That's why its so sad, because these people don't do it for the money, they do it because they love the game of basketball.

 

Don't pay them and see how many refs you would have.:ylsuper:

Don't pay them and see how many refs you would have.:ylsuper:

 

So your saying they do it becauase the money is good? How many of them have other jobs?:ylsuper:

I attend alot of games from 7-8 grade to varsity level, and coach at the 7-8th grade level. The constant screaming from the fans is horrible!!! I have coached in the city of Covington for years and beleive it or not, everyone is as bad as another. From inner city to county teams and gets worst if you travel across the river. :argue: :scared:

So your saying they do it becauase the money is good? How many of them have other jobs?:ylsuper:

 

A huge majority of them would not ref all day for free.

First off, I want to say that I am just ranting here. This is not pointed to anyone in particular and I just want to get some things off my chest that have been bothering me lately. Ok, with that said...... I would love to know what makes people think that they can talk to officials the way that some fans do. Some people would be arrested for some of the things they say to officials. I don't understand why they think they can say some of the things being said to officials nowadays. Just because a guy/girl puts on a striped shirt and calls a game is not an invitation to verbally abuse them. Yes, I said verbally abuse!! And sometimes it is verbal abuse. Now, I'm not talking about disputing a call or even getting on an official for something. I'm talking about the fan who sits in the stands screaming the most god awlful stuff at the official during the entire game. It's like they believe it's their job to scream at the officials. I feel like some fans take the whole day's frustrations out at the officials because they know they can get away with it. I honestly believe that. Would someone talk to you like that on the street? Would you allow them to talk to you like that? I doubt it very seriously if most would allow someone to talk to them like that in their "normal" lives. I doubt someone would have the audacity to talk to someone that way because there would be consequences in the real world. Either they would be put in jail or someone would just sockem' a good one in the nose. So what makes these fans think that it's ok to talk to officials the way they do? And usually it's the person who knows the least about the rules that holler the loudest. I've seen many 60-70 yr old women leading the charge when they are absolutely clueless. It's like a recreation sport now....official bashing!!! It starts at the lowest level and never ends. I just wish people would understand that there is a HUMAN BEING behind those stripes. Just because you pay admission does not mean that you can verbally abuse the official. I think that there are many factors why we tend to see more and more of these types of fanatics but it's a shame that we've gotten to this level of unsportmanship in some fans. I just don't understand.

 

:thumb::thumb: I agree UKCATSFAN, I have disagreed with some calls in the past and have let that be known, but as you said there is a right and a wrong way to do it. IMO any fan that gets way out of line should be ejected.................Period. I am not talking about occaisioanally yelling about what they think was a bad call, I believe that most all have done that at one time or another but rather getting as you say "verbal abusive" in a public setting with young kids around. There is no place for it. Should a person feel like they have to express that much displeasure, then maybe they could try to do it in person/after the game and not be an embarrassment to the fans that are in the stands around them and to the school that they represent. Also, I am not talking about fighting or threatenig an official after the game, merely if they have that big of a problem with them to discuss it personally with them.

They have the authority to toss anyone at anytime use it. I have been tossed from the stands a couple of times in noway was it right either time. But there is nothing you can do or say to change it. If they don't like the color of your shirt they can toss you and there is nothing you can do about it. So if a ref sits there and takes it and does nothing that is his fault because he has the power to do it no questions asked!!!

 

That is really easier said than done, especially in a crowded gym and the comments are coming from somewhere other than the front row. An official cannot and should not turn around during the action to see who makde the comment. That's just unrealistic. I believe that a person who pays admission has the right to disagree with a call if he/she wants but that doesn't mean verbally abusing them. As an official, I'm fine with a fan voicing his/her disagreement with a call. What I'm talking about is the vulger abmoxious threatening cursing comments made by some fans who think they know everything about the rules and officiating. The comments that would either start a fight or get someone taken to jail if said in the real world. Half of the time they are the most clueless person in the gym and most of those comments are said while the action in taking place. It's almost impossible to narrow the voice down in a crowded gym to just 1 or 2 people and if it's a group of them that makes it even harder to determine the guilty party. So to say that it's the official's fault for taking it is just crazy. It's the idiot's fault for coming to a sporting event with kids and acting like a verbal lunatic.

I have been to a few 3rd/4th grade games at the Dayton league, and have noticed that they have now posted a sign for all to read sayin something like......your payment of admission does not give you the right to unload on the student workers and officials. .......pretty sad when that is necessary at a youth league game

 

:thumb: Good post, there is NO EXCUSE for this at a youth league game.

