Do Basketball Officials Referee Too Many Games?

[Wildcat Larry]

I guess this might look to be specifically for lighthouse, but I would like others take on this also.

I have, for a long time, thought that college basketball officials work way too many games and the quality of officiating suffers for it. Our wonderful friend, Karl Hess, brought that to my attention again yesterday. Looking Hess you can tell he's no spring chicken .... either that, or he's had a terribly hard life. ;) Anyway, here's Hess calling the UNC-UK game on Saturday and then calling the Virginia Tech - Duke game on Sunday. I figure Hess, like our old friend John Clougherty use to, probably referees 5 or six games a week. Now this ain't football where the game stops between each play, so a referee is running up and down the court for two hours (without being substituted for), then running to the airport to get to the next town to referee a big game the very next day.

These guys have to be exhausted, and it that's true, it has to effect the quality of their officiating. The game is played by 18-21 year olds who are in sterling shape and seldom do you see any of them out there for the full 40 minutes. Most only play in the 20 minute range. Then, they don't play a game the next day (usually), but instead have 3 or 4 days (at least) between games for their body and mind to recover.

Officials, on the other hand, aren't 18-21 and there's just no way that they could be in good enough shape to be able to keep a physical and mental edge while refereeing a game every night of the week in different cities all ove the country.

Do you think that there should be a limitation as to how often a referee can work a college game? It would seem in the best interest of the game, but I suppose you would get into all sorts of legal "rights" question if you initiated such a rule. Heck, even bus drivers and truck drivers can only drive so many hours a week.

What do you think?

[lighthouse]

Larry, like you I hope others will give an opinion on this subject. I don't personally know Mr. Hess, so I can't give an opinion on him. But I can give you how one very good official, that everyone sees on a regular basis, handles his schedule.

For information purposes, in the 3 man crew system, endurance is more important than speed, although in some instances they have to go all out for an extended time.

First, he runs all summer to stay in the best shape possible. If he hastwo or more gameson successive days, this is how he tries to arrange his travel. After a game, he will eat a light dinner and go to bed as early as possiblethat night.Based on his flight schedule, he will get up inplenty of time to get up and eat a good breakfast before his flight to the next venue. When he arrives, he will eat a good lunch, and review any video or game situations from the conferences he works in, and then take a nap. He will get up in time to take a shower, eat a snack, and get to the arena approx. 2 hours before game time. This is required by most conferences. He and his partners will meet for a pregame conference, and discuss floor coverage, and and weird things that have happened in other games they worked. They must be on the court 30 minutes before tipoff. After the game, it starts all over. If you think about it, it's not a real hectic or tiring schedule.

Most conferences use the highest rated officials first, and ifthose officials work several conferences, they will work more games than most.The majority of officials work a game, go home and travel to their next game on gameday.

[Gboston50]

I have been envolved in basketball officiating of over 30 years and have been to numerous camps. Every camp clinician will tell you that 3 to 4 dates per week is enough because of the fatigue factor. It is rediculous that many college officials work nearly every night. Several good examples of this are Ted Hillary and Steve Welmer.

Ted Hillary has worked 82 games this season as of Saturday 3/15. He was a good official at one time but he can hardly get up and down the court now. He certainly does not need to work that may games in a season.

Steve Welmer has worked 109 games as of saturday 3/15. He also worked two 18-day consecutive stretches in November-December. That's crazy. I would not really criticize him but that may be why he has such a difficult time getting up and down the court. He also spends a great amount of time pulling up his pants during every game like he is watching himself in the mirror. If he would realize how redicuous this looks he might do something about.

Both of these officials struggle to get to the baseline ahead of a fast breaks and need to retire (in my opinion). I think that working this many games if quite greedy also.

Again, this is just my opinion.

[lighthouse]

I have been envolved in basketball officiating of over 30 years and have been to numerous camps. Every camp clinician will tell you that 3 to 4 dates per week is enough because of the fatigue factor. It is rediculous that many college officials work nearly every night. Several good examples of this are Ted Hillary and Steve Welmer.

Ted Hillary has worked 82 games this season as of Saturday 3/15. He was a good official at one time but he can hardly get up and down the court now. He certainly does not need to work that may games in a season.

Steve Welmer has worked 109 games as of saturday 3/15. He also worked two 18-day consecutive stretches in November-December. That's crazy. I would not really criticize him but that may be why he has such a difficult time getting up and down the court. He also spends a great amount of time pulling up his pants during every game like he is watching himself in the mirror. If he would realize how redicuous this looks he might do something about.

Both of these officials struggle to get to the baseline ahead of a fast breaks and need to retire (in my opinion). I think that working this many games if quite greedy also.

Again, this is just my opinion.

Which you are entitled to. I would be interested in where you work. I've never met Mr Hillary, but I know Steve Welmer and he is a very good dedicated official. The tugging at his pants thing is just a habit and nothing more. I agree working that many games is too many, but if that's all you do in that period, and you do a good job of planning your time, it can be done. Again, I agree that is too many games. I disagree with you about Steve struggling on the court. His floor coverage is always exceptional, and although he's not as fast as younger shorter officials, he does a good job. Remember, he's 6'7". Steve works the Big 10, Big 12, Big East, and I think another one I can't remember. He's a good official and I will take him anytime.

There are several good officials that are getting close to retirement and the game will suffer when they do. One is Ed Hightower.

[NOWIS]

My thought is that there are just not enough good officials to go around, no make that there are jusn not enough officials to go around. You can't hardly fire the bad ones because there is no one to replace them and then you are even shorter on refs.

[lighthouse]

My thought is that there are just not enough good officials to go around, no make that there are jusn not enough officials to go around. You can't hardly fire the bad ones because there is no one to replace them and then you are even shorter on refs.

That's more true than you would think. It's hard to attract new officials, but once they begin, they are already looking at being a final 4 official. One of the major problems is this. Back when I started you had to work and earn your way up the ladder. My first HS game was a JV game and I worked the entire game. And one of the Varsity officials worked the first half and the other the second half. I got no pay, but they bought my supper. I had to prove myself and be recommended by a college coach to get into a conference. Today, officials begin their career's pushing to get on the Varsity list, and then attend a camp. If they impress conference supervisors, they get in. They are spoiled and certainly don't have the pride that goes along with hard work and earning you way.

[NOWIS]

That's more true than you would think. It's hard to attract new officials, but once they begin, they are already looking at being a final 4 official. One of the major problems is this. Back when I started you had to work and earn your way up the ladder. My first HS game was a JV game and I worked the entire game. And one of the Varsity officials worked the first half and the other the second half. I got no pay, but they bought my supper. I had to prove myself and be recommended by a college coach to get into a conference. Today, officials begin their career's pushing to get on the Varsity list, and then attend a camp. If they impress conference supervisors, they get in. They are spoiled and certainly don't have the pride that goes along with hard work and earning you way.

It sounds like aspiring officials are just like the basketball players, they want to start at the top too

[lighthouse]

Gboston50, I would be interested in knowing where you officiate. You posted some negative comments about 2 veteran, trusted and seasoned officials, and failed to tell us your qualifications. While I agree with you that some are working far to many games, I would like to know more about you.

Thanks.

[Ukosumu]

Kind of off topic but if someone wanted to ref college cames what would they have to do to qualify? Is the best route HS then college or is there another way?

[lighthouse]

Kind of off topic but if someone wanted to ref college cames what would they have to do to qualify? Is the best route HS then college or is there another way?

HS is the place to begin, and then go to the clinic's.

[Ukosumu]

Thanks!