Career No-nos.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

I'd add another one that I've observed more frequently in the past 5 years:

Engage in inappropriate behavior outside the lines.

Pretty broad I know but I've seen the following:
Officials charged with DUI's
Officials arrested for marijuana posession
Officials charged with domestic violence
Officials banned from school grounds for various reasons
Officials arrested for assault
Officials charged with indecent exposure

I used to believe sports officials were some of the highest character people around. Maybe it's because I'm in Florida and this place attracts whackos, but it seems like I see these occur more often than would be expected. In every instance noted above, the offending official ended up losing out on their schedule or being asked to leave the association, whether or not they were found guilty or charges dismissed.

Which is total bullshit.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

I'd add another one that I've observed more frequently in the past 5 years:

Engage in inappropriate behavior outside the lines.

....
Officials arrested for assault
....

There's a pretty low standard for swearing out an assault charge, and it doesn't have to include any bodily contact.

You and Camron are comfortable in that ending an official's career?

[APG]

While I don't agree with JRut's assessment of the customs in JAR's area, I do agree with his sentiment towards going to a game dressed (this is assuming it's not off-season ball).

Come to game in uniform....or not?

From reading that thread, it would appear that JAR's area is not in line with what the majority in the country are doing. But as we've found out, things just tend to be done differently in JAR's area.

[APG]

Billy...multiple quote function is your friend.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by APG

Billy...multiple quote function is your friend.

I mean really!!!

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by APG

Billy...multiple quote function is your friend.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I mean really!!!

Check out the times. And the edit times. As I read through the different posts in the thread, scrolling back several times (I do read everybody's posts thoroughly), I came up with different ideas. Or ... I'm artificially increasing my post count to eventually became an esteemed member. Take your pick.

JRutledge: Nice list. Good points for discussion, especially since we're heading into the season. Thanks for sharing.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

9. Wearing jewelry.

In general, sure. I wear a wedding band as do most guys I work with who are married.

[jTheUmp]

I assume wedding bands are fine... I've never noticed if someone was wearing a wedding band (or not) when I've worked with them.

Wasn't a concern for me last year. Now that I'm married, I suppose I should pay attention to that kind of thing. (I know they don't care around here in football).

I've been told that facial hair is also a no-no. I used to have a full beard (neatly trimmed, about 1/2 an inch long), and had a few people make comments like "I'm not saying you need to shave it off... but..." Now the beard is strictly and off-season thing.

[scrounge]

One that must have happened, because our state assoc had to send out a couple emails saying it was strictly prohibited:

Engaging in social media with a student-athlete that was not a direct family member.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by scrounge

One that must have happened, because our state assoc had to send out a couple emails saying it was strictly prohibited:

Engaging in social media with a student-athlete that was not a direct family member.

Interesting... I do exactly that, although I do have a reason for it. She's also my daughter's pitching coach, and my daughter is not old enough for social media.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

Interesting... I do exactly that, although I do have a reason for it. She's also my daughter's pitching coach, and my daughter is not old enough for social media.

Yeah, that's interesting. Lots of officials are involved in their communities outside of officiating, and that often includes working with youth. Church youth leaders, for example, often have FB connections with the students.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Welpe

I wear a wedding band as do most guys I work with who are married.

I have no problem with wedding bands, however, due to safety reasons, back when I was married, it came off, and was strapped to my watch, in my bag, back in the locker room, during games.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Way back before I retired from teaching, and before I won my in independence with a divorce decree, I was passing the gymnasium on the way out of the school and noticed the boys team shooting around. I decided to show off and take a few shots with the guys, while I was wearing my wedding band. I was only half paying attention when one of my students passed me the ball and caught the pass with my fingers extended, which jammed the fingers. I woke up the next morning with a very swollen ring finger. I showed the injury to the school nurse as soon as I got to school. The wedding band was acting like tourniquet, cutting off circulation to the finger, and because of the swelling, we couldn't get the ring off. We were on our way to the metal shop to get the ring cut off, but decided to stop by the cafeteria kitchen first. Luckily, a little butter on my finger helped to get the ring off.

[Stat-Man]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

This was from a Referee Magazine article. I wanted to see if some disagreed or had comments on any of them. The article was more elaborate, but I wanted to see what people felt here. I have an issue with a couple of these on some level, but not by much.

9. Wearing jewelry.
10. Wearing inappropriate clothes to the game.
11. Arriving at game already dressed.

I had a partner this winter who told me I couldn't wear my medic alert bracelet. I reminded him that if we have to follow the same rules as players (his own words), I'd be permitted to tape it down, which I did for my MS games today. When my renewal comes up, I might look into the necklace-based version now that I'm officiating.

As for changing at a game site:

• HS JV - Change on-site.
• HS 9th Grade - If I can arrive in enough time, I'll change on-site. Otherwise, I'll wear my pants and change into my stripes and shoes on-site.
• MS/CYO - Most schools around here have no facilities for officials, so I go fully dressed aside from shoes, which I change into on-site.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Stat-Man

I had a partner this winter who told me I couldn't wear my medic alert bracelet. I reminded him that if we have to follow the same rules as players (his own words), I'd be permitted to tape it down, which I did for my MS games today. When my renewal comes up, I might look into the necklace-based version now that I'm officiating.

First of all that is just plain stupid. No common sense.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Stat-Man

I had a partner this winter who told me I couldn't wear my medic alert bracelet.

He's a dick head. Be sure to tell him that BillyMac said so.

Originally Posted by Stat-Man

I might look into the necklace-based version now that I'm officiating.

This should do the trick:

http://silverliningjewels.ca/nylon-m...wristband.html