Do You Hate Referees?

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ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Jan 30, 2010 10:54 PM
Before I start, I'm a basketball official, and a damn good one! I just got back from a game tonight, and it was ugly basketball. Ugly basketball isn't easy to officiate, but we did a good job. In ugly games, with ugly teams, NO ONE likes the officials.

My question to you... When you go to a game (any sport) do you yell at the officials like maniacs, or do you keep quiet? I never understood the idiots in the stands that scream at the top of their lungs at officials.
Jan 30, 2010 10:54pm
wes_mantooth's avatar

wes_mantooth

Tomfoolery & shenanigans

17,977 posts
Jan 30, 2010 10:56 PM
nope, but officials have off nights just like the kids playing in the games.
Jan 30, 2010 10:56pm
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Jan 30, 2010 10:57 PM
wes_mantooth wrote: nope, but officials have off nights just like the kids playing in the games.
I will agree with that, definitely. Do they deserve to get screamed at? Why don't fans scream at the kids when they screw up?
Jan 30, 2010 10:57pm
wildcats20's avatar

wildcats20

In ROY I Trust!!

27,794 posts
Jan 30, 2010 10:58 PM
I don't hate officials. I hate officials who are on power trips and think they can say and do whatever they want. And I really hate when calls are blatantly missed and he/she says "my bad." And I hate refs that won't give me, as a coach, the time of day to explain something or hear my opinion.
Jan 30, 2010 10:58pm
wes_mantooth's avatar

wes_mantooth

Tomfoolery & shenanigans

17,977 posts
Jan 30, 2010 10:58 PM
No they don't, but they are the fans frustration outlet. Is it fair, no.....these officials aren't making shit for what they put up with.
Jan 30, 2010 10:58pm
tk421's avatar

tk421

Senior Member

8,500 posts
Jan 30, 2010 10:58 PM
ernest_t_bass wrote:
wes_mantooth wrote: nope, but officials have off nights just like the kids playing in the games.
I will agree with that, definitely. Do they deserve to get screamed at? Why don't fans scream at the kids when they screw up?
They do. Nothing more pathetic than some grown ass adults in the stands berating a kid for missing a shot or making a mistake.
Jan 30, 2010 10:58pm
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Jan 30, 2010 11:00 PM
Wildcats, I agree with a lot you have to say. However, when talking to an official (honest question)... do you want to hear what he/she has to say, or just give them your opinion? Many coaches make it extremely difficult to talk to them, b/c they don't want to listen... they just want to tell you you're wrong.
Jan 30, 2010 11:00pm
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Jan 30, 2010 11:01 PM
wes_mantooth wrote: these officials aren't making shit for what they put up with.
I got $60. I'll take it! I don't mind the yelling... if I screw up. It's the yelling b/c of fans who don't know the rules.
Jan 30, 2010 11:01pm
wildcats20's avatar

wildcats20

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Jan 30, 2010 11:02 PM
ernest_t_bass wrote: Wildcats, I agree with a lot you have to say. However, when talking to an official (honest question)... do you want to hear what he/she has to say, or just give them your opinion? Many coaches make it extremely difficult to talk to them, b/c they don't want to listen... they just want to tell you you're wrong.
MOST of the time I do want to hear an explanation, because usually there are more than one legit way of seeing a call. But even when they come over and explain something, the ref usually doesn't want to hear my(a coach's) thoughts. Which there is nothing more frustrating.
Jan 30, 2010 11:02pm
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Jan 30, 2010 11:03 PM
Thing that sucks, wildcats, is that the game must go on. There are MANY times that I wish I could talk with a coach for 5 minutes, just to talk, and get on the same page.
Jan 30, 2010 11:03pm
majorspark's avatar

majorspark

Senior Member

5,122 posts
Jan 30, 2010 11:03 PM
At worst I may lean over and tell my wife "that was a terrible call". I expect officials to make mistakes. Most at the varsity level are quite good. I know a few that when I see they are reffing I know they will do an excellant job. Personally when I see someone coming unglued over al call, I don't mean yelling a few words, but crazy like a nuthatch. I would like to personally go up a slug the guy.
Jan 30, 2010 11:03pm
wes_mantooth's avatar

wes_mantooth

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Jan 30, 2010 11:04 PM
majorspark wrote: At worst I may lean over and tell my wife "that was a terrible call". I expect officials to make mistakes. Most at the varsity level are quite good. I know a few that when I see they are reffing I know they will do an excellant job. Personally when I see someone coming unglued over al call, I don't mean yelling a few words, but crazy like a nuthatch. I would like to personally go up a slug the guy.
You wanna slug Tucci?...lol
Jan 30, 2010 11:04pm
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Jan 30, 2010 11:05 PM
I don't like being a spectator b/c people will look at me and say... "what do you think? Would you have called that?" When my nephew was playing, it was damn near impossible to sit by my wife. If I said I agreed, she'd get pissed.
Jan 30, 2010 11:05pm
majorspark's avatar

majorspark

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5,122 posts
Jan 30, 2010 11:05 PM
ernest_t_bass wrote:
wes_mantooth wrote: these officials aren't making shit for what they put up with.
I got $60. I'll take it! I don't mind the yelling... if I screw up. It's the yelling b/c of fans who don't know the rules.
This drive me nuts. I hate a fan that bitches at a call and is totally wrong because they don't know the rules.
Jan 30, 2010 11:05pm
majorspark's avatar

