refinstripes

From an officials standpoint, we come in to work these games and the host region sits at home, why is that? I worked a couple of years ago with an official from this region, they do have good quality officials in the region. We don't mind it, it is a long drive but we do get compensated well by the bank.

Do they or are they, LCC planning to build a baseball field? We went there last year and it was so far away from everything, I don't even think it was in Whitesburg. With the state of the art football facility, they maybe building a baby wrigley field!

Pikeville High School is not a college or a professional team. I agree, ymt needs to get the information from a administrator, not a reliable source.

As an umpire, it is imperative that plate umps not tighten up the strike zone. Use the entire plate, if the edge of the ball goes over the black part of the size of the dish, it is a strike. These bats are 34"+ in length, they can reach these pitches. This one thing could decrease the amount of balls thrown and speed up the game.

Yes, there is a FBz on a shotgun, yes it is immediately following the snap. I would love to see this rule changed, NO blocking below the waist at all... That will make it a lot easier plus the big benefactor, save the knees. I do think week to week we know, it is just how our judgement allows it. Did the contact create the receiver not to catch the ball, did it factor in? Yes, flag it. Another thing that does get missed, B hitting below the waist on A blocker..... That is a foul and is missed. I think we should go to 7 man from the 3rd round to the finals. Just don't have enough officials to cover this. Please, anyone out there monitoring this, please, we invite you to join this incredible, honorable position.....

Sam is a good guy, a MLB umpire. Do you know if Sam was to work a high school game here and no one knew who he was, fans and coaches would disagree with his calls! We are always to blame, for every loss, every blown call, every injury, our fault. UTL, thanks you do have all the criteria for being a good referee

I attend and take away. Also, your coaches attend these meetings and not sure how much they listen as you often hear. Practiciing too early, longer, and a lot that I hear on this site. Other things that I am not going to mention but it's not just coaches so the comment, they do it for the kids, look at others as well. I did not like that statement, knowingly it is not toward me but a lot of officials, good or bad really do a lot for the kids.

The issue is, many high school teams has an asst. coach all over the place, many of them. Much of the time, not even school employers, fathers, recent former players who already think we cheat, and I have to say, head coach wannabees.... I much rather listen to the head coach. He's the one whose neck is on the line if they get beat. It all boils down to good communication and mutual respect. Coaches jumping up in the air, screaming, insighting the crowd to create an unsporting environment, not good for the game. I will tell you, coaches who do not do this, tend to get much more respect from the zebra community. We talk just like coaches do about officials. I do not like the reeling them in style, take the responsibility for just asking a question. Hopefully you have a mature officials who knows what they are talking about to help understand why.....

True, some officials work the game adv. disadv and does it effect the play, no, pass on the penalty. If it does, flag it, and be ready to give the explanation. Your going to get games called differently, that will never change unless you coach in the NFL and at times it can be somewhat different. The one thing I would hope is consistent is flags on unsporting behavior. OK, we work high school games and you hear a kid curse, so what! The books says penalyze this act. Some officials do but most don't. We normally just tell them to calm it down. If we hear a remark that is a racist remark, yes the hankie will come out. At the lower level games, we do penalyze the language, we want to teach these kids but it just don't make it to the high school level. The biggest complaint that I hear among my zebra pals is that we will tolerate the head coach. A lot of times these asst. coaches do nothing but complain all the time. Then the players on the sideline will begin to work their jaw bone. You mention our annual meeting, these point of interest are sent down by the NFHS and khsaa just stresses the message. I tell you, officials leave those meetings and do nothing but complain what a waste of time. A very few really pull stuff from them and apply them on the field. We just have too many officials that do not want to adjust their philosophy in officiating.

Call Harlan County. New school next year would love to land an asst. coach. Stay a couple of years. Jobs open all the time. Hey, be a ref. Would love to have you on the dark side. Welcome.

