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I heard this discussed on the radio a few weeks ago after a couple of revered NC State alumni were tossed from the stands by a ref during a game. It caught a lot of attention around here, not sure about elsewhere.
The discussion brought up that refs are often working a ton of games, traveling all over the place and often don't take the time to scout the teams and are thus unprepared for what they might see in the game. They'll go from conference to conference wherever they can get a game -- though conferences often have their favorite refs -- and they can work 8 games in 9 days or 15 in 16.
With the frequent discussion this topic elicits here -- and not to say which ones suck or don't or to whine about calls -- I thought I'd point out a couple of articles on this. Plus, the author of the first article is a friend?
Have whistle, will travel: Are college basketball referees working too many games?
Referees’ Heavy Workloads a Concern for Some Coaches
The discussion brought up that refs are often working a ton of games, traveling all over the place and often don't take the time to scout the teams and are thus unprepared for what they might see in the game. They'll go from conference to conference wherever they can get a game -- though conferences often have their favorite refs -- and they can work 8 games in 9 days or 15 in 16.
With the frequent discussion this topic elicits here -- and not to say which ones suck or don't or to whine about calls -- I thought I'd point out a couple of articles on this. Plus, the author of the first article is a friend?
Have whistle, will travel: Are college basketball referees working too many games?
The top college basketball officials can take on a heavy workload. The officials work as independent contractors. They take assignments from different conferences. There is no limit as to the number of games an official can squeeze into his schedule.
In recent years, there has been a rising concern as some officials work as many as 90 games over the course of a season.
In recent years, there has been a rising concern as some officials work as many as 90 games over the course of a season.
Many call 80 to 90 games over a 20-week season, often for major conferences in the caldrons of big arenas.
The rigors of working so frequently in such pressure-laden situations, some coaches say, are resulting in bad calls.
“They can’t work the nights they’re working and give you the best they can give you,” UConn Coach Jim Calhoun said.
The rigors of working so frequently in such pressure-laden situations, some coaches say, are resulting in bad calls.
“They can’t work the nights they’re working and give you the best they can give you,” UConn Coach Jim Calhoun said.
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