Shoes, Drinks, and Such

[BlitzkriegBob]

Okay refnrev, you have inspired me to ask some of the questions that have been keeping me awake at night. Well, maybe not keeping me awake but at least I've been curious about them.

1. Do you wear your uniform to your match, or do you change at the site?
2. If you wear your uniform, do you wear your shoes also or do you change shoes inside the gym?
3. Do you accept offers of bottled water from the host administration?

Since I'm in between volleyball and softball right now, I like to read other forums on occasion. I've compiled these questions from comments I've seen within the basketball forum. I understand that basketball officials work up a sweat from running up and down the court, so I can see why they like to compare the dressing rooms and shower facilities they run across. As for me, I have always changed at work before I left for my matches. I have only ever had one partner who came to the site in street clothes, asking for a dressing room. But then he is a basketball official and maybe that's just what he is used to.

My first year officiating, I always wore a regular pair of sneakers into the gym and then changed into my court shoes once I was at the scorers table. I've never had a partner who changed shoes. It occurred to me that anything I picked up outdoors could be dragged in regardless of the shoes I was wearing, so changing shoes stopped making sense. Of course, I make sure to (obsessively) wipe my feet as soon as I enter the school to make sure I'm not leaving a trail.

The topic of accepting complimentary drinks was a little amusing to me. Some basketball officials felt that opposing coaches could perceive that bottle of water as being a bribe, and therefore it should be declined. Those same officials always took their own drink or drank from water fountains. I personally never ask for a bottle of water, but if offered (which it is about 90% of the time) I almost always accept. A few partners I've had were not shy about raiding the concession stand after a match, but I've only taken water except when I'm working a tournament and might accept an offered hot dog or hamburger. I've never felt that a bottle of water is a bribe.

[refnrev]

1. Yep, I wear it to the games. I wear my IHSA officials jacket, too, in fact I even did that when doing Indiana games because I was licensed on both states..
2. Nope, I change shoes. I wear my black New Balance to the site and change into my Nike Air Monarchs. I did wear the NB to and in a game once, but I had sprayed the bottoms with 409 and had them squeaky clean before hand. But almost always I use the same shoes for B'ball and V'ball so they only see a court floor and nothing else.
3. Yep, or diet coke or pocorn or a snickers... whatever they offer.

The odd thing is that my mouth gets drier in VB than basketball because you blow the whistle so much more during match.

[FMadera]

1. It depends.

For HS and JUCO matches, I tend to try to save time and change in my office before leaving. If I can't do that, I'll change on site.

For NCAA matches, I almost always change on site (D-I matches would be *always*). Since I normally wear a tie to work, it's a great way for them to see me in professional dress, and it's a great way to make a good first impression.

2. Always, ALWAYS, change shoes. Don't track in dirt or wetness outside onto a floor where players might be diving, or might slip as a result.

3. I've never heard of accepting water as being a bribe. I would never turn down water, and I would happily accept if they offer me a chance to get something to eat, but I don't expect either.

[refnrev]

Originally Posted by FMadera

3. I've never heard of accepting water as being a bribe. I would never turn down water, and I would happily accept if they offer me a chance to get something to eat, but I don't expect either.

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Felix,
You need to work some of the schools I do. It was a usual occurance in Southern Illinois and Southern Indiana, and the same has been true around this part of Central Illinois, too.

[FMadera]

Originally Posted by refnrev

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Felix,
You need to work some of the schools I do. It was a usual occurance in Southern Illinois and Southern Indiana, and the same has been true around this part of Central Illinois, too.

What is a usual occurrence, them offering water, or it being thought of as a bribe?

I've rarely *not* been offered something to drink. It's pretty standard. I just meant that I never EXPECT anything from a school other than good sportsmanship and my check.

I've never, however, had a school imply that water was to be in exchange for favorable calls down the road.

[refnrev]

Actually, a guy on another forum asked if it was OK to take a bottle of water or not? If a bottle of water is a bribe, it better be one heck of a bottle of water!

[Texas Aggie]

I haven't worked volleyball in years, and only did it for 2 years while in college, but I do work hoops and football and can shed a little light on these issues in our world.

1. In hoops, I ALWAYS change at the site. The only exception is for pre-season scrimmages when the weather is still warm and we wear shorts, and even then, I still partially change at the site. In football, it depends: I always go dressed or partially dressed to all sub-varsity games and select varsity games (sites without dressing facilities). Most HS varsity games, we dress on site as a crew. For college games, dress on site as a crew. If I were still doing VB, I'd go dressed, but I live less than a mile from my office.

2. If I were still doing VB, I wouldn't bother wearing additional shoes. For hoops, I'd definitely change, as my BB shoes are for work (and hopefully, indoors) only. In football, I wear sliders in the car and put the shoes on at the site while still in or around the car.

3. Equating accepting drink and even food to a bribe is stupid. I wish everyone would provide it, and I think less of those that don't. In HS and junior high football, its virtually universal for us to get something to drink, even sports drinks. In hoops, it depends on the site. For college games in both, drinks and often food are the norm.

[refnrev]

[QUOTE=Texas Aggie]
2. If I were still doing VB, I wouldn't bother wearing additional shoes. For hoops, I'd definitely change, as my BB shoes are for work (and hopefully, indoors) only. In football, I wear sliders in the car and put the shoes on at the site while still in or around the car.
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Gotta disagree with you on this one, Aggie. The dirt, little stones, water, etc that you might track in could be a problem for the girls on the court. Bring your game shoes with you.