I've barked and complained about referees more times than I should have over the years while watching games but I still appreciate what they do. It's just a natural reaction to applaud some calls a boo at others. I suppose that's as much a part of the game as the game itself.

 

Someone has to officiate and I'm thankful there's people willing to do the job. My brother has officiated for 28 years. He's slowed down as he's gotten older but I still think he does a good job (of course I'm biased:smug:).

 

I know one thing for certain, I wouldn't do the job for any amount of money. I've called a few middle school games in my younger days and I learned very early in my life that wasn't going to be a side job in my future. Those fellows have a tough job, and they have to love it to keep doing it.

 

I'm sure all officials, past and present appreciate this response.

I'm not for slamming anybody, and I know officiating is a challenging job.

'

That said - they are getting paid, and all anyone is asking for is a competent job.

 

Officials have a material impact on the game, and the fact that they are never interviewed about their performance/calls is a little odd, especially in this era of accountability and "transparency."

 

It might help if people point out the officials they think do a consistently good job, too.

 

Does anyone outside your company interview you and ask for explanations of decisions you make at work? Didn't think so. They are held responsible by their association and assigning secretary, just as you are by your boss.

Pass it on...

 

Officiating Information | Kentucky High School Athletic Association

Does anyone outside your company interview you and ask for explanations of decisions you make at work? Didn't think so. They are held responsible by their association and assigning secretary, just as you are by your boss.

 

My customers ask me questions about my decision making at work - they are stakeholders in that process like players/coaches are stakeholders in games. And I provide information back to my customers.

 

Are ratings for officials shared when requested? My company shares information on my performance when requested.

 

Not sure how you are coming at this, or what industry you work in. The fact that you see coaches and players as "outside" the process is telling. The lack of disclosure around HS/college officials' performance is arcane in modern society. Even the professional leagues are in evaluating/making public feedback on officiating performance.

I have decided to retire from officiating from the stands after trying to officiate a couple of youth games. It's really hard at ground level, especially when you don't have a rooting interest.:isurrender:

Same could be said about coaches.

Agreed. I would be against a thread calling out coaches to quit, too.

Maybe if some of the older ones retired there would be more interested in moving up, most of the older one are usually friends with the assigner and keep getting the prime games, this is the main reason you lose younger guys as there is no way to move up the list

I don't know about forced retirement, with the exception being physically unable to do the job, but there needs to be a LOT more supervision and oversight. On the girls side, we had an opponent throw a punch (missed) in full view of an official, who stopped the game to give her a WARNING! Because this official chose not to properly enforce the rule, which requires disqualification, this same player threw a second punch to the head and connected. The player was given a technical, but not ejected.

 

It is my understanding that officials are only evaluated by their coaches in their own region. Out of region opponents have no say in the performance of officials.This has to change.

 

Furthermore, more game tapes need to evaluated with officials being corrected, and disciplined for performance. There absolutely needs to be more evaluation and correction of officiating. Maybe KHSAA can address this with the revenue from 5$ cokes at state events!

 

I just looked, and the Stinson girl who threw 2 punches at SK players had two very nice games in district play. I guess player safety is only a KHSAA concern when it does not offend the officiating!

My customers ask me questions about my decision making at work - they are stakeholders in that process like players/coaches are stakeholders in games. And I provide information back to my customers.

 

Are ratings for officials shared when requested? My company shares information on my performance when requested.

 

Not sure how you are coming at this, or what industry you work in. The fact that you see coaches and players as "outside" the process is telling. The lack of disclosure around HS/college officials' performance is arcane in modern society. Even the professional leagues are in evaluating/making public feedback on officiating performance.

 

Where do you work? I would like to put in a request to see how you are doing. :lol2:

As long as the buddy system is in place you will have these issues. There will be several officials working next week that cannot run down the floor but they are close to the assignor and will get to work. State needs to have evualators at each region site to see what is going on.

In fairness, maybe someone should start a "Sportswriters/Sportscasters That Need To Retire", and name names. justsayin

Haha the funny thing is that most of the people that complain about calls & officials don't really know the rules themselves. "We lost," or "I didn't enjoy watching that game," so let's blame officials. Watch a few games objectively with full knowledge of coaches, players, and officials involved in said game and see what you come away with.

 

Yeah, there are bad officials...but there's also bad coaches, bad players, bad accountants, bad garbage men, bad bartenders, bad teachers, etc. Move on, and realize that most people try to do a good job no matter what they're doing.

 

If we push for bad officials to retire, can we push for whiny, know it all message board posters to retire as well??

 

P.S. The original post was asking for a guy to retire because he disagreed with his 5-second counts hahaha.

I'd give them all a raise. Yelling at refs and parents complaining about coaches is part of the game, never going to change. But at some point it has to be worth the effort.

I actually believe most schools believe they deserve a raise. I think 100 a game would be fair. I am not aware of any regions paying that price. Mileage to the game and home, training, buying their own equipment, working in typically a hostile environment, demand on their profession, etc, but schools can't afford to pay them what they get now and nobody wants to see 10 a ticket to watch your kids play.

I fuss at refs more than most, but I admit they do a good job. The two that were called out to start this thread are still good officials, granted, they are no longer in their prime and they miss some plays, but judgement is what makes a good official, not age.

Also, I can not name an official that I don't like after the game is over. Almost all are good guys and gals off the court. I can't say that for other professions!