I was not at the Mount Airy vs Mitchell game but was hearing play-by-play on the radio and could not believe all the calls on Mount Airy & Mitchell but much more and worse calls on MA. Did the coach deserve all the calls or were all the calls that may have been bad causing the coach to get pissed and getting the calls. In all the games I covered as a photographer for 9 years and all the games I have been to and listened to on the radio, I have NEVER heard as many calls on one team and as many TDs called back as this game. I've been wanting t post this since that game but decided till the season was over to say what I thought. These NCPreps boards are open for all to see and I can imagine quite a few Refs read them. Have too many rules been added over the years for new Refs to fairly call a game? Do they need to review all the High school rules and make a new set since they can't keep enough Refs for the games because maybe they are being chewed out for bad calls? Seems every year the NCHSAA adds rules. Maybe that is why the state is stepping in. I say the Refs need more paid training and more pay and milage increase for each game and with that some type of penalty for consecutive bad calls and a review by the state if they are going to involve themselves in high school sports. Also, the state decides on the pay for the Refs. Better pay for fewer bad calls. That's just my opinion, what do others suggest? I have heard a lot of complaints from the SMC and others. My personal opinion is Better paid training, better pay, and millage pay per game with penalties on Refs for too many bad calls. If not 100% sure, then a no call. This is high school kids, not college or pro ! People don't pay to see the Refs, they pay to see the games. Sorry if some don't like what I just said but your opinion is welcome as that is all I have to say, right or wrong I just thought I needed to say it and get it out of my system. I am sure others have better ideas, and that was mine and post yours if mine is bad. I WILL NOT ANSWER TO ANYONE THAT DISAGREES, JUST AGREE, DISAGREE OR POST YOUR OPINION.
Let me get this straight? You determined that the officials were terrible, yet you weren't even at the game to see it for yourself? Wow.
You're so naïve and lack so much knowledge based on what you just posted. Here's a few things for you to consider.
There are no greater homers in the world than the radio announcers who broadcast your local HS football game. Fan is short for fanatic. Fanatics see the game with their heart, not with unbiased eyes. And that's fine. I've learned to accept that 99% will never understand.
Fans and your local radio guys predominantly learn the rules by watching TV on Saturday and Sunday. In HS, we don't play by NCAA nor NFL rules. You're not even aware that HS football rules are written by the National Federation of High Schools Football Rules Committee. The NCHSAA does not now nor has it ever written a single HS football rule.
Officials get yelled at and "chewed out" to use your words because coaches are advocates for their teams. Do officials make mistakes? Absolutely. But I've never worked a game with one who intentionally made a mistake or a call against a team. We expect coaches to yell. But when a call is made and you show your ass, someone is going to bust it with a flag.
On the night that regional finals were played, exactly 8 officiating crews worked, one from 8 of the 9 associations in the state were working. 4 of those crews worked state championships the next week. Every crew was from a neutral association. That is none of those crews officiate either team during the regular season. They don't have any reason purpose or desire to make a call for or against anyone.
Here's what you and many others don't understand. Game fees have gone up. But we can't get new officials to stay in the game because fans and coaches chew them up and spit them out in rec and youth leagues. That won't take the abuse. I don't blame them. I won't work that BS either. Unfortunately, that's where everyone has to start. Now, do you truly believe that there are people who are currently not officiating HS football who can show up next year and do a better job than the men AND women who have been showing up on Friday night for the last 10, 20, 30, even 40 years and do a better job? No, they're aren't.
The average age of a HS sports official in this country is 60 years old. 60 years old! Do you know what that means/ It means in another 10-15 years, there won't be anymore youth sports. HS football games will be played on Thursday night, Friday night, Saturday afternoon and Sunday night. That's because there won't be enough officials to work all the games on Friday night. It's coming. It's just a matter of time.
"I WILL NOT ANSWER TO ANYONE THAT DISAGREES, JUST AGREE, DISAGREE OR POST YOUR OPINION."
Lol.
Registration begins May 15, 2022. For anyone with the balls to do it, contact your local HS AD and ask who the regional supervisor is in your area. The AD can hook you up. Come out and show us how it's done.
Happy New Year everyone!
