Local politics blues

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by Brad

Dirty little secret: Coaches have a lot of influence at EVERY level.

I know this and my post was regarding how it is done here in Texas as compared to California.

Here, football coaches actually draft the crews for their games. The result is similar to what you get from w_sohl's experience. Talk about letting the inmates run the aslyum. I don't think that's done at any level in college, even in...wait for it...the SEC.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Welpe

I know this and my post was regarding how it is done here in Texas as compared to California.

Here, football coaches actually draft the crews for their games. The result is similar to what you get from w_sohl's experience. Talk about letting the inmates run the aslyum. I don't think that's done at any level in college, even in...wait for it...the SEC.

I lost a HS conference for a long time because, in football, my crew ejected a player for spearing and when the coach came out to check on his injured player, got in my face and got a flag for his trouble.

C'est la vie. I still filled my schedule from other conferences and eventually the assignor retired and now the new assignor offers us dates (but they're already filled by the other conferences). My crew thinks we should run back, but I'm in no hurry. We've done fine without that conference.

Of course, I'm in a system like JRut's -- I deal with about 7-8 assignors and if one isn't happy with my work (this has been the only assignor to not use us/me in basketball, football, baseball), I'll just take more games from the other assignors. In a centralized, one-assignor system, I had to please one person and that's not always as easy.

The college level is completely different, in my experience. At least in my experience, the coaches don't completely run the asylum. They do force the assignor to hold us accountable, though, which shouldn't bother a good official.

[7IronRef]

Originally Posted by Welpe

I suggest you actually read my post and attempt to understand it before venting.

I did, you said "politics" and "you just wanted to work local games." If there is something more, it was not in the OP.

Politics around here seems synonymous with people complaining about why they cannot get ahead. Politics is an excuse, either you have what it takes or you don't.

Sorry you are unhappy with your situation, but you are an independent contractor. Which means you can pick and choose where you want to work, choose the games that suits your schedule. The choice is yours.

Perhaps a discussion with your assignor will give you the "local" schedule you had hoped would be available? Oh wait, that wasn't part of the OP, you are just bummed about having to go back into the larger group where you were not getting things your way, errr, I mean the politics were keeping you from getting what you wanted. Smaller group politics are difficult too, unless you are part of the good ol' boys there.

Good luck with your group. Just keep working hard and once you are trusted enough, you will have more say in your schedule. Sounds like a real job in the real world, become a leader within your organization and you can frequently write your own schedule. Or is that politics?

[Bad Zebra]

Originally Posted by 7IronRef

Politics is an excuse, either you have what it takes or you don't.

That's a black and white (and naive) view that doesn't really reflect reality in this vocation.

My guess is you've never experienced the affects (effects?) of politics within an organization OR you've never been on the $h1tty end.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by 7IronRef

Oh wait, that wasn't part of the OP, you are just bummed about having to go back into the larger group where you were not getting things your way, errr, I mean the politics were keeping you from getting what you wanted. Smaller group politics are difficult too, unless you are part of the good ol' boys there.

At least you got the reading part of it right. For what it's worth, the politics I mentioned, and which is understood by my fellow Texas officials, is in regard to the ugly struggle that's going on here between two organizations. I'd elucidate further but you seem to already have your mind made up about my motives. Thank you for inferring the worst of intentions out of my post.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Welpe

At least you got the reading part of it right. For what it's worth, the politics I mentioned, and which is understood by my fellow Texas officials, is in regard to the ugly struggle that's going on here between two organizations. I'd elucidate further but you seem to already have your mind made up about my motives. Thank you for inferring the worst of intentions out of my post.

I don't put everyone who bugs me on my ignore list, but when I do, he's a real tool.

[KingTripleJump]

How is it that Ft. Bend ISD (one of the largest school districts in the area and state) wasn't using the Houston Chapter to begin with?

Or rather, why?

[Welpe]

Good question and one I don't have an answer to. What I do know is that Houston did have most of the FBISD games just a few years ago but lost them and now has gained them back again. Of course Houston lost quite a few Katy games this year to another chapter.

[JRutledge]

I am going to have to agree with the premise that 7IronRef is stating. I think people use the "politics" issue as an excuse too often. And this does not appear to be as much of a political issue as a personal choice. Now I know nothing about Texas situation and it seems like there is an ongoing fight between local groups and that is unfortunate. But that does not mean that some of these issues are not some personal choices. Welpe did say he moved from one association to another. That to me is not politics that is choosing and making the wrong decision if at the end of the day you want to work a certain set of games. Forgive me but that does not seem to be a political problem at all. It does not seem anyone told anyone to not belong to one over the other. Now who has games is a political issue, but not one that involves an individual working games.

Peace

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by KingTripleJump

How is it that Ft. Bend ISD (one of the largest school districts in the area and state) wasn't using the Houston Chapter to begin with?

Or rather, why?

Football does. Not sure if this is exactly the same reason ... but as an official that lives in Ft. Bend county, driving to the Houston meetings is a VERY long, very crowded drive. Had a meeting at 7:30 once - I left work at 4. I was late. Conversely, the bulk of the football officials in the chapter live closer in, and don't want to work, "way the hell out in Fort Bend".

The geographics of the Houston chapter are just too large... nevermind all the other issues.

[Texas Aggie]

He simply has no respect for how organizations are run and thinks it's his own little playground.

Not exactly unique.

Tony Timmons stated clearly that he would enforce each chapter's by-laws if the chapter itself refused to. That was a lie -- he did absolutely nothing in regards to a chapter where this was happening. I know nothing about what happened in Houston, but it sounds like he ignored it there as well.

[7IronRef]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I don't put everyone who bugs me on my ignore list, but when I do, he's a real tool.

OMG, I made your ignore list.
BTW, you and I have met at a couple of camps. We seemed to get along fine and even had a pretty decent game.
Good luck to you

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by 7IronRef

...

Hmmm, addressed everyone but my post, wonder why.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by 7IronRef

OMG, I made your ignore list.
BTW, you and I have met at a couple of camps. We seemed to get along fine and even had a pretty decent game.
Good luck to you

1. If this was true, I wouldn't be too surprised. People often have different personalities on line than in person.
2. You've got me curious, congratulations; but I'm 80% positive this isn't true. Maybe someone you met at camps is trying to claim my identity?

[Brad]

Originally Posted by 7IronRef

Politics around here seems synonymous with people complaining about why they cannot get ahead. Politics is an excuse, either you have what it takes or you don't.

Sorry you are unhappy with your situation, but you are an independent contractor. Which means you can pick and choose where you want to work, choose the games that suits your schedule. The choice is yours.

Not always.

In the case of the Houston UIL chapter they completely manipulated the schedule of those that they did not like. There was a group of us that sued the chapter because of a fraudulent "vote" that was pushed through by the current board to change from TASO to UIL. They did not follow Texas Law nor Robert's Rules of Order ... they simply did what they wanted to do because it was the president's agenda.

All of us that sued received schedules that were completely crap games -- places I hadn't worked in years!! It was clear the the president had decided to manipulate the assigning process to get some revenge. He also tried to tell officials assigning tournaments that they couldn't use certain people, which caused a huge uproar.

Keep in mind that those of us that sued were almost all college officials, some working at the Division I level, including myself. So, there was no issue based on "having what it takes" ... it was politics pure and simple.

It's interesting to me that the same guy is STILL president of the chapter, when his term and term limits have LONG expired. I can't understand why several hundred officials just stand there and let him get away with it.