Officiating

[roaminthehalls]

SPPAWFAN! Really, Jarvis!! Oldskool has it right. He has lost some sight in the past few years. I'd like to say he has lost some speed, but he very rarely runs!!!! The only ref that runs less is Goisivich. Jarvis thinks he is above some games. If it's not a good game he'll loaf. I don't know the pay scale for refs, but I'll bet it's the same wether the game is close or a blowout. Someone mentioned Zambanini carrying Opegard and Saylor. I have seen Zambanini with Jarvis, not those other guys.

[roaminthehalls]

Almost forgot to mention that I was at the Shade vs Berlin dbl OT thriller. Obvious foul against Shade not called with seconds to go in regulation that would have put Berlin on line to win. Opegad, Saylor and whoever was with them that night swallowed their whistles in a big situation. A foul is a foul no matter how much time is left. Shade player bear hugged the Berlin player.

[say_oww]

I agree it is an ungrateful job. However, that would change if pay were increased. An increased pay scale would attract better candidates to the vocation. Unfortunately, the good ones get lumped in with the vast majority who are there for a quick buck. Good officials shouldn't feel obligated to stick for their brethren. Good coaches don't feel the need to stick up for the posers. Most officials would not reciprocate. Especially, those who employ the "take the test" defense.

[nsmoore2]

Take the test defense is how I got involved. I accepted a challenge. But being out there is tough. I wish I would have done this earlier, like 15 years ago. To me a good official is consistent.

[Oldskoolhoops]

Does anyone remember 10 years or so ago when every kid started to try to dribble like Allen Iverson and would get called for a carry or turning the ball over on their palm. It took 5-7 years but the refs finally quit calling that.

[anysport24]

One question for say_oww.....weren't you the one complaning in your posts last fall that some of the officials are only in it to make "extra" money.......now you are saying to pay more money to get better officials........if that is the case, i guess the newer and better officials would only be doing it for the money also, Correct????????..........Also, remember this money is being paid by the school districts and not the districts themselves.........I have heard some officials like to ref at some schools more than others due to the pay is more for one school district compared to other school district's

[nbcsports]

One question for say_oww.....weren't you the one complaning in your posts last fall that some of the officials are only in it to make "extra" money.......now you are saying to pay more money to get better officials........if that is the case, i guess the newer and better officials would only be doing it for the money also, Correct????????..........Also, remember this money is being paid by the school districts and not the districts themselves.........I have heard some officials like to ref at some schools more than others due to the pay is more for one school district compared to other school district's

Thus, this is where the ( Homer ) comes in to play.

Homer= (Hom' er) , ref that gives phantom calls to the away team in order to obtain a good relationship with the home coach in order to come back for the good pay-out.

[sppawfan]

Wow isn't that the truth now after hearing that! Gotcha!!!!!

[WPIAL~Titan]

Have any of you ever seen these PIAA written tests for officials? Morons and imbeciles could pass them. They ask you to spell "cat" and spot you the "c" and the "a." I am dead serious. An ant could jump over the bar set by the PIAA for officials. Clearly the PIAA is desperate due to the shortage of officials.

I saw two guys doing a WPIAL AAAA game last night who had absolutely no business doing a varsity game. They were inconsistent, and too slow to react. Thier mechanics were wrong, didn't even come to the scorers table to indicate fouls, and attributed fouls to the wrong player not once but twice. I was embarassed for the officials and the evaluator was embarassed for them. They were overmatched and not ready for anything above JV games. Clearly, they were placed in a position to fail.

The assigner took these 2 guys, put them with a decent (not great) official in a AAAA game that was meaningless in terms of playoff implications, and voila they now these two ill-prepared guys have AAAA experience. I can't even blame these two guys, they were placed in a position to fail due to the shortage of officials.

[say_oww]

One question for say_oww.....weren't you the one complaning in your posts last fall that some of the officials are only in it to make "extra" money.......now you are saying to pay more money to get better officials........if that is the case, i guess the newer and better officials would only be doing it for the money also, Correct????????

Absolutely. I said the guys involved now do it because it is an easy way for them to make a buck. Since then I realized the main issue isn't training but rather a lack of applicants. Instead of changing the requirements, etc. The only way to get more qualified personnel is to make the job more attractive ~ more $$$. Thats how you can get former athletes involved. Think about it, out of all of the officials you know, how many are former athletes or coaches of any worth? About 1%. 99% are some schlubs who are there to perform a job that no one else wants. The status quo has no incentive to improve.

The reality is that the solution must come from the PIAA. An equitable system should be in place where schools should not be able pay what they choose. Baseball, football, and basketball could learn a lesson from the "foreign" sports like soccer and hockey. **** all you want about the AYSO or AHA, but they have organizations and structure the PIAA should envy. From the time hockey and soccer players are 5 years old theri games are officiated by an adult member of the association. The same adults also officiate the upper levels as well. Make jokes about the fact that soccer sucks or that you need to be able to skate in hockey, but at least they get it right.