ncpreps.rivals.com
You and I seem to agree on a lot of things on here but this is definitely not one of them. Why even trash talk officials? They are simply providing a service that allows games to be played. Are there bad ones? Yes. Are there bad cops, doctors, waiters or any other job for that matter? Do people trash talk regular folks? For the most part no. Often if this happens charges are filed. At sporting events for some reason fans think if they paid to get in they can rag an official. Well I believe when the older guys age out, especially at the HS level and lower, sports may suffer or possibly disappear. Young folks don’t want the hassle of being trash talked at their part time job. I hope I’m wrong but…
You are 100% correct, don’t get me wrong, poor pay has a lot to do with lack of officials, but number one reason was bad behavior by coaches, fans and players.
The trash talking is what leads to everything else. Slowly but surely. There is no need for it. You can disagree with calls. But then the constant cussing and fussing at the refs is uncalled for. At some games people get where they can berate refs as they are leaving. Some even do it in the parking lot. In this day and age with the way people are killing people for nothing you should be able to understand how officials have this fear as they start to leave a game. It has to stop for the sake of the games.
Friend of mine used to do HS baseball. In fact worked a SC awhile back. He was doing a game a few years ago and was followed to his car by a gentleman who didn’t like his strike zone. Well Sportsnut can tell you, once a baseball game is over officials are left to walk to vehicles by themselves. No AD, no SROs, just guys trying to get home. Anyway things got a little heated and definitely would not have ended well for the fan because my friend reached in to get a tire iron. Luckily his partner intervened and got fan out of there. That was what led to a good official to retire. Imagine a 25 year old being followed to his vehicle after a game. That is what we are living with now.
I have been verbally assaulted numerous times in parking lots. Usually after JV games where you come dressed and parked in general parking. Security at many fields when we are leaving is a teacher getting extra duty pay.
I agree Otis being a basketball coach on the AAU circuit I get the same Jon respect as the refs u just have to cancel out voices and do ya job it’s easier said that done surely but I’ve had to let players go because of their parents attitude had fans thrown out of games even I have confronted people on the outside and asked what was the issue with me I’ve won 3 championships 2018-2021 I my team won but in march we finished 3 place out of 43 teams and I had to endure mouth from fans parents etc.. so I understand the disrespect refs get 100 percent!
Gave up officiating high school basketball and volleyball a few years ago. But, in my experience, the offenders were almost exclusively white and middle aged. Almost never heard anything from any minority fan. A few student sections who thought they were the Cameron Crazies. And women were as bad or worse than most men. Nothing like an enraged mama bear who thinks they know the rules, but doesn’t have a clue.
Soccer fans tend to be the worst. Mostly white, entitled type A personalities who are used to being in charge and getting their way.
Funny story OC, about 10 years ago was calling a girls Christmas tournament game. I was in the C position and we all 3 passed on a block/charge call. As we are transitioning to the other end I look across the floor and Mama is coming down and across the bleachers in a hurry. Just as she reached out to grab the trail official, remember he was in lead on the block/charge, the resource officer reached out and grabbed her. My partner never knew anything was happening. Needless to say, she left the gym.
I'm a 63-3/4 year old white man. Born and bred redneck. I can say this is not about race. As many games as I have been too at so many different places whites is just as bad as blacks and blacks are just as bad as whites when they think in their mind they been screwed over by a bad call. I find it embarrassing. But I can say one thing that does stand out and it's not about sports. I'm a lineman with a local utility cooperative. If we have to have power out for a while and I have to go knock on doors to let people know we have to kill the power for a while please let it be Black folk that I'm dealing with. You go knock on the door at white folk house and they start telling you how they are fixing to wash it dry clothes. They got to vacuum or dry their hair. They could give you excuses longer than the outage would take. I hate it. Go knock on the door of Black folk and they will say yes go ahead and stop what they doing and come sit out in the porch and watch you work and talk to you. I been doing this going on 38 years. I'm telling you this is fact. White people can be embarrassing.
You and I also agree on many things but this one you have it a little wrong in my opinion. I have coached and officiated. Nobody in any of the posts has said a word about money being the reason people are leaving officiating. Assistant coaches don’t make jack in any HS sport. Football HC doesn’t get paid enough for time spent usually but they are used to having EVERYONE listen to what they have to say and not doubt them (until they lose and then whew)..So yeah it’s a lot like what a losing HC goes through but officials hear it every game at all times. And if a football guy does 4 games in those 4 weeks it’s still short of $500. Are officials “soft”? I can’t really say but if you don’t have these soft guys you aren’t going to have organized sports anymore
just got this email today,
nfhs.org
Just because coaches and teachers are underpaid doesn’t mean officials aren’t too.
When I started, I was very fortunate to have an ACC official as my mentor. The first thing he told me was that some people paid their three bucks (I know….inflation) just to come scream at me. But just as society has become more unruly and less respectful, athletics mirrors society. Mental illness is all over. And yes, excessive uncontrolled anger is a form of mental illness. If I were a superintendent or principal, I’d insist on metal detectors. The fairly uncommon acts of violence at athletic events will become more common if we as a society don’t learn how to interact without resorting to it.
Wait…just got this email today,
Creating a Positive Parent Spectator Environment in Your School
The NFHS is the national leader and advocate for high school athletics as well as fine and performing arts programs. Within our 51 member state associations, we serve 19,500 high schools and more than 12 million young people.
I hope it doesn’t happen because of how it would affect players. But ten percent is an insult and fans need a wake up call about behavior. I don’t have the answer but certainly understand the problem.
Friend of mine is working 11 basketball games in next 8 days. Just told me. He also told me, for like the umpteenth time, how short handed they are. Trying to recruit an old guy.
I’m sure a big shortage in Rec leagues and Other leagues too