majorspark

Senior Member

5,122 posts
Jan 30, 2010 11:06 PM
wes_mantooth wrote:
majorspark wrote: At worst I may lean over and tell my wife "that was a terrible call". I expect officials to make mistakes. Most at the varsity level are quite good. I know a few that when I see they are reffing I know they will do an excellant job. Personally when I see someone coming unglued over al call, I don't mean yelling a few words, but crazy like a nuthatch. I would like to personally go up a slug the guy.
You wanna slug Tucci?...lol
All the time. He drives me nuts.
Jan 30, 2010 11:06pm
wildcats20's avatar

wildcats20

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Jan 30, 2010 11:07 PM
ernest_t_bass wrote: Thing that sucks, wildcats, is that the game must go on. There are MANY times that I wish I could talk with a coach for 5 minutes, just to talk, and get on the same page.
Oh for sure, but there are also many stoppages(I'm specifically talking about basketball) where it would be very easy to explain. I will say this, I have only met maybe 2 officials who I don't respect. And that is because they didn't respect me. I was a 21 year old 8th grade coach and I got more respect from opposing fans than I did from this crew we had for a tourny game. One of the guys refused to shake my hand pregame and never once looked my way when I would ask for an explanation or anything. And the other guy was just as bad. He called me son, kid, and boy throughout the game. I might have been young, but there was no way in hell I deserved the treatment I got. Needless to say, after the game I talked with the AD of the host school and he let me know that they had had problems with those guys in the past; and he did everything he could to not have them back.
Jan 30, 2010 11:07pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

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Jan 30, 2010 11:10 PM
Im in my first year officiating, and I must say its amazing how little fans (even coaches) know the rules. I also wish the 3 second rule would just go away, lol. I swear its the ONLY rule fans know.....and they dont know it correctly (IE when the count is suspended because of shots being taken or post player receiving a pass and making a move to the goal).

Wildcats, I will give my explanation of a foul to the coach. I will not let the game be suspended for a coach wanting to tell me his opinion, but I will go back and listen at foul shots, end of quarters, etc. As soon as a stoppage in play comes along I will listen.
Jan 30, 2010 11:10pm
stroups's avatar

stroups

Senior Member

3,223 posts
Jan 30, 2010 11:11 PM
I never played basketball but speaking of baseball.

As a former catcher I alway had a special relationship with umpires and I would actually have there back more than my coaches sometimes. The strike zone is somewhat subjective and can be hard to determine but all I am looking for is consistency.
Jan 30, 2010 11:11pm
Fab1b's avatar

Fab1b

The Bald A-Hole!!

12,949 posts
Jan 30, 2010 11:12 PM
12yr veteran HS Wrestling official here. I can understand sometimes the frustration from fans/parents/coaches, etc...we surely have off nights too. It's a thankless job that is for sure but one that has to be done. I wish more people would officiate if they had the time. A. Sports need officials B. You'll understand real quick how it feels.
Jan 30, 2010 11:12pm
wildcats20's avatar

wildcats20

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Jan 30, 2010 11:12 PM
Laley23 wrote: Im in my first year officiating, and I must say its amazing how little fans (even coaches) know the rules. I also wish the 3 second rule would just go away, lol. I swear its the ONLY rule fans know.....and they dont know it correctly (IE when the count is suspended because of shots being taken or post player receiving a pass and making a move to the goal).

Wildcats, I will give my explanation of a foul to the coach. I will not let the game be suspended for a coach wanting to tell me his opinion, but I will go back and listen at foul shots, end of quarters, etc. As soon as a stoppage in play comes along I will listen.
3 seconds is the worst rule in basketball IMO.

And that is exactly what I am talking about Laley. Obviously, the game can't be held up; but there are more than enough stoppages to talk. I have even had refs tell me to go back to my bench during the first few seconds in between quarters when I had a 2 second question.
Jan 30, 2010 11:12pm
wildcats20's avatar

wildcats20

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Jan 30, 2010 11:13 PM
stroups wrote: I never played basketball but speaking of baseball.

As a former catcher I alway had a special relationship with umpires and I would actually have there back more than my coaches sometimes. The strike zone is somewhat subjective and can be hard to determine but all I am looking for is consistency.
My bro caught and always said the same thing.
Jan 30, 2010 11:13pm
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Jan 30, 2010 11:13 PM
Wildcats, what level do you coach now?
Jan 30, 2010 11:13pm
Fab1b's avatar

Fab1b

The Bald A-Hole!!

12,949 posts
Jan 30, 2010 11:13 PM
Great point on not knowing the rules. I am too amazed by the number of people that want to confront officials when they have no clue what the rules actually are.
Jan 30, 2010 11:13pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

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Jan 30, 2010 11:14 PM
Oh, and I HATE fans who remind me that "fouls are 8 to 3!" I mean, honestly I have NO CLUE what team I am calling fouls on. I wouldnt know what the foul count is unless they pointed it out. As a referee, I dont usually have a clue as to the team that is winning (until I obviously need to, at the end for fouling purposes etc.) But for the most part, I have no clue what team is fouling more. So from that perspective, I could not be biased in my calls, lol.
Jan 30, 2010 11:14pm
wildcats20's avatar

wildcats20

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Jan 30, 2010 11:15 PM
ernest_t_bass wrote: Wildcats, what level do you coach now?
Currently not coaching at the moment. But before I had the 8th grade team, I was an asst. on a varsity team. And now that I think about it, I was 22 with that team. It was my first 3 years out of HS as an asst.
Jan 30, 2010 11:15pm