Hotrodder is right on the money here.
The only thing that I want to point out here is why does all of the sudden everything have to change because we are in the weeks of the qualifying tournaments? I think the refs need to step up their game and know that emotions will be high and instead of coming down harder on everyone they may want to be a little more understanding of the situations. Maybe add an extra ref or two to float and keep the refs fresher and keep the head ref available to move from mat to mat and assist the other refs.
And who holds the refs accountable? How can we hold the refs accountable?
If the refs are going to step up and hold people more accountable of the rules then how can we do that of them?
Isn’t it stated in the rules that ALL refs should dress in the exact same attire and have their refs’ numbers visible? Where was that this weekend? Do we send the ref away from the mat and start a timer and if he cannot report back to the mat ready to officiate then he forfeits his pay???
What about asking a ref for his name? I’ve done this and got a warning! That’s a total crock! Every year we have to vote on who we chose to be in state events. They don’t wear their numbers or give their names so it’s hard to hold them accountable through that process.
What about the use of profanity by a ref? A ref telling a coach to shut the hell up or to stop his bit@#ing and complaining?
I know good refs are hard to find, and the pay isn’t the best, and we don’t want to chase the good ones away…. Blah blah! But not only are the paid to be there and over see the rules of the match they are paid to be impartial. Some of these refs walk onto a mat with a chip on their shoulder because they see a coach in the corner that is as knowledgeable as they are and know that they are going to have to be prepared to do the job they are being paid for cause that coach will hold them accountable. So instantly they are defensive and if and when it comes time to explain a call or confront that coach they are quick to wave them off or say it was a judgment call so they don’t have to explain themselves.
I would like Ned or someone walk me through how to handle a ref using profanity or something like this before we see it this weekend because we saw plenty of it last weekend.