Former Referrees in booth

[ASA/NYSSOBLUE]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

And the NFL has a war room that listens to these guys and contacts them when they go off on a tangent. So what someone might think is knowledge, the league is telling them what the ruling is and it often shuts them up. MLB and the NBA do no such thing. They keep people thinking something is wrong because the dumbazz announcer keeps talking about things they know nothing about then when we get into our games you hear the same dumb crap from fans that thinks these guys on TV are correct. You cannot even have a conversation with many fans because they are so "educated" about what officials do and do not do on the field or court.

Peace

To put this is perspective, I help out out every year at our high school softball umpire groups new officials clinic - it is always fun to hear guys (and gals) who have played for years, and think they know the rules, after about two sessions. Even people who have COACHED - they all start going, "Man, you guys need to know a LOT", "I didn't know u had to know that", etc, etc.... and this is before we start getting into the HEAVY mechanics.

[HLin NC]

The first ejection of a coach I ever had was on an assistant coach who came on to the field and kicked my WH's flag. The R had called a USC on the HC and was conferring with the U when the AC ran out on the field and kicked it.

What came back to my mind when the Charger player kicked the flag was Bart Scott of the Ravens picking up and tossing a flag vs. the Patriots a season or two back. I don't recall those announcers pitching a hissy over what a bad call it was.

[chymechowder]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

The first ejection of a coach I ever had was on an assistant coach who came on to the field and kicked my WH's flag. The R had called a USC on the HC and was conferring with the U when the AC ran out on the field and kicked it.

What came back to my mind when the Charger player kicked the flag was Bart Scott of the Ravens picking up and tossing a flag vs. the Patriots a season or two back. I don't recall those announcers pitching a hissy over what a bad call it was.

Did you guys march off 30 yards in penalties?

[HLin NC]

No- the usc's came in the interval between A scoring and the try so it was half the distance from the 3/4 yard line.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by ASA/NYSSOBLUE

To put this is perspective, I help out out every year at our high school softball umpire groups new officials clinic - it is always fun to hear guys (and gals) who have played for years, and think they know the rules, after about two sessions. Even people who have COACHED - they all start going, "Man, you guys need to know a LOT", "I didn't know u had to know that", etc, etc.... and this is before we start getting into the HEAVY mechanics.

I teach a basketball class in the fall and I get a few former coaches and several former players. They are always surprised how hard this is and what they did not know and thought they know. So that is very common and not surprising. But the reality is when you play or coach, there are many rules you never see or think about. It is not surprising they are clueless when those that come to the dark side actually have to learn the rules.

Peace

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

But the reality is when you play or coach, there are many rules you never see or think about. It is not surprising they are clueless when those that come to the dark side actually have to learn the rules. Peace

That former players, or coaches, don't understand many of the rules they have never had any opportunity to be confronted with is clearly not surprising. What always baffles me is why so many, are so quick and so adamant, to mouth off so loudly about so many things they, themselves, should clearly understand they have absolutely no solid understanding of.

[golfnref]

Speaking of clueless, I have this favorite joke:

During a baseball game, the coach asked one of his young players, "Do you understand what cooperation is? What a team is?"
The boy nodded.
"Do you understand that what matters is whether we win together as a team?"
The boy nodded.
"So," the coach continued, "when a strike is called, or you are out at first, you don't argue or curse or attack the umpire. Do you understand all that?"
Again the boy nodded.
"Good. Now go over there and explain it to your father."