Travesty or Travel...

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

Honestly, Jeff - this is really out of place. On one hand (in one post), you say you don't have to worry about NBA or 3rd grade games, and on the other (in the very next post), you chide the way people who DO work those games handle such games. You can't tell us your opinion doesn't matter because you don't have to walk in these shoes, and then insist on an opinion that those who are walking in those shoes should do things differently.

It is out of line because someone makes a straw man argument about the NBA to the lowest level?

Sorry, but you lost me there.

And at the HS level and college level, this would not be much of an issue in my experience.

Peace

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

It is out of line because someone makes a straw man argument about the NBA to the lowest level?

No ... his statement was also meaningless.

And at the HS level and college level, this would not be much of an issue in my experience.

Of course it wouldn't - no one's saying it would.

[JRutledge]

MD,

I do not know what you want me to say. I cannot stand when people try to play, "It is about the kids" card as if that is why we all do this. I do not officiate for the kids, I officiate for the game. I love the game and the kids happened to be there, but not the reason I leave my house. Most of the time I will not see most of the kids ever again. And it would be unethical or unprofessional to have a relationship beyond working the game for the most part. I just think people need to stop saying this as they appear to not know what they really mean when they make this statement.

Peace

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

MD,

I do not know what you want me to say.

Not really asking you to say anything, tbh. More the opposite, actually.

I cannot stand when people try to play, "It is about the kids" card as if that is why we all do this. I do not officiate for the kids, I officiate for the game.

That's perfectly fine, and completely appropriate at the level you officiate.

Just don't extend that to the levels that OTHER people are working - such as the level discussed in this thread - and then get on people when they DO officiate "for the kids", where it's appropriate. I promise you that if they all called 3rd grade games (or even 7th/8th B-level games) with the same level of scrutiny you do for your games - they would chase away a lot of players - perhaps even some that would have otherwise eventually become good players at your level. And YOUR game would then suffer. Lower level games ARE "for the kids" - and those kids become your players eventually.