honaker as a ref is a not so good

**imported_UKCats1** · February 11th, 2008, 09:14 AM

If you want things to change you have to get in touch with your principal. The principals are the only ones that can change things because they run the AOA.

**imported_UKCats1** · February 11th, 2008, 09:21 AM

Might be wise to remove this thread. Publicly calling someone a piece of ____ on an open forum could lead to trouble down the line for those that run this Forum. This is crossing the line. You have your opinions I recognize but flaming someone like this is bordering on libel.

**CoeburnCane** · February 11th, 2008, 10:14 AM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sportsman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Which game did you see Saturday?
</div></div>

JJK/Clintwood @JJK, both boys & girls JV games.

**imported_Sportsman** · February 11th, 2008, 10:25 AM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CoeburnCane</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sportsman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Which game did you see Saturday?
</div></div>

JJK/Clintwood @JJK, both boys & girls JV games. </div></div>

I think the young guys that are officiating JV games are doing a good job. I've seen a lot of improvement in them since the beginning of the season. It's really easy to criticize, but I know it takes a lot of work to be a good official and it doesn't happen the first few times you step out on the court. Becoming a good official takes commitment, and I applaud the young men that called that game on Saturday because I've seen that committment from them. The older gentlemen that called is someone I know from way back. He played high school sports at Coeburn. It was the first time I had seen him officiating, and I asked him what possessed him to get into it. He said he just loved it, and wanted to give something back to the game, and that he had been doing it for a couple of years. Sure they missed a few calls, but as long they are hustling and watching for things and showing improvement, I don't see how we can criticize these young guys.

I too agree that this post needs to be deleted, the subject of the post crosses the line as to the rules of the this board.

**CoeburnCane** · February 11th, 2008, 10:37 AM

The reasons I haven't deleted this post are multiple in my eyes--and some may disagree:

1) I think somewhere people have to have a place to vent their true frustration over the basketball officiating in this area, and the main board is not the place to do it--and I moved it here so the refs that are on here would have the opportunity to defend themselves and their performance.

2) This is one of the specialized boards that has far less traffic on it so anything like this on here is going to be seen by less people.

3) I do not totally disagree that this is over the line, stating something like that in the subject line--so that will be modified. Criticism should go as far as the person's officiating abilities, not to who they are as a person.

As for the older guy from Coeburn--I know him too. I'm glad he's jumping in and helping out...I worked with him while his youngest son was in Little League and we were coaches on the team. However--he's not very good at the moment, and he needs to buckle down and get serious about making calls that need to be made--not just the obvious ones. Otherwise--we end up with a kid like the one from Clintwood who got his leg broke by a kick from a kid on Appy's team, because nothing was getting called--and the kid got frustrated and kicked the Clintwood kid for what he felt was overly egregious contact.

I don't see the good in giving even the new officials a free pass if it means we're sending kids to the hospital because, due to the physical style they're calling, a kid thinks it's okay to kick another kid and break their leg? That just doesn't sit right with me, no matter where the kids or officials are from.

Also note: I nor any other mod do not have mod responsibilities on this board--only Rock does.

**imported_aoaofficial** · February 11th, 2008, 10:44 AM

Before this is deleted, I do want to say that we tried to change things last year and you all laughed at us. The AOA is not going to get better as a whole until the principals are off of our board and we have a say as who becomes the commissioner. Our commissioner in basketball got over $10,000 to assign games, plus he will make about $3500 to $4000 officiating. He also got about $5000 total for football. The other sports aren't quiet as much, but they pay pretty good. If I could become the commissioner and assign all sports, I could quit my full time job. Do you see why Mr. Altizer doesn't want change. I have been in the AOA for over 20 years and it is getting worse. Also, you need to consider the level of play isn't that good. I say this because I have seen good teams play. When I work a game with two good teams and call it the same way that I do a game with two weak teams, I call a better game with better teams and usually I don't do as well as I should in the weaker game. That's not to say that I am not busting my butt for those players. It's just easier to work a good game. If I call a foul that can go either way, someone is going to be upset. I have to make the call and stick with it. I know before anyone when I miss an obvious one, but the close one's, we usually get right. If someone in the AOA is terrible, and I know that there are some, we need to get them out. The problem is that we don't have anyone observing them and we don't require any camps for our officials to go to. We have a few local meetings, but they don't help.

I have rambled on too much. I know that when I go out on the floor or field, I try my best to give the kids a good game and when I don't, I do feel bad about it.

**sup-rbeast** · February 11th, 2008, 10:47 AM

Just like Rick James...habitual line steppers..lol

**CoeburnCane** · February 11th, 2008, 10:54 AM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: aoaofficial</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I have rambled on too much. I know that when I go out on the floor or field, I try my best to give the kids a good game and when I don't, I do feel bad about it.</div></div>

I wish every ref around here had that attitude. I commend you for having that attitude.

**pvfan** · February 11th, 2008, 11:37 AM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If we want to talk about how bad the officiating was with PV-JJK don't forget how bad it was at PV as well. Kalen Collins was the victim of one of the most blatant clips that I have ever seen If PV gets an apology,then you may as well send one to every school in the distric,because in every single game this year,foks have been bitching about the refs,and rightly so. The basketball refs in this area are atrocious. </div></div>

Agreed 100%, that was an awful no call. Like I said in the other thread, it's just that bad and it's going to continue to be that bad.

**imported_Counts** · February 11th, 2008, 01:35 PM

Basketball refing in our area has been bad for several years now and I am not seeing anything that makes me think anything is going to change anytime soon. The refs are human and will miss stuff and will have fans/coaches on them but here is my list of things that burn me up

1. Refs that try to even up calls (Team A is physical and pressing and fouling a lot but when the foul count between the team hits around 5 Team B will now pick up a cheap foul or 2 while team A can do no wrong for the next few mins) I have seen this happen so much that I can almost pick the point in the game it is going to start

2. Refs making calls that they are out of position to make. I will be the fist to admit I do not know the rotation refs use and which floor zones each coach is watching but I don't think that a Ref from half court with a player body blocking his view of the ball/defender can in good conches make a foul call from a striped ball under the basket (I have seen at least 1 or 2 out of position calls in EVERY GAME I have watched this season)

3. Refs that seem to looking for a reason to call a "T" I will admit that this seems to not be as bad this season as in past years but I have seen the comment "you have got to be kidding me" from the coach draw a T but

4. Refs that do a 180 at halftime(or even between quarters) and call the 2nd half compleatly different than they did the 1st half (i.e. 1st half is slowed by lots of fouls then the 2nd half is followed by LOTS of legalized muggings) IMHO everyone would be happier (you will NEVER make everyone happy) if what a foul is remained the same through the whole game.

I know that I could NEVER Ref basketball I would probable be guilty of #3 since it would only take a few comments to piss me off enough to get the guy bugging me out of the ball game LOL and since I hold a grudge I would probably be looking for the chance to get him again the next time I did one of there games.

I think I could do Football or Baseball (But Umpping LL behind the plat with beginner catchers has probably ruined me from ever doing that that job well LOL)