Politics of Basketball

[Sharpshooternes]

Originally Posted by The_Rookie

Recently my association held elections for officers and board members and all the candidates had one common theme: THEY WERE ANGRY

The feelings of resentment and feeling left out of the "BIG GAMES" bubbled over and were put out in the open for all to hear! I have heard private complaining and whispers over the years but nothing so public and with so much fire..words like corruption and favortism were tossed around loosely.

Your thoughts on how much these type of feelings exists in your world? Why do people get so riled up over high school basketball?

Rookie, I am curious to find out what happens throughout the next few weeks/ season with your elections, association, and if any changes happen. I think the most frustrating part for me is going to at least 2 camps every summer, studying the crap out of the rule book, case book, and official's manual, and then realize that the varsity officials are only required to attend camp once every three years, and realize that they don't know that the ball is dead after a made basket even though the clock is running and that simultaneous violations on a free throw goes to the arrow and such, yet they maintain their same varsity assignments, even though they probably haven't cracked a rule book in years. That is a really long sentence.

Our 4 main evaluators don't officiate anymore and I have a lot of respect for them, but I feel like they should be putting the varsity guys under the same scrutiny as any other official. Let the dead wood drift away and let the motivated, dedicated, respect for the game, growth officials fill in those spots. I think it is better for the game, better for the reputation of the association, and just helps improve the game all around. Then when these really motivated guys get to where they want to go, I think they would be more inclined to give back and help other nwere like minded officials to move up and improve. Just my 2 or 3 cents.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Sharpshooternes

... should be putting the varsity guys under the same scrutiny as any other official. Let the dead wood drift away and let the motivated, dedicated, respect for the game, growth officials fill in those spots. I think it is better for the game, better for the reputation of the association, and just helps improve the game all around.

Here, in my little corner of Connecticut, we have a rating system (80% peer evaluations), and a ranking system, that allows for everyone, varsity included, to move both up, and down.

As our former assignment commissioner used to say, "Being a varsity basketball official isn't the same as being the Pope, or a Supreme Court Justice".

"Be nice to people on your way up because you meet them on your way down." (Jimmy Durante)

[JRutledge]

Once again I feel so blessed that I do not have to deal with this kind of crap.

Peace

[JetMetFan]

Billy brings up something I was thinking about (scary, I know). Is there a system in place where officials rate one another? We don't have one in NYC and I know I've heard the grumbling but from what I've seen on the public school side of things those who should move up seem to be moving up.

Things are different in the Catholic/Private schools. I know more than a few officials - and have heard of many others - who work NCAAM games but haven't been put on BV level in the NYC Catholic/Private schools. Many have given up those leagues as a result.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by JetMetFan

Billy brings up something I was thinking about (scary, I know). Is there a system in place where officials rate one another? We don't have one in NYC and I know I've heard the grumbling but from what I've seen on the public school side of things those who should move up seem to be moving up.

We did until this year. Certified officials (the highest classification out of 3 levels) were allowed to rate each official they worked with twice in a season. Well because of the way it was done by many trying to get an advantage, they took that ability away before this school year. Now all our ratings are based on coaches for varsity contests. There are other things considered for playoffs and an administrator with the IHSA makes all post season assignments. And they can consider other things outside of our overall Power Rating system.

Peace

[Welpe]

I posted my woes on here last season and it lead to a pretty decent discussion on the matter. Incidentally, the largest chapter in this area has gone from one of the most disorganized cluster youknowwhats to one of the better organized ones. A lot of that had to do with the voting in of new leadership and the willingness of the membership to improve it.

The politics will eat you up if you let it. I've come to grips with that in basketball...I'm still getting there with football.

Work on what you can control. Contribute what you can and work to make changes. Grand sweeping changes are rare, gradual changes in direction are much more common and feasible. You have to have patience to play the game if that's what you want to do.

Rut is also dead on. This isn't a basketball thing. I have seen similar things in other organizations not having anything to do with officiating.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Welpe

I posted my woes on here last season and it lead to a pretty decent discussion on the matter. Incidentally, the largest chapter in this area has gone from one of the most disorganized cluster youknowwhats to one of the better organized ones. A lot of that had to do with the voting in of new leadership and the willingness of the membership to improve it.
...

Exactly. An officiating association isn't North Korea. Changes can be, and should be, made when things aren't right. It's not always about "getting better games" as some folks seem to be fixated on as the only reason people are ever unhappy.

[The_Rookie]

[QUOTE=Sharpshooternes;909968]Rookie, I am curious to find out what happens throughout the next few weeks/ season with your elections, association, and if any changes happen.

Those who were complaining the loudest were NOT elected to the Board...I am sure this will add fuel to the fire. I will report back on further developments