Career No-nos.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

WTF??

Coming from the guy who - for years and years - has used the "In my area, we do..." argument to justify his interpretations of things??

That is just downright hilarious.

Almost all the time when I have talked about "In my area..." I was talking about assignments, association structure and what is required to be licensed. This is not in that category AT ALL!!!! So if I want to work the Mid-Suburban or North Suburban Conferences, there are no LOAs that is associated with those conferences. And if the assignors tried to make that requirement, they probably would have a harder time to get officials to work for them or the schools would see an entirely different group working their post season contests from what they saw in the regular season. It does not go over well here to never see playoff officials in regular season tournaments or conference games.

What you do professionally seems to be the same across the country for the most part. Are there things like the type of shirt you wear or the specific pants you wear might vary? Of course there are. There are over 5000 officials in the State of Illinois in basketball alone, I think there are going to be some differences in attitudes of all those individuals. Just under 200 assignments of that number will work the post season in a particular class and some officials work across classes in a given year. But there are common threads across those individuals that are assigned games and this would be one of them.

Yes, I think it looks unprofessional to go to a game dressed. The author of the list I posted basically said that, "It looks like you are going to a game from another game or about to leave to work another game." And other than JAR, I have never heard that was acceptable. Even in our area we have officials that do this, but when opportunities come open, many of those guys find themselves left out and some wonder why that is the case.

We are not talking about a mechanic where we blow the whistle or not blow the whistle on a throw-in. We are not talking about when you go to the scorer's table before the game and what you say in the captain's meeting. We are not talking about who calls a foul to the basket and how we communicate the ball going in the basket on the foul. Those are things you do based off of your "area." To me this is not one of them. Even if I did not have a specific place to dress, I am dressing somewhere before and after the damn game, PERIOD!!! And if a administrator from a school thinks that makes me a PITA, then I will be a PITA because I am not going to a game dressed. I might not be coming from a place where I can get dressed before the game. And I would not give a damn what others thought at the school, I am not coming dressed and getting my uniform soiled before the game by weather or something in the elements and then going to work that game with a mud stain or drink stain on my pants or shirt. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN with me, ANYWHERE!!!! Just like I am not going to a date or a job interview in jeans and a T-shirt, I am not working a game doing the same. I do not give a darn what everyone else does. And if I am with a woman that thinks that is acceptable, then I would not want to be with her in the first place.

Peace

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

"It looks like you are going to a game from another game or about to leave to work another game."

Not lately and not often, but I've done that too.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by just another ref

Not lately and not often, but I've done that too.

We have all done it on some level. It does not mean I have to advertise it to everyone either.

Peace

[BatteryPowered]

In my area we are specifically told it is better to get dressed at the game site. For this reason, on days where I have a game I put a sports coat in my car. I work for a steel manufacturing company and often need to go into the production area...therefore I wear jeans. It just looks nicer and comes across better with the sports coat.

As for jewelry, we are told it is acceptable to wear a wedding band during the game. I don't. Been married 36 years and the wife is secure enough for me to go sans ring for a few hours...and it isn't like any female at the game is going to come up and hit on me. Besides, players cannot wear them so I think we should not.

I do have to figure our how I am going to address my medic alert bracelet. I know I can tape it down with only the important part visible. I am looking for one that is part of a sweat band (just cannot seem to find them again). I guess I could make my partner(s) aware of the reason and not wear it during games...but don't really like that option because if something does happen (even if it is remote) they may not remember in all the commotion.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by BatteryPowered

I do have to figure our how I am going to address my medic alert bracelet. I know I can tape it down with only the important part visible. I am looking for one that is part of a sweat band (just cannot seem to find them again). I guess I could make my partner(s) aware of the reason and not wear it during games...but don't really like that option because if something does happen (even if it is remote) they may not remember in all the commotion.

I believe they make necklace based medic alert tags. You could easily wear one of those that was just below the collar of the shirt. I know it isn't quite as visible but I would hope that medics are trained to look in both places if they're going to look at all.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BatteryPowered

I do have to figure our how I am going to address my medic alert bracelet.

I'll figure it out for you. Wear it. Period. Your life is more important than some uniform directive from your association. If anyone criticizes you for wearing it, you can tell them that BillyMac says that they're a dick head. That's right. A dick head. Can I be more clear? I've got your back brother (or sister).

From my local board guidelines:

When arriving at a game site, people immediately judge you by your appearance. Make a good first impression by coming to game sites dressed professionally in business casual attire. Consider purchasing a sweater, pullover, or vest, with an IAABO logo, or a Little Corner of Connecticut board logo. Common sense dictates that some afternoon assignments may require officials to arrive in uniform, or in work clothes. Middle school sites may lack secure dressing areas, and may not have shower facilities available.

For most high school games, where secure dressing areas, and showers, are available, officials should not come dressed in uniform, and should not come dressed in sneakers, work boots, jeans, T-shirts, etc. It looks bad, and reflects poorly on our Little Corner of Connecticut board. On court, the official’s uniform should be clean, pants pressed, all black shoes shined, jacket unwrinkled, and the official should be well groomed. Officials should shower after the game and should not leave wearing a uniform. Doing so could give the impression that the official wants to “get in, get out, and get paid”, which is not the impression that Little Corner of Connecticut board officials want to present. Officials should leave the game site together. Even in this day in age when everyone has a cell phone, and many have some type of “road assistance”, it’s not fun sitting in a cold car, in a lonely parking lot, with a dead battery, or a flat tire, waiting for help to arrive.

