By
Posted February 23, 2009

(1 comment for this entry. Click here to make your comment.)

Lately it seems as though everyone wants to be a basketball official.

Everyone from the fans in the stands to the players on the court have an opinion on how the game is being called.

Oh, and that guy in the black-and-white striped shirt, his opinion doesn’t matter... because it’s wrong.

The demand for officials in the state of Michigan is higher than ever now that the MHSAA has made the season switch to hold both boys and girls basketball seasons at the same time. This means the same amount of officials and double the work, with some officials taking on games four or five nights a week. This also means they will see a lot of the same coaches, same fans, and same players more than once throughout the 20-game season.

We, as fans of the game, need to remember that officials are humans, and they too can make mistakes. From talking to many officials and even having officiated before, I can tell you that this job is not easy.

Also, contrary to most people’s beliefs, 99 percent of the time officials are not intentionally biased towards the opposing team. The most popular comment that comes from the stands is “Hey Ref! They have two fouls and we have nine, that’s pretty lopsided!”

Well, guess what, fans? It’s not because that official dislikes your team, it’s because your team is committing more fouls and needs to stop hacking.

If you think this job is easy, I challenge you to take the test and become an official. You will soon see just how easy it is when you have the whistle in your mouth, trying to keep an eye on all ten players on the court, while hundreds of screaming fans are calling for your head.

Fans, please remember: The next time you’re sitting in the stands, take a moment to put yourself in a referee’s position. They are human and they are allowed to make mistakes. These men and women are out there for their love of the game, definitely not for the paycheck.

Also, officials do not determine the outcome of games. They never have and they never will. “Bad calls” will not lose basketball games. Period.

There is always something else a team could have done throughout the course of a game to win that game. More free throws, fewer turnovers, and so on. I am here to tell you that referees don’t lose basketball games. Teams do.

Now I must address this from a different angle. The players.

Whatever happened to players respecting the officials, not arguing with or trying to persuade the officials?

Those days, for whatever reason, are long gone.

Where did we go wrong? Does this stem from players in the NBA constantly complaining about calls? I don’t get it.

I myself was always raised to believe that no matter what, the official is always right. If you don’t think he or she is right, then you either need to change your style of play, or play through the calls.

Or just maybe, there was some fine print that I missed. Maybe it was the official is always right, unless a player, fan, or coach can get him to somehow change his mind. And if that official is calling fouls on me, the player, then that official does not like me.

We have bred a generation of complainers and whiners. Attending games four or five nights a week, I have never seen a generation of athletes that complains and bickers with the officials more than now. As a fan of basketball in general, when you add in all the complaining from the fans and players, it makes the game hard to enjoy.

I think that the coaches have every right to talk to officials and even question a call every now and then. But by no means does a player have the right to whine or complain about getting called for a foul, or not getting a call. Players are there to do just that, play. Let the officials do their job and you do yours.

I personally do not think refs are strict enough. I don’t think they should tolerate any complaints or comments from the players. If the players have issues, they need to take it up with their coaches. If the players don’t want to listen to the officials’ call, hit them with a technical foul- that will make them listen.

I’m telling you, players, you are lucky that some officials hold back and don’t throw out technical fouls like candy.

It’s getting horrible. Stop complaining and play the game.

Not only are you making fools of yourself, but you’re also making fools out of your teammates and coaches. And for those of you at the varsity level, keep in mind that there are younger kids who look up to you. You’ve been there, and you had your high school role models when you were younger. So don’t promote this negative aspect of the game- do your best to improve it instead.