The Gym of Hell
 

Do you ever think a gym is cursed? I ask because there is a middle school about half an hour from me where I get a fair amount of games. I originally asked my assignor to consider assigning me some of their games because they are fairly close to my home. But every game I've worked so far.. Has been lets just say bad. I've been there 3 times for 9 games total. Each time I've been there I've T'd up a coach.. (1 home & 2 visiting). I've had parents that administrators have thrown out because they are screaming obscenities at my partners and I. There were at least 30-35 fouls in each of their freshman games. (I work 7th, 8th, and 9th grade games). The 7th and 8th grade games are usually fine but the freshman games get ridiculous. I've had to be escorted to my car all three days. This is my first year and I've never had games like these. Every other gym I work at, I get yelled at and I understand it's part of the job and I can deal with it.. but never this bad. I'm assigned another 3 games Monday. With a partner I've never met. But also a visiting team I've never dealt with... So what do you guys think?

I'd say see if you can get a veteran or a mentor to come watch your games there, or at least the frosh game. Sounds like how you're perceived might be part of the issue (it's a rite of passage for first year officials; MS people always seem to demand D1 officials and act shocked when they don't get them). So the veteran might be able to provide some pointers on court presence, dealings with coaches, etc. Good luck!

I have a soccer team that's like that for me. Every time I have them at home something bizarre happens. I had them three times this year and had a caution for simulation, an ejection for fighting and an ejection for serious foul play (although that one was on the visiting team).

I think these things turn into self-perpetuating prophecies if you aren't careful. Everyone gets nervous about "that referee" including you and that nervousness turns into problems perpetuating the situation.

At some venues....you can't fix stupid.

Maybe take a break from going there for a year or so...

I like the idea of getting observed, and finding out if the problem may lie with you. If not, then take a break from that school. I could see it discouraging you from officiating, and we don't want that.

If this is the only gym...the problem doesn't lie with him.

Yeah... that makes sense. :(

I've had instances where the parents are of a particular mindset as a group and tend to treat officials as punching bags. Kind of a mob mentality that tends to trickle down to the players and coaches. The reality for me is that it is usually in the wealthier suburbs where the parents tend to treat their kids as special and unique. "How dare a mean official come in and tell you that you're committing a foul". I would avoid the school for a season. Theses parents and coaches treat all officials the same. Eventually, your assigner will address it with the school.

As I metioned.. I work another 3 games there on Monday and I will report back how they go.

*Sounds good; pls report back.

That game site seems like a "bermuda triangle" for reffing games; the angst is apprantly ingrained in the culture of that gym and promoted by all participants--prolly not much you can do about it. I'm sure those parents/fans in their cloistered moments away from the gym joke amongst themselves about contriving new ways to "rile up things"--evidently they all enjoy it--coaches, parents/fans, players--and dare I say the gym monitor. Honestly, when I encounter such environments it makes me want to grind more 'against' them all (ok, I admitted it:D)

The thing I love is when fans/parents claim if you're Ting people up, it's "evidence" that you're not doing a good job in the first place. It's not the gym that's cursed; it's the choices of the people within it.

To echo the others, let your assignor know about this, and request a vet to observe.

There is no such thing as a "Curse" (DESPITE what Chicago Cubs fans think).

Just remember, "you promote what you permit"…simply penalize the inappropriate behavior (players, coaches, fans, etc).

I actually kind of believe in cursed gyms too....2 of them I can think of in this area where I just have plain bad luck in them.

One is an upper gym in a school 2 blocks from my house. Whatever reason whenever I have a game in this upper gym bad things happen. Usually it's with behavior in the lower level games with certain lower level coaches who disagree with how the game is being called. I punish behavior and don't think twice about it. Still issues persist.

Other gym is clear across town in another back gym area. Smaller gym. Had a lot of issues with teams in this gym. Same as the other gym penalize behavior yet issues remain....

What's funny is it's never in the main gym of these schools, where I haven't had any problems, and it's not just confined to the HS season, but also in summer league games I've had problems in both of these gyms...

Definitely a believer in the cursed gyms....