[Gilgilchr]

Has anyone else observed that there seems to be a difference in calls slanted toward the home court by referees? Generally, the best team determines their destiny in a game, but I have observed this year that the home team has an advantage in close games.

Really, it's not sour grapes, but it has just become more obvious to me this year. In fact, a friend of mine is a referee & he commented to me that the ref gets paid by the home team but that was all he'd say...hmmm.

Any comments?

[spurs50_21]

Always seems to happen at Pickerington North.

[Courtsports]

I would say that there is a unconscious biased in favor of the home team. Obviously you know that they are paying you and want to get paid again. Do I believe this happens consciously, no. But you still go into the game knowing you owe someone for a job that night.

[CYMEL]

High school refs this year are very bad.Many times this year I have seen coaches just ask a question and the ref get very defensive.Some not all refs have the attitude that they are part of the game.If a ref has a good game then you should not even notice who they are.

My understanding is that the OHSAA sends refs randomly....I understand who pays them, but it does seem as though the calls go a certain direction then one of the three will give you a make-up call...If the job is done right that wouldn't be necessary. Everyone of us has seen a bad call, we also know we don't see everything so to expect the refs to is almost impossible. However, I have heard of refs making comments to players, generally the best girls on the team, that they weren't going to give them calls because they can handle it. Handle it or not, a foul is a foul, and this is a poor choice in the refs case because someone is going to get hurt with this attitude. I think we have all seen games that need to be taken control of by the officiating team.

I was at a game last week where the home team players fist bumped all the refs after girls were introduced before the game. It bothered many of the opposing fans.

[PSETTLES]

Fist bumps or not, i feel that is respect but the refs are real bad and will get worst if they don't monitor the refs actions

[3dognites]

CleanSweep...I have seen BOTH teams do that in almost every game I've seen this year. They used to shake hands, but most officials don't like to do that especially during flu season when germs can be easily spread. I see no reason anyone should be "bothered". To me, it's just a normal part of the player introductions...just like shaking hands with opposing coaches or players.

[sharktank]

In every officiating forum you see the comment that "if a ref has a good game you won't even notice they are there." I disagree. Too often officials will call things that look like violations and fouls and everyone in the gym shakes their head and agrees and nobody "notices" them but they do a disservice to the game and other officials. Examples include calling a travel when the player does not have control of the ball, calling a travel when a player slides on the floor with the ball, calling a foul on a good athletic block, calling over the back when the player rebounds the ball over the back of the player but does not make contact, calling a "reach in" foul (which does not exist in any rulebook) when no contact is made, calling three seconds when the player is making a move to the basket, calling over and back when the ball is tipped by the defense but touches the offense last, etc.. The good official makes those calls correctly, gets loudly booed and is noticed. The guy who calls them incorrectly is not noticed.

[dewalltheway]

What I have seen the most so far this year is inconsistency. A call made at one end and then the same thing at the other end happens and there is no call. I have seen a ref call every foul 1 girl had and put her into foul trouble in a close game on our home court. I have seen a girl who usually shoots 4-6 free throws a game from driving and drawing a foul, to shooting none in a game and being knocked to the floor with no call.

I just think the officiating today has let the game get out of hand and the good, fundamental aspects of game for players who have the talent to display these aspects be thrown out the window. IE...If you can't stay with your player, hold on to him/her; Knock the girl to the floor so she looses the ball and call it a steal; Block the ball even if you knock the player to the floor and say they got all ball (why do we teach ball fakes if when they do it and the girl/boy gets into the air and they force contact they don't call it?) or my favorite....let the defender put a saddle on the offensive player and ride her all over the floor but then when the O player uses their arm to protect the ball and get the D off them the O player gets called for player control foul!

And the end of my rant.....coaches should be teaching these fundamentals and enforcing them instead of teaching players to cheat and play dirty! This is where fights break out and players get hurt. I'm done.

[Gilgilchr]

Good post, Dwell...that exactly the sort of things that are frustrating me too, and too often it happens to the visiting team

[gbbigdaddy]

Originally Posted by spurs50_21

Always seems to happen at Pickerington North.

I'm sure it never happens at Reynoldsburg since all referees are randomly appointed to games.

[lmavcch3]

I notice it a lot more at nonleague games, where the refs are hired and paid by the home team. At some schools, you know who the officials are going to be at all nonleague games. The results are consistently in favor of the home team at critical moments. Sad but true.

I was at a game one time, talking to parents of an opposing team, who were friends of mine. I actually apologized to them for my school. The officiating was that bad.

That being said, in most cases, I think most officials do a credible job. It trully is a thankless job.

[fan_of_fairness]

It has turned into a game for thugs ..(definition: Thug - a person who treats others violently and roughly)

[lexilou11]

Spurs im sry but what is your problem when it comes to pick north?!?! Im very curious.

[spurs50_21]

Lexilou-

I don't think it's a big secret that over the past several years at Pick. North, referee calls, especially late in close games, have gone the way of the home team. Whether intentional, unintentional, or due to the "Butcher effect" (he can intimidate), it happens often.

[lmavcch3]

How can a 5'4" coach "intimidate" a ref? What's he going to do, beat him up? If that's the case, the ref needs to find a new hobby/second job.

In my experience of coaching, the more you ride a ref, the less likely you are going to get that close call.

[spurs50_21]

Since when is size the only source of intimidation? Butcher wields a lot of power and influence in central Ohio circles, that's all I'm sayin'. Literally, that's all I'm saying.

[lexilou11]

But everyone here has said that this happens alot in all games that the home team seems to be getting the advantage and all your worried about is that pick north seems to be the only team that does it. Im not trying to be rude i just dont understand why you are only pin-pointing pick north. It just doesnt seem right

[osu_silveraider]

Most refs are assigned by the conference in which a team plays. Some private schools/non conference affiliated schools tend to hire the same refs over and over again. Those refs, like it or not..become familiar with the home team and tend to give the benefit of the doubt towards the locals....or so it seems. Inconsistency has always been a problem in basketball. I'm not so sure it is a home/visitor deal but more of a crew needing to work together a little better.