Sit in stands and listen

[ref3808]

I've gone to local games as a fan and many in the area know that I'm an official. Occasionally a parent asks a reasonable question about a rule and many times they are more familiar with NCAA (hey, the clock should stop late in the game on a made basket right) or the NBA/E and that is the source of their misunderstanding.

Most of the time I sit and enjoy the game although any official tends to watch those working the game to see what they do well/not so well.

Offering clarification to other parents is mostly a losing proposition. With few exceptions they really enjoy their ignorance and who am I to let reality and fact interfere with their perception.

[mj]

Being a parent of a player and also a ref is not easy. I don't know what happens to people during basketball games that makes them act the way they do. Good people that you're friends with turn into complete idiots.

[#olderthanilook]

Originally Posted by mj

Being a parent of a player and also a ref is not easy. I don't know what happens to people during basketball games that makes them act the way they do. Good people that you're friends with turn into complete idiots.

I can easily identify with you, mj. There isn't one weekend of games that goes by that a (thankfully, usually an opponent's) parent doesn't say and/or do something incredibly stupid during one of my son's games. I just sit back and observe.

Occassionally a parent from our team will turn and look at me with that "did the refs get that right?" look on their face. Usually I'll practice this line: "You'll have to ask the official that made the call. He'll be here in a minute."