needless to say the post game evaluation *** chewing I got for not dealing with him was a real eye opener.

Apparently :cool:

I was a philosophy major, so we were the ones debating this and just wanted to make sure others didn't waste hours debating the wrong topic :D

Mr. Annoying Image Guy ...
 

who is like Mr. Annoying Simile Guy.

I'm part of an organization within NYC which works rec and summer league games. We've had similar coaching issues at times over the years.

Our stance has always been we'll continue to work the league/tournament because we don't want to screw the kids, however we won't work that coach's games unless the league deals with him. The problem tends to resolve itself.