I saw a ref last night responding to a fan's comment in the stands. He watched the people in the stands more than he did the game. I have always been told that a good ref will block those comments out. I have always wondered , how does a referee know whether he can officiate or not. Whose there to tell him he can't referee. I have known former officials who now are those that assign and rate other officials who couldn't referee a lick. Again , whose out there to inform an official he just can't do the job. If people in the stands offend you as a ref , get out of it, no one is making you do it. You couldn't pay me enough to take all that verbal abuse.:dancingpa

 

That's why there is a shortage of officials everywhere. Then when we do recruit new officials, they are ran off because of crazy fans. Officials quitting ....That's not the answer to the problem. The answer is for the fans to calm down. Like I said, it's ok to verbally disagree with a call but don't let it get out of hand and lead to abusing the stripes. Veteran officials were once new officials and if we keep losing new officials because of fans then the officiating on the court is going to suffer MAJORLY!! I have seen some really good young officials quit because of fans and that's the future of officiating gone. There won't be many officials, and even less quality officials, left if this type of behavior continues.

 

 

Are you saying that it's the fans job to let the official know if he/she can officiate? I don't think I'm following what you're saying. The associations have evaluators who come and evaluate the officials to let them know what they are doing right and wrong. The 16th Regions has 2 NCAA officials who evaluate them and they know exactly what they're doing.

:thumb: Good post, there is NO EXCUSE for this at a youth league game.

 

Unfortunately I see these signs at many school gyms. It's a shame.

They have the authority to toss anyone at anytime use it. I have been tossed from the stands a couple of times in noway was it right either time. But there is nothing you can do or say to change it. If they don't like the color of your shirt they can toss you and there is nothing you can do about it. So if a ref sits there and takes it and does nothing that is his fault because he has the power to do it no questions asked!!!

 

As a referee, the older I have gotten, the less abuse I take - from anyone associated with the game. Not to say that I come in with a chip on my shoulder because I generally am a even keeled person. However, I have a point in my mind that I determine when it is enough. Once I get to that level in my mind, I react by sticking players with 'tudes, and coaches that act like children and send them to their seats where they can act more responsibly. As for obnoxious fans, I don't adhere to the "I paid my money, I get to participate in the show" philosophy as many here have posted. When they get out of hand, they are gone from the gym. Period.

That is really easier said than done, especially in a crowded gym and the comments are coming from somewhere other than the front row. An official cannot and should not turn around during the action to see who makde the comment. That's just unrealistic. I believe that a person who pays admission has the right to disagree with a call if he/she wants but that doesn't mean verbally abusing them. As an official, I'm fine with a fan voicing his/her disagreement with a call. What I'm talking about is the vulger abmoxious threatening cursing comments made by some fans who think they know everything about the rules and officiating. The comments that would either start a fight or get someone taken to jail if said in the real world. Half of the time they are the most clueless person in the gym and most of those comments are said while the action in taking place. It's almost impossible to narrow the voice down in a crowded gym to just 1 or 2 people and if it's a group of them that makes it even harder to determine the guilty party. So to say that it's the official's fault for taking it is just crazy. It's the idiot's fault for coming to a sporting event with kids and acting like a verbal lunatic.

 

You are correct. I should have specified if they know where it is coming from. But trust me I have been on the end where I was tossed for saying" Nelson that was pitiful" from the other end of the court 20 rows up. The other I was at a 5th and 6th Grade girl's game with 2 KHSAA officials and I was on the baseline taking pictures and at the end of the first period one ref walks toward me and I say in a regular tone "They are riding them all way down the court." and got tossed. This is the truth, First words that I spoke either Game. I do have witnesses, one being the sheriff who was 5 feet from me taking pics he asked the ref why and hes repsonse was "he's got to go" sheriff tells me he didn't here me say anything but had no choice but ask me to leave...What's my recourse? But I will promise you one thing next time I am at a game with either one of these two refs I will earn my exit.

A huge majority of them would not ref all day for free.

 

Don't remember saying they would...

Bottom line: IT'S JUST A GAME, COACHED BY HUMANS, PLAYED BY HUMANS and OFFICIATED by HUMANS. Doesn't anyone get that? Sadly, no. It's a ME, ME, ME, ME generation and it stinks! There's no I in TEAM!

They have the authority to toss anyone at anytime use it. I have been tossed from the stands a couple of times in noway was it right either time. But there is nothing you can do or say to change it. If they don't like the color of your shirt they can toss you and there is nothing you can do about it. So if a ref sits there and takes it and does nothing that is his fault because he has the power to do it no questions asked!!!

 

When a fan or situation gets to the point where the official needs to have them removed for abusive behavior...it has already imo been allowed by administration to go on way too long. I saw a game this season where fans were escorted out by athletic directors and officers. I spoke with the officials after the game and they never knew anything had happened. This is what administration does when they take it seriously. Officials are there to officiate the game...not to be cussed at and not to be personally abused. I'm not talking about 3 seonds, foul, get 'em off, let 'em play. I`m talking about language that would not be tolerated in a classroom situation. If we continue to run them off...then in the words of one former official...we would then have "recess."

Well if all of the officials were gone how would they play the game. It is a thankless job. But once you put on the stripes you apprecate it more and more. I have been guilty of saying some things but there are times when enough is enough. Never should it come to a time where someone needs to be thrown out. If that is the case there are issues there IMO.