Listen i have been known to yell at officials and complain about them. However, i want to defend them somewhat in this thread. Part of the problem in today's game is the way that the game is taught. In the past you had teams that passed the ball and ran offense and let the offense create a shot opportunity. This allowed for time to pass between whistles. In today's game EVERYONE is lowering their head and driving to the basket. This causes a lot more contact and a lot more tough calls on either block/charge/ or no call. Honestly, the referees could blow their whistle every position. Then we would all be complaining that they don't let the players play.

Here's what I think and it's just my opinion...And I do know the rules of the game.

 

There aren't enough competent officials. In a 3 man crew you are lucky if 2 of them do a good job. And the 3rd official can easily make a crew look bad.

 

We've all seen officials blow the whistle almost And I think there is way too much inconsistency. You can kill one another on rebounds but some officials call touches on the perimeter. And there is way too much anticipation of a foul. before the actual play takes place. I think athletes are so much better these days that it is harder for older officials to keep up.

 

When I see a young lady that called her first ever game 2.5 years ago in a freshman game (I know because she had our game and she struggled a lot) already calling at the varsity level that tells me there isn't enough qualified officials.

 

This has been my complaint through the MS season up here. It's rugby under the basket but you cant make any contact up top. I'm not talking about two hands or re-directing a ball handler with contact either.

:popcorn:

 

Officiating Information | Kentucky High School Athletic Association

 

Been there, done that. As a coach now that literally takes more time than my full time job, referring is out of the question. However, if I ever give it up it may just be my new PAID past time during the winter.

 

Also as a former official I feel I can be a little more critical...and or forgiving if the situation calls for it...because I have done it. What drives me nuts are the guys who are just bad officials, and they seem ok with it and don't seem to do anything to work at it to get better.

Just be consistent. When you're not consistent; that's when I have a problem. In the 5th region; there are certain teams that are gonna get a pass. It's well known. But at the very least be consistent. If something is a foul on one end; let it be a foul on the other end.

The only call officials make that bugs me is when a player catches the ball and makes a jab step in one motion and is called for a travel. I'm sure it's because the pivot foot is dragging a little and the refs are making the right call, I'm just unable to to see that from the stands and watching the NBA has numbed me to violations of that nature.

 

Otherwise, the officials have done a fantastic job.

 

They're like the minor league affiliate of police officers in the sense that when they're doing their job, someone is being penalized, and no matter how by the book they are, it's their fault a player wasn't taught that defending straight up includes the fingers.

Are there calls we think are bad.....HELL YES, but I'll NEVER EVER voice my displeasure, cause when it's all said and done it would be a cold day in hell before I got out there and did their job.

I'm looking forward to my next career as a HS official. I'll be throwing most of you out of games for the next 15 years or so.

I think by and large, it is really good in the 9th and 10th. That said, I've seen games where the officiating is really bad (the CovCath game at Scott comes to mind), but it stands out when it is the case, which tells me how good it generally is besides that.

 

I'd say, in general, I leave most games having questioned 1 or 2 calls, which in the grand scheme, tells you just how good they typically are.

I think by and large, it is really good in the 9th and 10th. That said, I've seen games where the officiating is really bad (the CovCath game at Scott comes to mind), but it stands out when it is the case, which tells me how good it generally is besides that.

 

I'd say, in general, I leave most games having questioned 1 or 2 calls, which in the grand scheme, tells you just how good they typically are.

 

Agree on all points.

(the CovCath game at Scott comes to mind)

 

I still laugh out loud at the moment from that game where there was a MAJOR collision, all of the players stop, no whistle comes, Andy Flood just picks up the ball and lays it in, and they wave it off, go side-out, and announce "Inadvertent Whistle". Umm...there was, in fact, NO WHISTLE, much less one that was inadvertent. Comical.

Here's what I think and it's just my opinion...And I do know the rules of the game.

 

There aren't enough competent officials. In a 3 man crew you are lucky if 2 of them do a good job. And the 3rd official can easily make a crew look bad.

 

And I think there is way too much inconsistency. You can kill one another on rebounds but some officials call touches on the perimeter. And there is way too much anticipation of a foul. We've all seen officials blow the whistle almost before the actual play takes place. I think athletes are so much better these days that it is harder for older officials to keep up.

 

When I see a young lady that called her first ever game 2.5 years ago in a freshman game (I know because she had our game and she struggled a lot) already calling at the varsity level that tells me there isn't enough qualified officials.

 

And the occasional converse of this. Whistle doesn't blow until well after the basket is missed.

 

But I'm with Mentschgobbledyblah. A couple of questionable calls a game is not nearly enough for me to rail on officiating in general.

No worse, no better than usual this year. My one argument would be to go back to two officials. I see too many guys just lagging around and not needed. It's overkill in high school. There are not enough competent officials in the first place, and three-man crews just shorten the list.

Are there calls we think are bad.....HELL YES, but I'll NEVER EVER voice my displeasure, cause when it's all said and done it would be a cold day in hell before I got out there and did their job.

 

This. I find myself voicing my displeasure less and less and offering words to the team instead of the refs. If I say something to the refs then things have gotten really bad.

I think it's been horrible this year! I wouldn't want to ref either ,but if you do ....expect to get yelled at. The problem I have is refs calling games for schools they attended,kids attend, etc.. Don't call a foul because you think it's going to be one. Call it if it's a foul!! How are you supposed to guard someone if your body touches them ,even if they create the contact, it's called a foul?

Agree 100% Oldham, I think referees worked a lot harder at being in position to make the call when it was only 2 calling games. A lot of it now with 3 is waiting to let the other call and it gets bad at times.