Ahhh...the joys of (almost) summer ball

[JetMetFan]

Originally Posted by Adam

Here, in another IAABO state, IAABO patches are required for HS games (all levels). Below that, not so much, and I tend to simply match up with what my partner is wearing. Some guys put their IAABO shirts away for the summer, some don't. There is one local middle school group that does not require IAABO certification. I personally don't care, but my experience tells me it's better to match for the game.

If one guy has a patch and the other doesn't, it opens up one of you as a target in that game.

I'm not sure about the "target" part of things but I know what I was taught: Match what your partner is wearing. The only situation where I'm lax on that is at camps since you never know what the other folks will have with them.

The way they put it to us: "If it's an outdoor summer game and your partner only has long pants, you put on long pants...then cuss out your partner at halftime for making you sweat so much!"

[Zoochy]

What if you summer partner is old school and only has a shirt with a collar?
Or a pocket?

[Rich]

I don't have a patch on a single shirt that I own.

You all should be jealous - it's the best system out there.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Zoochy

What if you summer partner is old school and only has a shirt with a collar? Or a pocket?

How about ... wait for it ... a belt?

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Rich

I don't have a patch on a single shirt that I own.

You all should be jealous - it's the best system out there.

patches aren't a problem for me, what would be a problem is trying to contract games out two years in advance.

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

patches aren't a problem for me, what would be a problem is trying to contract games out two years in advance.

I got offered games for 2017, 2018, and 2019 this year. I declined them all.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by AremRed

I got offered games for 2017, 2018, and 2019 this year. I declined them all.

That is just silly, not that you declined them, but that they are even looking to schedule officials that far out. 3-4 months should be more than enough for just about anything.

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

That is just silly, not that you declined them, but that they are even looking to schedule officials that far out. 3-4 months should be more than enough for just about anything.

Totally agree. I think this is a carryover from football, where I hear crews are being scheduled out even further than that.

Games should be scheduled after the previous season ends, not 2+ years out.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by AremRed

Totally agree. I think this is a carryover from football, where I hear crews are being scheduled out even further than that.

Games should be scheduled after the previous season ends, not 2+ years out.

Officials for every sport here, and perhaps across the state, is scheduled only in the weeks and months prior to the game. I think the earliest might be 2-3 months before the game. There just is no reason to go beyond that. Booking earlier just means that there will be more changes to deal with.

[JetMetFan]

Some NJ assignors do a year in advance, which is among the reasons I don't really work HS ball in NJ. I figure if I can get a college schedule in September for games starting in November there's no reason a HS needs to schedule me 12 months in advance.

[JetMetFan]

Originally Posted by Zoochy

What if you summer partner is old school and only has a shirt with a collar?
Or a pocket?

Originally Posted by BillyMac

How about ... wait for it ... a belt?

Hey, even I have my limits

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by AremRed

I got offered games for 2017, 2018, and 2019 this year. I declined them all.

At my level of "experience" (how's that for a euphemism), I could be dead by 2019. Am I right Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.?

[Amesman]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

At my level of "experience" (how's that for a euphemism), I could be dead by 2019. Am I right Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.?

"Andre Dawson has a bruised knee and is listed as day-to-day (pause). Aren't we all?" — Vin Scully (1991)

[Adam]

Originally Posted by JetMetFan

I'm not sure about the "target" part of things but I know what I was taught: Match what your partner is wearing. The only situation where I'm lax on that is at camps since you never know what the other folks will have with them.

The way they put it to us: "If it's an outdoor summer game and your partner only has long pants, you put on long pants...then cuss out your partner at halftime for making you sweat so much!"

The "target" comment comes from experience. It's not every game, but I've noticed that one partner or the other can get all the "abuse" when only one has the IAABO patch on.

Either you're perceived as the rookie who needs to "go to school", or you're the veteran who needs to take care of his partner.

I learned it was just easier to match.