Lack of effort

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

On the other hand, in my little corner of Connecticut, when a high school official shows up in uniform, and doesn't shower after a game, but just bolts out the door, that's a good indication that that official isn't doing what he is supposed do, and may be a sign that there may be other faults.

Are you saying that whether to shower or not after a game is a point of discussion in your area?

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by just another ref

Are you saying that whether to shower or not after a game is a point of discussion in your area?

Yes. Our local board, as well as our assignment commissioner, do not want officials to give the appearance that we get in, get out, and get paid (for high school games where there are locker room, and shower facilities, available, which is about ninety-five percent of the seventy high schools that we service).

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by just another ref

Are you saying that whether to shower or not after a game is a point of discussion in your area?

It is certainly a discussion point here. Most officials want the ability to shower after the game. You come from work or you going somewhere immediately after the game, taking a shower is often expected and if it is not available many will be upset. One reason we for the most part do not come dressed to games.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

It is certainly a discussion point here.

Showers, no uniforms, business casual street clothes, etc. really didn't become an issue here until we merged with the last non-IAABO board in Connecticut a few years ago. Their "culture" was to show up in uniform, not shower, and high tail it out of the school right after the game, while still in uniform.

That was fine for their old local non-IAABO board (When in Rome ...), but it didn't fly on our local IAABO board. We've always tried to act, and dress, professionally, and to not demonstrate a get in, get out, and get paid attitude. These new guys got a lot of low peer ratings until they eventually figured out the existing (for a long time) culture of our local IAABO board. We told them, they just didn't believe us, i.e. that appearance, on, and off, the court, would impact their assignments.

[just another ref]

This is the weirdest one yet. Low rating for leaving when the game is over.

jmo

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by just another ref

This is the weirdest one yet. Low rating for leaving when the game is over.

It gets worse that that. Junior varsity officials are expected to stay for at least one half of the varsity game. Most, especially if they want to move up quickly stay for entire game. Back in the day, I did.

Again, from a recent local board newsletter:

The four officials at a high school game site should work together as a team. Varsity officials should arrive at the game site no later than the beginning of the second period of the junior varsity game. Junior varsity officials should stay and observe the varsity game until at least halftime of the varsity game in order to learn by watching experienced officials. Many varsity officials try to show up for the beginning of the junior varsity game, and many junior varsity officials will often stay to observe the entire varsity game. The overlap will insure that an official is available if one of the officials at the site becomes ill, or injured. The local board expects veteran officials to observe and offer constructive appraisals, with specific suggestions, to less experienced officials. The local board expects less experienced officials to seek out, and ask for input, from more experienced officials. Partners are expected to offer constructive appraisals to each other. "So? What did you see out there?” is an easy way to start a post-game conversation.

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

It gets worse that that. Junior varsity officials are expected to stay for at least one half of the varsity game. Most, especially if they want to move up quickly stay for entire game. Back in the day, I did.

Again, from a recent local board newsletter:

The four officials at a high school game site should work together as a team. Varsity officials should arrive at the game site no later than the beginning of the second period of the junior varsity game. Junior varsity officials should stay and observe the varsity game until at least halftime of the varsity game in order to learn by watching experienced officials. Many varsity officials try to show up for the beginning of the junior varsity game, and many junior varsity officials will often stay to observe the entire varsity game. The overlap will insure that an official is available if one of the officials at the site becomes ill, or injured. The local board expects veteran officials to observe and offer constructive appraisals, with specific suggestions, to less experienced officials. The local board expects less experienced officials to seek out, and ask for input, from more experienced officials. Partners are expected to offer constructive appraisals to each other. "So? What did you see out there?” is an easy way to start a post-game conversation.

This is not worse. All this makes perfect sense. But if my game is the last game, what more is there for me to do. For the record, there are showers available to us in pretty much 0% of the places we go.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by just another ref

For the record, there are showers available to us in pretty much 0% of the places we go.

And, also for the record, I would not expect you to take a shower.

Why the geographic difference? We have showers, and secure changing areas, available to us in about 95% of the high schools we service. It's another story for middle school games, were we seldom have a secure changing area, and almost never have an available shower, so we come to the game in uniform, an accepted practice on our local board, as well as in our Catholic middle school games. Last night was the first time in several years that I was not able to shower after a high school game. It was a new "charter" high school, and I was not pleased to ride home in a sweaty uniform.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by just another ref

This is the weirdest one yet. Low rating for leaving when the game is over.

No shower? Please don't sit next to me at the local Outback, Applebee's, TGIF's, Ruby Tuesday's, etc., on a Friday night after the games as we all tell our war stories. Even if I wasn't stopping for an adult beverage after the game, there's no way that I want to sit in sweaty uniform on the long ride home after the game.

[BillyMac]

From a recent local board newsletter:

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 local 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 the local 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 local 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 “roadside 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.

[deecee]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

From a recent local board newsletter:

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 local 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 the local 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 local 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 “roadside 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.

It's funny because I have seen many sharply dressed officials who didn't know a whistle from a leaf blower. I hate "perception" but I do like "reality". I agree your game uniform should be nice, and you shouldn't show up looking like a schlep, but I am a proponent for officials being rated and judged based on their ability to officiate.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by deecee

It's funny because I have seen many sharply dressed officials who didn't know a whistle from a leaf blower. I hate "perception" but I do like "reality". I agree your game uniform should be nice, and you shouldn't show up looking like a schlep, but I am a proponent for officials being rated and judged based on their ability to officiate.

Only 10% of the peer ratings is appearance, and a large part of that is being in decent shape. This is what we look for in that 10%:

1) Official is in physical condition and exhibits hustle and energy through the game.
2) Official’s uniform and overall appearance is neat, clean and well kept.