Contacting Partners

[Stat-Man]

Over the weekend, I was assigned a game next week... what will be my first game as an official (a JV girls game).

On the forum, I've seen mention of contacting partners in advance of a game. How does that work? Does the R email the partner(s)? What usually gets mentioned?

Looking forward to the game and hoping to be a good partner on and off the floor.

[APG]

I'd ask around your area to see what is the norm.

In the associations I've belong to, it's been policy for the R to contact his/her partner(s) at least 48 hours before the game...by phone or by e-mail. I personally like to contact my partner(s) earlier by way of e-mail, so that I have physical proof, if needed, that I tried to contact my partner(s). If they don't respond in a timely fashion, I will then contact by way of phone.

[Sharpshooternes]

Originally Posted by Stat-Man

Over the weekend, I was assigned a game next week... what will be my first game as an official (a JV girls game).

On the forum, I've seen mention of contacting partners in advance of a game. How does that work? Does the R email the partner(s)? What usually gets mentioned?

Looking forward to the game and hoping to be a good partner on and off the floor.

Whoever is assigned as the R should contact the partner(s). Often times I will call the R when I haven't heard from them as some of the more veteran guys are lax about it. And I never, ever, want to do a game by myself.

[Freddy]

Around here the umpire(s) contacts the R, then the R confirms the crew to the AD. That way the AD isn't plagued by an overabundance of emails. If the R doesn't hear from the umpire(s), he'll contact them about two days in advance of the game.
All contacts are by email. Phone is secondary method when nothing is heard via email.
May differ in your area. Check local listings. When in Nome, do as the Nomans do.
(BTW, haven't heard from Shishmaref Ref for a long time here. I checked his school district website and note that he's still on staff there off the Bering coast. Maybe he's lurking or perhaps not officiating anymore.)

[BillyMac]

Every Sunday night, I send confirmation emails to the athletic directors of every site where I will be working, as either the referee, or the umpire, that week, with cc's to my partners.



December 9, 2012

BillyMac
50 Main Street
Little Corner, CT 06000
Home Phone (000) 000-0000
Cell Phone (000) 000-0000
Email: [email protected]

Environmental Chemical Analyst
Acme Environmental Laboratories, Inc.
100 Main Street
Little Corner, CT 06000
Business Phone (000) 000-0000

This is to confirm that I will officiate the boys varsity basketball game at East Oshkosh High School
on Wednesday, December 13, 2012, at 7:00 p.m.

Please contact me if there is any change in the schedule. My contact information is above.
During weekday business hours, it is best to reach me at (000) 000-0000. I do not have access
to the internet, nor to email, nor do I get a cell phone signal, at work.

Sincerely,

BillyMac
International Association of Approved Basketball Officials
Little Corner Connecticut Board #0

[grunewar]

About 48 hrs out I will send an email to my P's acknowledging our game - doesn't matter if I'm R or not.

[BillyMac]

Here's the protocol for my local board:

Officials are expected to confirm their games. Email addresses for athletic directors, faculty managers, or site directors, as well as partners, are on the Arbiter website. The email should state the gender, level, site, day, date, and time of the game, along with one’s contact information, sent to both the school, and to one’s partner. A confirmation, emailed in this manner, looks professional, and assures everyone that the officials have been properly assigned for the game.

[gordon30307]

In my neck of the woods the vast majority of games are on the arbiter. You get an email reminder. Most assigners require that we confirm games with the school. If there's a discepency that I learn of I'll contact my partenrs. Other than that my partners are adults and I assume that they will act as such and show up on time which is at least 45 minutes prior to a varsity contest and at least 30 minutes prior to a lower level contest. Notice I say "at least". I consider myself "late" if I don't meet that criteria.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by gordon30307

In my neck of the woods the vast majority of games are on the arbiter. You get an email reminder. Most assigners require that we confirm games with the school. If there's a discepency that I learn of I'll contact my partenrs. Other than that my partners are adults and I assume that they will act as such and show up on time which is at least 45 minutes prior to a varsity contest and at least 30 minutes prior to a lower level contest. Notice I say "at least". I consider myself "late" if I don't meet that criteria.

In this region of the country there have been too many occurences of a single official showing up at the wrong site or mis-reading the date/time, including NCAA games. So supervisors at all levels around here expect the crew to contact each to ensure everyone is on the same page. Being right and being an 'adult' are no help when game time is upon us and there is an official missing.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by gordon30307

In my neck of the woods the vast majority of games are on the arbiter. You get an email reminder. Most assigners require that we confirm games with the school. If there's a discepency that I learn of I'll contact my partenrs. Other than that my partners are adults and I assume that they will act as such and show up on time which is at least 45 minutes prior to a varsity contest and at least 30 minutes prior to a lower level contest. Notice I say "at least". I consider myself "late" if I don't meet that criteria.

I still contact my partners if I am the Referee and it is required at the college level. Just usually want to touch base so that they know when I am showing up or any other items that might be not known. And the thing I hate about Arbiter is the schools do not use it or put the correct information on the site. In one of the conferences the assignor for some strange reason does not want us calling the school. Well I went to the wrong school or site for the game and thank God I went early enough to get to the other school. And the problem was the school did not make it clear on any website where they played their games. I wish they would blow up the Arbiter honestly for this reason.

Peace

[Stat-Man]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I still contact my partners if I am the Referee and it is required at the college level. Just usually want to touch base so that they know when I am showing up or any other items that might be not known. And the thing I hate about Arbiter is the schools do not use it or put the correct information on the site. In one of the conferences the assignor for some strange reason does not want us calling the school. Well I went to the wrong school or site for the game and thank God I went early enough to get to the other school. And the problem was the school did not make it clear on any website where they played their games. I wish they would blow up the Arbiter honestly for this reason.

Peace

Yeah, contact information on Arbiter does not seem to be updated as Athletic Office staff changes. I've found our state association's site to be more up-to-date with contact information and use that for my school contacts.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Stat-Man

Yeah, contact information on Arbiter does not seem to be updated as Athletic Office staff changes. I've found our state association's site to be more up-to-date with contact information and use that for my school contacts.

Our state's page is also more up to date. I would just think that the site information for the school would be accurate on the Arbiter. We have several schools that have multiple campuses and do not play at the listed HS gym. It just would be helpful to have the right address if a conference makes a big deal over us calling the AD (calling the Administrative Assistant works better anyway) to confirm the dates and all we are allowed to do is email them. It is just stupid that is all.

Peace

[Andy]

It used to be around here that the "junior" official on the crew was responsible for contacting the "senior" official(s) to confirm assignments.

All of the HS assignments come through the state association, even for regualr season and tournaments, so the schools are usually pretty good about communicating changes in a timely manner and the state office is usually pretty good about getting that info out to the officials.

Now, the expectation is "Contact your partner, it doesn't matter who initiates the contact."