Missed calls?

[Reason is Lost]

Having read many posts over the last couple of weeks, I dat back ans realized how many of them mentioned officiating... To clarify, the threads mankind comments rarely mention "outstanding" as descriptors. I can't help but think how much officials impact these (playoff games) and, quite frankly, more than they should. There are discussions about "home cooking", situational misses, mystery flags, and huge impact ones that change outcomes. Why is that? I realize they aren't professionals and paid accordingly, but to some degree, I wonder how many of them review and discuss film provided to them by coaches. Or, if they don't, why don't they solicit film to enhance their product? I just read a thread about an official doing games at a school his child attended. Are you kidding me? Not to mention anyone by name, how many of you know officials and could rank them as oustanding, efficient, tolerable, to downright lousy? Most would probably say that if the team executed well enough, fewer opportunities for flags would be had, but is that always true? Would anyone make the argument that they are prone to more flags because of reputation? That's a stretch, but can't be out of the realm of possibility.
I'm not looking for confrontation, but the discussions raised an eyebrow, so I opened a thread...

 

[dringtuoti]

Officiating is a tough and thankless job and there are definitely some horrible ones out there go attend a girls 1A basketball game) but the majority of them (even if they are bad) don't do anything wrong on purpose - they aren't cheating anyone or the kids on purpose. The officiating in the NBA and NFL is pretty bad at times too, have cost teams a couple of games over the past two weeks, and those guys are professionals.

It's tough to police, especially at the high school level. I know of an official several years ago in Southwest VA, who's kid played on a JV team, and he officiated a few of the varsity games on Fridays. He was so over the top to prove he wasn't biased it was beyond ridiculous. Why he ever put himself in that position was beyond me?

 

[Reason is Lost]

I think you may be right with policing officials... In order to do it efficiently, It would likely require a board of review, perhaps fees, and any number of rules and policies making it difficult for most. I just can't imagine how so many mistakes are made and programs affected by a lack of consistency. Shame!

 

[GilliamRatings]

You act like there's a long line waiting to take their jobs. I get as mad at them as anyone, but I feel like if we "discipline" a bunch of them we won't even have enough to call the games.

 

[DinwiddieProud]

If someone has a better mousetrap, let's see it!

 

[Reason is Lost]

I'm not arguing against them... And, to a large degree, I support your thoughts. But, it shouldn't be a theme at this time of year. I think, by and large, many do a pretty solid job. When you watch a great game and enjoy the effort and passion these kids display because they decided the outcome, then I wouldn't have brought it up. There was a book called "Scorecasting" that talked about officials "swallowing the whistle" and allowing the players to determine the outcome. Tough to do in HS... I just brought it up because it seemed interesting enough to talk about. Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[dringtuoti]

I'm not arguing against them... And, to a large degree, I support your thoughts. But, it shouldn't be a theme at this time of year. I think, by and large, many do a pretty solid job. When you watch a great game and enjoy the effort and passion these kids display because they decided the outcome, then I wouldn't have brought it up. There was a book called "Scorecasting" that talked about officials "swallowing the whistle" and allowing the players to determine the outcome. Tough to do in HS... I just brought it up because it seemed interesting enough to talk about. Thanks for your thoughts!

I hate when officials swallow the whistle and say "let the players determine the outcome". If its a penalty or a foul then call it otherwise you're letting one group's kids determine the outcome (the ones committing the penalty/foul). I go nuts when officials don't call a blatant foul on a late game drive to the basket under 10 seconds.

 

[Reason is Lost]

Yeah.. reading the book made me feel the aame way! If there's a call to be made, make the call... I don't think there is a true logic to swallowing the whistle when it comes to critical moments. One way or another, good or bad, I think officials will affect games. I really don't see a way that they can't?

 

[GoMBKMonarchs]

It's the same every year. Obviously, losses are much bigger this time of year because you lose and you are gone. In prior formats in the Richmond area, regular season losses were very impactful as well. So why does this matter? I've never seen a batter agree with a called third strike, and I've never seen a fan of a losing team that hasn't griped about the ref's. Yes, bad calls happen. However, it has been my experience the majority of gripes are from fans who didn't have things go their way, as opposed to actual bad calls.

 

[VaPrepsRod]

It's the same every year. Obviously, losses are much bigger this time of year because you lose and you are gone. In prior formats in the Richmond area, regular season losses were very impactful as well. So why does this matter? I've never seen a batter agree with a called third strike, and I've never seen a fan of a losing team that hasn't griped about the ref's. Yes, bad calls happen. However, it has been my experience the majority of gripes are from fans who didn't have things go their way, as opposed to actual bad calls.

1,000 times agree with this.

I stopped caring about or discussing any referee calls when I turned 12 years old.

 

[WP02alum]

I stopped caring about or discussing any referee calls when I turned 12 years old.

Wait, seriously? You've never debated a referee's call in your adult life? I mean, good for you, but that seems impossible.