I have read and agree with many statements. We have a very limited amount of officials in all sports and all levels. This means we have different rules interps and philosophies. I am sure if I and I will state mine, will differ from the officials above and others that will follow. 1. no 5 yard buffer, we watch too much and listen to too much commentators at the upper levels. A receiver is a receiver once a legal forward pass crosses the neutral zone. Of course barring this receiver was elgible. That player can be contacted until he passes B. Now, we judge the amount of contact...... My fellow officials above stated and no use of repeating. 2. Holding, there's never holding going to be called if your player is doubled up! We allow players to use their hands but not to the point where they actually control that player. Officials should only throw a flag if holding is at the point of attack and not far away from the field. Some officials throw a flag on the right side when the ball is completely on the other side fo the field. If a defender grabs A to allow teammate B to get through the line, flag. I have given lectures to teams in the pre-season about my philosophy but if you do not have me you may get a crew that is totally different. 3. Changing routes, as long as there is not any physical contact, holding etc, no problem, B has as much right to that spot than A. Now I am sure that will lead to a conversation. It's like those pick plays that coaches throw in their playbook because it really is a hard thing to pick up with five offiicals, but coaches would not intentionally do that. 4. I guess we could just go straight by the rules book and call it all and make the game last for four hours. Oh yea, all means 3 in the box and no one on the grass coach. You cannot pick and choose but we all do. I am not sure which area you are coming from as you point out crews but you are going to get that most places throughout the state. I do know and have attended for a couple of times that NKY does annual training and they invite other regions to attend. But when only a select few do, no one is going to buy into the changes. The problem, we have too many who think they are too good to adjust. I have been to camps acrosse the country, my philosophy is what they teach from the NFL to high school. I truly believe a high percentage of officials need to read and understand the rules as they apply to game situations. We need to commnicate better with coaches on the wings and need to explain fouls when asked. A mutual respect and I truly believe that coaches really lack in this aspect. I am not pointing out this coach and I applaud him being on here, he wants to improve. You can also use nfhs site for further words of wisdom from the stipes....

do they compare to GAB? That is a beautiful field and hope that the funds the REDS spend come from an account driven by the overpriced MLB players.

Normally local umpires work the games and most schools adopt the NFHS standards, if not they should.

I sat in the upper and saw the reaction of the fans but could not hear. I only assume what was being said. I believe some fouls were blown late due to the officials' using adv disadvantage to officiate. I did see where Hazard kid was fouled, a timeout was taken and another player shot the free throws instead the one who was fouled..... Anyone else see this?

3pm

so, how many of you guys who posted want to get signed up? http://www.khsaa.org I agree with many of the post, but the shortage is due to the fact: 1. who wants to be treated like an idiot an entire game? 2. Gas prices 3. time 4. disrespect by most 5. compensation It really goes in this order..... Most officials are in basketball, this is the love of the state. Football, next and followed by baseball..... The shortage is not only in KY but the entire country. A lot of your better officials are beginning to move into the college ranks and the older guys are retiring or do not adjust to the games' offiicating philosophy and do not get many games. The fact remains that officials are treated with disrespect and that is the bottom line. Me, I rarely hear fans, every. At times you have a lower attending game and a coach wants to yell to humiliate an official. I really think that in the next 10-15 years, games will be played every single night to cover them. There's reasons why games are being played now on days that normally did not play a few years ago. Another threat is the lower level games, you get better pay. Officials are beginning to work these games for the compensation..... Be nice to the guys in stripes..... A lot of us do work hard, year around.

I'm lost, it is not due to them not wanting to call more than not given the opportunity to call.

14th, Glen Napier, Brian Cook and Steve Thomas 14th has some good young officials but for some reason are not calling at the varsity level.

I like the late start, reduction of heat and teams to get more practice time prior to the season.

A ton of talent, I have had his games in the past and is a dominator on the turf. His attitude has changed a lot since he has gotten older. He is a major D1 prospect.....

NO, one of the younger coaches did and seems that they won each game. They are having huge problems in Perry County. There long time coach was was shown the door when the welcome mat was pulled out from his feet. He lost a lot of support from the principal and superintendent for who he was playing or NOT playing. Not sure what is going on but some sources say that they are dressing this younger coach to take the helm when Hatcher leaves. Holland has a team at Hazard but many of the locals are upset that a couple of transfers have came in and put some long time players on then bench and cut PT from them. Al is going to win with what he thinks is the best, don't care if he bruises egos.... As far as not shaking hands, it is the coaches duty to display sportsmanship even at the worst of times. I have seen this bench, and it is not pleasant. You have one asst. coach who has been suspended for years by the khsaa and another who is not presenting well at all.....

The rule is in place so the offensive team does not make this move at 4th and short to draw teams into the NZ (neutral zone). I would imagine that IF the team did not get into the NZ they would have passed up the foul. I would like to see this rule changed more toward the college and NFL and allow the defense to get out of the NZ prior to the snap.

As far as the officials go, I truly believe they are chosen by the officials' assigning secretaries across the state. They turn in who they want to go and KHSAA accepts their nomination. I think that this leads to a lot of politics within the local associations. This is what we have, yes it could be better but what is?

what does this mean? examples?

Please, don't go there. This person if you recall seemed to take the lead on the field at a couple of points during the game. One, after the safety that seemed like the other four knew what to do, they did initially signaled touchback. I think she even told the WH to get down field. Don't let the PI call that this official made to destroy her. I think this post is unfair and would hope you remove it. I am sure if you are an official that this ghost flag has never happened to you?