Originally Posted by just another ref

11. If everybody else where you are does it, it must be all right.

Which is not only true for #11, but for almost anything in officiating.

"All politics is local." (Former Speaker of the U.S. House Tip O'Neill, 1935)

"The siesto, or afternoon's nap of Italy, my most dear and reverend Father, would not have alarmed you so much, if you had recollected, that when we are at Rome, we should do as the Romans do." (Pope Clement XIV, 1777)

Hey just another ref: Why didn't you make this post in my "belt" thread? I was pinned down. No way out. I could have used some backup.

Originally Posted by just another ref

98% of the officials here come to the game dressed and ready to work.

Wow. It's a 180° turn here in my little corner of Connecticut. In high school games, 98% come in street clothes, change into their uniform, shower after the game, and get back into their street clothes. It's a much lower percentage in middle school game. Most middle schools around here don't have dressing facilities for officials. For recreation, travel, AAU, etc. 99.9% come in their uniform, ready to go.

Originally Posted by just another ref

If everybody else where you are does it, it must be all right.

Wait a minute? I recall my mother saying something about everybody jumping off the Empire State Building. It was fifty years ago. What was it that she told me?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BatteryPowered

Besides, players cannot wear them so I think we should not.

I've heard this mantra before, and I just don't buy it. We wear other things players aren't allowed to wear. We aren't players, we don't have the same uniform requirements. At some levels, players are allowed to wear far more than the officials are.

And frankly, there's no way I would ask a partner to tape down a medic alert bracelet. It's just pointless. When we start going for rebounds and playing defense, then I'll buy into the idea that we should be adhering to the same jewelry standards as the players.

As it is, for us, wedding rings and medical alert stuff are fine. Earrings, out. Nose rings, out.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by Adam

When we start going for rebounds and playing defense, then I'll buy into the idea that we should be adhering to the same jewelry standards as the players.

As it is, for us, wedding rings and medical alert stuff are fine. Earrings, out. Nose rings, out.

Agreed. I'm not too concerned with getting my wedding ring tangled in the net, caught on the rim, or intertwined in a uniform.

I take off my watch (when in Rome), but that's as far as it goes, as that's what I've been instructed to do as local policy.

[scrounge]

Ohio lists it out in their Officials Handbook....pretty much every sport has this blurb:

Jewelry shall not be worn except for a wedding band and/or a medical alert necklace or bracelet. A religious medallion which is not visible is permitted. A watch is permitted only when an official has a duty for timing during the contest.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by grunewar

I'm not too concerned with getting my wedding ring tangled in the net, caught on the rim, or intertwined in a uniform.

How about this scenario, when a player tosses the ball to you? It can happen.

Way back before I retired from teaching, and before my divorce, 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 I 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.

[RookieDude]

Originally Posted by Adam

As it is, for us, wedding rings and medical alert stuff are fine. Earrings, out. Nose rings, out.

I agree Adam...I had a earring years ago...but, never wore it while I officiated. I do, however, wear my simple gold wedding band.

You stated "earrings out". Do you actually tell your partners, in no uncertain terms, not to wear the earring(s)? Or do you do as I do, with the ONE varsity official that we have that continues to wear his earrings? Which is simply, "Hey Mike, you still wearing those earrings? It must be a soccer thing...." (he officiates soccer also) I kid with him...but, there is "a little truth in all kidding".

Our Assignor doesn't make a big deal out of it (Mr. Earring is rated in the top 25% of our association and got 19 Varsity games last year) so even though I am on the board...I don't make a huge deal out of it. Mr. Earring doesn't do State or playoff games.

I dunno...now that I think about it...wearing an earring might be right up there with wearing a belt!

[SCalScoreKeeper]

Here our people mostly come dressed to the site.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by RookieDude

I agree Adam...I had a earring years ago...but, never wore it while I officiated. I do, however, wear my simple gold wedding band.

You stated "earrings out". Do you actually tell your partners, in no uncertain terms, not to wear the earring(s)? Or do you do as I do, with the ONE varsity official that we have that continues to wear his earrings? Which is simply, "Hey Mike, you still wearing those earrings? It must be a soccer thing...." (he officiates soccer also) I kid with him...but, there is "a little truth in all kidding".

Actually, I've only had to bring it up once, and it was a "Hey, Steve, don't forget to take your earrings out."

"Thanks, Adam."

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by RookieDude

Mr. Earring is rated in the top 25% of our association and got 19 Varsity games last year.

Odd? Once again, an example of "When in Rome ...". Here in my little corner of Connecticut, we traditionally guard our ranking, and number of games assigned, like they're the Royal Crown Jewels. All of us speak of our ranking, and number of games assigned, in cryptic terms ("I moved up a few spots.", "I like my schedule this season.", "I'm working three, or four, times a week.", etc.). I'm not saying it's right. I'm not saying it's wrong. I'm not sure about the origin of this "oral tradition", passed down from generation, to generation (probably has to do with collegial ratings), but that's they way we've been rolling around here for all of my thirty-two years, and I guarantee that it goes back a lot longer than that. If we tell colleagues our specific ranking, or the specific number of games, or the level of the games, that we got, then we have to kill them.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by RookieDude

I dunno...now that I think about it...wearing an earring might be right up there with wearing a belt!

I can respond in one of two ways on this:

1) Shut up.

2) I agree 100%. It's one of those "When in Rome ..." local guidelines.

You chose. Pick your poison.