Something needs to be done about plays dying because the ref blows the play dead. Admit the mistake and let the play stand if that's what is right. Troy got hosed badly when Clemson running back fumbles on the One, ref blows play dead despite it being a legit fumble. Troy returned it 99 yards for a score. Would have given them the lead. Instead Clemson scores, 14 point swing because one ref made an egregious error.
REAL accountability would be a start. That goes for every level. Those guys make great money for the little time they work. High school officials make probably $40/hour or more and are untouchable. T$$AA stands behind them no matter what. If there was a mechanism for fining them, suspending them and let coaches blackball officials, that might, and I say might, have an impact. As it stands now, an official can come up to me, tell me he will make certain I don't win and eject me for no reason costing me $250 each time & force me to have to sit out games, but I can't do a damn thing about any of that. Not. One. Damn. Thing. Because the powers that be will always back the official. Money is all many of them want. Can't tell you how many times the first words out of an official's mouth is, "You have my check?" even after they just pulled into the parking lot. Tie their performance to their pay, and it may have some impact & give them incentive to perform competently.
This. I admittedly don't watch many HS games outside of southeast TN, but the officials I do see leave a lot to be desired. I'm sure football is awful, but basketball seems to have the worst officiating, at least in my opinion. Maybe football is equally bad.
Lost a game last year when a ref called what would have been a game winning touchdown back because he said the kid stepped out. He was on the other side of the field, I was standing right there. He had at least two feet of space. Couldn't believe it. Granted this is youth flag football and I don't expect much from a guy that refs that but lord have mercy was it a bad call. Kid had a great run taken away.
Part of problem is not enough officials as is. Of course if the T$$AA would pay more they might attract better quality guys.
T$$AA doesn't pay officials a dime. In fact, officials pay them. The schools are on the hook for 100% of the official's pay which is set by T$$AA.
$150 for a varsity/JV double header softball game for 2 umps is ridiculous. Even more so when you're looking at 2 1/2 hours, tops.
If I was a HS coach I would punch a ref. I just don't see a way around based on these stories. The guy who showed up before the game and asked the coach where his check was, I don't know who that was, but you are far better of a man than I.
Preach on. There is no reason for incompetent officiating in a Power 5 football game with billions of dollars in TV revenue and millions more wagered.
Me. That happens most every game. I about got in a fight with a ref my first year teaching over this. Was at a middle school & was basketball (yes, I hate basketball, but it came with the job. Had 1 win over mighty Joppa). We had no assistant principal, the principal was out in Nashville for state dept of ed meetings and our secretary/bookkeeper was absent due to the unexpected death of her brother I think. There was no one there with the authority to write the checks. I was asked to explain the situation, apologize and get their addresses so the checks could be mailed. The guy got really hostile and smart-assed. So did I. Was escorted away by the girls head coach after I was nose to nose with the guy calling his mother not so flattering names.
Oh I understood it as he was expecting to get paid off (above the normal amount) in exchange for favorable calls.
Yeah, but don't they set the rates or am I mistaken on that. Or at least recommenndations. I could go and sign up to join the knoxville association today and ref a game Friday night they are so short of refs.
