Anyone read this month's Referee
 

Anyone read this month's Referee and the articles about referees being suspended for "bad calls". What do you think about this?

I assign and I would never suspend for judgement calls- rules kicked maybe.... but judgement, thats just not right.

If a team doesn't love you and lets me know no problem you don't have to see them, we have plenty of other games.

If you want to get suspended, miss a confirmed assignment, be out of uniform, don't return my calls/e-mails..... but judgement calls! PLEEEEEZE!&%?

In the levels I call, there are no repercussions for a missed call. Missed CALLS, however, can signal incompetence and incompetence does have consequences, including being let go.

We are assigned slots and don't use crews. In our area there are never really enough refs to go around (ALL games have a minumim of 5 assigned, anything medium level will get a full crew of 7).

Generally being unprepared, always missing equipment, or consistant errors of judgement and lack of basic understanding will keep you from officiating higher level games (being invited to the training for the next level certificate).

People loose their license for not showing up, or major offenses (a lot of our refs are also active players. An ejection in a game as player is a suspension as ref, 2 and your license is pulled - stuff like that).

James

REPLY: Making public comments about 'incorrect' judgment calls or making private comments that can easily make it into the public domain, i.e. speaking to a coach, don't serve any useful purpose other than to undermine the credibility of the official(s).

However, at these levels, you can bet that the supervisor will share his thoughts on these types of calls with the official himself. And if the official makes enough 'incorrect' judgment calls, disciplinary action--including possibly dismissal--is a consequence.