 

[VaPrepsRod]

Wait, seriously? You've never debated a referee's call in your adult life? I mean, good for you, but that seems impossible.

Never have. I have recognized that guys have made mistakes, but simply shrug my shoulders, say "human error" and move on to the next play. Or maybe an "Ooofff, bad call there" and move on.

I'm perfectly content recognizing that people make mistakes and that it all part of the way that the world works. I recognize that I am strange in that regard (not better, not worse, just different)

I also made a conscious decision when I was younger to not care what an athlete gets paid.

Both decisions have really helped make my enjoyment of sports more fun through the years.

12 may have been a bit of an exaggeration for effect, but it wasn't more than or 16 when I decided that.

Yelling at refs and complaining to no end is ugly, to me.

Same goes for booing players, turnovers and stuff like that, by the way. I really only care about the athleticism on display and what the scoreboard says at the end.

 

[WP02alum]

Definitely a good stance to take & agreed that taking the high road as a fan is always best. I'm just seeing an ocean of middle ground between no conversation at all about calls to yelling endlessly at referees. Seems like you're contending (in some ways) that there are only these two extremes. I feel like there's plenty of room to debate a referee's decision with those around you without it turning into yelling at the ref or endless complaining.

 

[VaPrepsRod]

Definitely a good stance to take & agreed that taking the high road as a fan is always best. I'm just seeing an ocean of middle ground between no conversation at all about calls to yelling endlessly at referees. Seems like you're contending (in some ways) that there are only these two extremes. I feel like there's plenty of room to debate a referee's decision with those around you without it turning into yelling at the ref or endless complaining.

I'm sure that is possible, just haven't met that person yet. LOL.

Actually, I watch the NCAA basketball tournament every year with a couple of retired refs and we have normal conversations about the calls but most of those center strictly around the interpretation of the rule.

I find my stance to be much more apathetic than extreme.

 

[WP02alum]

I'm sure that is possible, just haven't met that person yet. LOL.

Actually, I watch the NCAA basketball tournament every year with a couple of retired refs and we have normal conversations about the calls but most of those center strictly around the interpretation of the rule.

I find my stance to be much more apathetic than extreme.

I imagine you & I are just not familiar with what each other is describing. Perhaps my idea of the middle ground, you would classify as more or less no reaction to referee decisions.

I didn't intend to say your point of view is extreme, just that people who don't have any referee reactions/discussions (yourself) vs. ranting/yelling at referees are two extremes on the fan reaction spectrum.

Of course, I will admit that I know I see things more objectively when I have no personal "rooting" interest, more like a reporter versus a fan.

 

[VaPrepsRod]

I imagine you & I are just not familiar with what each other is describing. Perhaps my idea of the middle ground, you would classify as more or less no reaction to referee decisions.

I didn't intend to say your point of view is extreme, just that people who don't have any referee reactions/discussions (yourself) vs. ranting/yelling at referees are two extremes on the fan reaction spectrum.

Of course, I will admit that I know I see things more objectively when I have no personal "rooting" interest, more like a reporter versus a fan.

Yeah, I don't think that we are on opposite sides at all.

I'm just more interested in why a call was made and what the ref/umpire saw than I am venting about it.

I'm the baseball manager who walks out of the dugout and has a discussion with the ump, not the guy who throws dirt on the plate.

Again, I recognize that guys miss calls all the time, I just don't know what yelling and screaming does to a) fix it or b) to make me feel better about him missing a call.

I save my anger for when NCAA 14 XBox decides that a linebacker can jump ten feet into the air and pick off my crossing route pass as I'm driving for the game-winning touchdown.

 

[WP02alum]

I save my anger for when NCAA 14 XBox decides that a linebacker can jump ten feet into the air and pick off my crossing route pass as I'm driving for the game-winning touchdown.

Hahahahaaha, yes!

 

[DinwiddieProud]

I'm not a demonstrative person by any stretch of the the word, but I don't have the level of peace and contentment you have Rod. I'm in that middle ground that WPO2 is speaking of. My enjoyment is enhanced by usually being seated near someone that I respect for his rules knowledge. After enough explanations that proved to me that I really have no idea what I thought I knew, I'm even more nonchalant about iffy calls than I've ever been. And not getting caught up in the bad call thing has helped me to enjoy the events more.

But, every once and awhile I feel the need to remind an official that his vision is in need of corrective eye wear! I reserve that right to be an ordinary obnoxious fan when the need arises.

 

[GilliamRatings]

Lots of bad calls. If you watch the game and no the rules you see refs miss a lot, call stuff that didn't happen and call it tight for a while and then suddenly don't call anything. That all bugs me, but it's all part of the game and I always told my kids we had to be good enough that a referee's call couldn't take the game away from us.

The only time I get up in arms is if the referees are truly biased, and that does happen. I know it does because referees are human beings.

 

[Virginia HS Football Fan]

Looked like home teams still can use their local officials even though the current playoff system is fairly new. I found that to be interesting.