AZ Official Boycott

[LaxRef]

http://www.westsidelax.com/index.php?id=66,4058,0,0,1,0

Apparently the officials are upset that video is being reviewed, probably the video we've been reviewing here. Maybe we should stop.

[spenny]

Steve Adamick, the Arizona Youth Lacrosse League's committee chair for rules, refused to comment. When reached by phone, he told WSL Executive Editor Nathan Max the following: "I really dislike you and your web site, so I have no comment."

now THAT's funny.

[LaxRef]

I'm a bit confused by this boycott. As officials, I think we need to understand that people will disagree with our calls and that there will be video evidence of our work available in some cases. I think it's perfectly reasonable for someone to submit that video for review: if you've done a good job, you have nothing to worry about.

So I don't think the time for boycott is when they're reviewing it. Wait until they have a chance to do so. If they come out and say, "The officials handled the situation appropriately," there's no problem. If they come out and say, "This was a judgment call, and the official made a call within the proper parameters. However, we would like to see this kind of hit given a more severe penalty," again, I think that's fine.

But if they come out and say, "The officials should have done so and so, and they didn't, so we're suspending them for two weeks," now I think you can start a process that could lead to a boycott or other action.

Similarly, if they do something dopey like, "The officials failed to award a free clear on a loose-ball goalie interference call, so they are suspended for two weeks," that needs to be addressed.

But as long as the state association looks at the tape and says something to the effect of, "That's a judgment call," I think they can look at all the tape they want.

[HdGLaxWarrior]

now THAT's funny.

that's one way to deal with the press.

that must've been that video we saw. i don't see why the officials would be upset since we only said what WE would call in a situation like that. correct me if i'm wrong, but i don't believe anyone criticized the referee's decision.

[brainddeadjock]

Steve Adamick, the Arizona Youth Lacrosse League's committee chair for rules, refused to comment. When reached by phone, he told WSL Executive Editor Nathan Max the following: "I really dislike you and your web site, so I have no comment."

now THAT's funny.

I feel the same about Westside Lax. I called them to correct some information about a team I used to coach and they weren't interested in the corrections since the article was already posted about 10 days prior.

[LaxRef]

that's one way to deal with the press.

that must've been that video we saw. i don't see why the officials would be upset since we only said what WE would call in a situation like that. correct me if i'm wrong, but i don't believe anyone criticized the referee's decision.

I don't think they're boycotting because of what we posted here; I think they're boycotting because the state is reviewing the tape. I was joking and forgot to use a smiley.

[3rdPersonPlural]

That video we've been reviewing is definitely a judgment call. I saw a kid who lowered his head but not his shoulder and kept his feet under him who bumped into a guy who was off balance as his pass was knocked down within 5 yards. Just about everybody else thought that it was spearing or helmet to helmet contact.

Since I am used to making calls from field level with full audio and with a lot more context than a 20 second clip, I would shrug and stand behind whatever the official on the field called if I was asked to review that tape clip.

As I recall, there was a flag on the play, so what might the dons of AZ lacrosse be complaining about? Perhaps the ref only penalized a minute? Perhaps he was supposed to prevent the encounter somehow? What!

Edit: Why call officials on the carpet for dangerous hits? Do they coach the kids? Why not ask the coaches to teach more controlled play or perhaps bench a player who is seeing red?

[brainddeadjock]

As I recall, there was a flag on the play, so what might the dons of AZ lacrosse be complaining about? Perhaps the ref only penalized a minute? Perhaps he was supposed to prevent the encounter somehow? What!

Edit: Why call officials on the carpet for dangerous hits? Do they coach the kids? Why not ask the coaches to teach more controlled play or perhaps bench a player who is seeing red?

Is this the video (http://www.chslax.com/film/sag_07mar08/clip12.html) your talking about?


As a ref, I get called out by fans in the stands all the time about the hit being dished out. 3PP has it right, how do I as the official stop some knucklehead from doing something illegal? Shouldn't the Coach be held responsible for the actions of HIS players?

[3rdPersonPlural]

...how do I as the official stop some knucklehead from doing something illegal?

Just rewind the tape to the prior foul committed by the guy and eject him for it.:WTF:

[flagman]

As a ref, I get called out by fans in the stands all the time about the hit being dished out. 3PP has it right, how do I as the official stop some knucklehead from doing something illegal? Shouldn't the Coach be held responsible for the actions of HIS players?

The players are held responsible by the rules that we enforce. I don't think we can stop the knuckleheads and we need to be careful about anticipating what might happen. In a game last night we had a situation where a player was lining up a guy on a buddy pass, but at the last moment he let up on the guy, gave him a hard enough pop to separate him from the ball and away he went.

[HdGLaxWarrior]

I don't think they're boycotting because of what we posted here; I think they're boycotting because the state is reviewing the tape. I was joking and forgot to use a smiley.

ok, my mistake.

[PlayOn]

I have been asking for tape of games i ref from coaches and none of them ever get it to me. I told them I'll buy some beers and we can watch it together. They probably watched it and realized i was right about whatever call the were upset about, but still i think it would really help me improve.