Summer Ball

[Adam]

Last night, varsity girls summer league. A1 gets held in the paint, as we're (double whistle on this one) blowing whistles, she starts flailing a bit and starts to square off before backing off on her own.

After the players are separated, I start to walk towards the coach to ask him to talk to her. Before I get there, I hear "I have a sub at the table. But she was being held and just protecting herself." As I was saying, "Coach, we got the foul, she doesn't need to protect herself," I was thinking, "I should have just called the T."

That attitude was apparently part of the team dynamic, though, as we ended up giving one to a different player later.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by johnny d

Worked some crap-ass HS shootout this past weekend because it was assigned by one of the college assignors I work for and he expects you to work at least one day at one of the many HS shootouts he assigns every summer. One of the schools has a new coach. He is a young guy and this is his first head coaching experience at varsity level so he is a little wound up and kind of excitable. He is questioning lots of calls and acting like this is the state playoffs rather than the glorified practice that it is. They are getting drilled by 30 late in the second half when a player from the other team comes flying out of nowhere for an amazing two hand follow up dunk on a missed shot. I was trail and it was probably basket interference, but taking into account it is summer, games dont mean anything, score at the time, and just the plain awesome nature of the play, I decide not to wave the basket off. The coach starts jumping up and down complaining about goaltending. So I go over there and tell him relax it is a summer league game there isnt any reason to get all worked up. He says it was GT, I tell him the ball was out of the cylinder. He wants to keep arguing and eventually says it is my opinion the ball is out of the cylinder. Finally, ive had enough so I respond to him that if he wanted his opinion to matter, he should have become a referee instead of a coach. I think it stunned him into silence. The only good thing about these worthless summer games is the level of professionalism expected from us is so much lower than the regular season we can actually respond to these idiot coaches in ways that we never can when the games matter.

Is this post something you are proud of?

[johnny d]

Originally Posted by tomegun

Is this post something you are proud of?

It most certainly is. As I said, the games are absolutely meaningless.

Originally Posted by johnny d

It most certainly is. As I said, the games are absolutely meaningless.

Perhaps they are meaningless to you, and a chore to work. However, I suggest you exercise some humbleness by realizing that these games can mean a lot to the coaches, players, and fans. No matter the level, treat every game as important -- that is part of our professionalism as officials.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by johnny d

It most certainly is. As I said, the games are absolutely meaningless.

They are not totally meaningless. The outcomes are meaningless and no one puts up banners for who wins a summer league or tournament, that is for sure.

But I would not change how I call the game because it is not the regular season. Actually summer is sometimes where we as officials get a reputation. And if we are not able to handle games and officiating them appropriately, we will be seen that way during the season. I would never not call something just because the outcome is not going to be in the paper.

Just my two cents.

Peace

[stir22]

Originally Posted by Adam

One coach thinks we're pathetic.

Parent from the other team says he's a college official and I need "to learn."

And I missed part of Father's Day for this.

I donated 6 games for a memorial tournament last month...the abuse level was off the charts. (age group was ex-jocks in their 20's) add the co-ed flavor and alcohol factor, I'm left thinking...never again. Too bad, really, because the tournament is a benefit.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by stir22

Alcohol factor.

About thirty years ago, I regularly worked a high school boys recreation league in a small town. There were only five teams in the league and they played on Thursday nights. With an odd number of teams, one team would play twice that night. Game #1: A vs. B. Game #2: C vs. D. Game # 3: E vs. A. Every week one team of high school age boys would have to hang around, usually in the parking lot, for about an hour between their two assigned games. Anybody want to guess what high school age boys are going to do with an hour to kill in a dark parking lot on a Thursday night? Lot's of technical fouls, ejections (we actually ejected players out of the gymnasium back then) and a few forfeits, in that third game. That was the first, and last, year that I worked that recreation league. Amazing what a little bit of CH3CH2OH will do to a player.

[grunewar]

I start my summer league in two weeks. Just got my schedule. I do the B16-18 yr olds and have reffed these kids since they were "wee little lads."

Usually a good league with no issues. Hope my luck continues this season!

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by grunewar

I have reffed these kids since they were "wee little lads." Usually a good league with no issues.

Obviously, you have set the correct tone.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by Adam

One coach thinks we're pathetic.

Parent from the other team says he's a college official and I need "to learn."

And I missed part of Father's Day for this.

Exactly why I no longer do summer games. It isn't worth the hassle.