WIAA officials shortage reaches 'crisis mode' - WKOW
https://wkow.com/2021/08/26/wiaa-officials-shortage-reaches-crisis-mode/
I can tell you why I am not officiating this year. I don't want to wear a mask.
So it's not the fans getting after you or the 10-12 hour Saturdays or the weigh ins and having to disqualify kids for skin issues or coaches on your rear and in your ear? The mask is just too much, the straw that broke the camel's back?
Quote from: 400excracer on September 09, 2021, 01:02:17 PM
I can tell you why I am not officiating this year. I don't want to wear a mask.
Quote from: MNbadger on September 09, 2021, 07:26:45 PM
So it's not the fans getting after you or the 10-12 hour Saturdays or the weigh ins and having to disqualify kids for skin issues or coaches on your rear and in your ear? The mask is just too much, the straw that broke the camel's back?Quote from: 400excracer on September 09, 2021, 01:02:17 PM
I can tell you why I am not officiating this year. I don't want to wear a mask.
Gotta agree with MNBadger here - a lousy mask is the deal breaker for you?
Quote from: npope on September 10, 2021, 04:57:48 PM
Quote from: MNbadger on September 09, 2021, 07:26:45 PM
So it's not the fans getting after you or the 10-12 hour Saturdays or the weigh ins and having to disqualify kids for skin issues or coaches on your rear and in your ear? The mask is just too much, the straw that broke the camel's back?Quote from: 400excracer on September 09, 2021, 01:02:17 PM
I can tell you why I am not officiating this year. I don't want to wear a mask.
Gotta agree with MNBadger here - a lousy mask is the deal breaker for you?
Go run around a mat for 12 hours with a mask on and you may change your mind.
I agree with Padre and excracer. No further discussion really necessary.
I (and I assume all other coaches) demonstrated and wrestled with our athletes with masks on. This in addition to wearing them all day on the job.
The wrestlers wore them when they wrestled in Wisconsin, didn't they?
I am posting this even though DarkKnight decreed that there was to be no more discussion........
Decades of RN's, surgeons, lab techs, scientists, tons of construction trades, and countless other professions that have been wearing masks and lots of other PPE (many that are much more restrictive) in much worse conditions then a HS gym think you are probably being just a bit dramatic.
And now I decree this the end of the conversation.
Just have to shake my head...I'll never understand how people feel the need to tell others how they should think and feel about things. There's an official shortage, and an official comes on here and explains why he doesn't want to do it anymore and the reason why, and low and behold, the self-righteous non-officials chose to criticize that official. Boy, that will help with the official's shortage. ::)
Quote from: dman on September 14, 2021, 07:44:55 AM
Just have to shake my head...I'll never understand how people feel the need to tell others how they should think and feel about things. There's an official shortage, and an official comes on here and explains why he doesn't want to do it anymore and the reason why, and low and behold, the self-righteous non-officials chose to criticize that official. Boy, that will help with the official's shortage. ::)
Plus one.
Your references to people doing it in their job is pointless. That's how they make their living. Refs do it because they enjoy it. Wearing a mask brings very little enjoyment.
Referees are paid for their work. Yes, it includes doing it for the enjoyment like other jobs.
I suppose it is like coaching. Coaching is a paid position. The pay is not much when you calculate the hours so it is done for the love of the sport to some degree. That has not stopped numerous accusations/intimations of coaches being lazy.
Apparently for some the mask is too far to go for the money and/or the enjoyment of the sport.
Quote from: dman on September 14, 2021, 07:44:55 AM
Just have to shake my head...I'll never understand how people feel the need to tell others how they should think and feel about things. There's an official shortage, and an official comes on here and explains why he doesn't want to do it anymore and the reason why, and low and behold, the self-righteous non-officials chose to criticize that official. Boy, that will help with the official's shortage. ::)
+ 100000000000
I suspect the lack of support for the ref in the Halter mess a few years back might also have had some impact on people wanting to ref.
Quote from: npope on September 15, 2021, 02:26:42 PM
I suspect the lack of support for the ref in the Halter mess a few years back might also have had some impact on people wanting to ref.
What do you mean? The WIAA fought this all the way and eventually won. The title was vacated.
Chuck
Quote from: chucker66 on September 17, 2021, 07:12:38 AM
Quote from: npope on September 15, 2021, 02:26:42 PM
I suspect the lack of support for the ref in the Halter mess a few years back might also have had some impact on people wanting to ref.
What do you mean? The WIAA fought this all the way and eventually won. The title was vacated.
Chuck
Yes - of course. I was not talking about the WIAA - I am referring to the posters and others who questioned the ref's behavior and enforcement of the rules; the subsequent court injunction voiding the ref's decision on the mat, etc. If I was that ref (if I can allow myself the privilege of having an opinion even though I am not currently a ref), I would not have been too happy with the public pushback I got for enforcing the rules as written. I know the WIAA was working to have the system work the way it was formulated.
Remember, it's in almost every sport; not just wrestling. In the end, the benefits such as pay + other rewards (e.g. exercise, relationships, satisfaction, helping kids, being part of the sport, etc) must >>> costs such as effort/time+travel/licensing costs+dealing with criticizing+stress. In the end, its a balancing act for every official and if we have a shortage we have to make changes to the above (pay or other factor(s)).
Agreed
Quote from: MNbadger on September 09, 2021, 07:26:45 PM
So it's not the fans getting after you or the 10-12 hour Saturdays or the weigh ins and having to disqualify kids for skin issues or coaches on your rear and in your ear? The mask is just too much, the straw that broke the camel's back?Quote from: 400excracer on September 09, 2021, 01:02:17 PM
I can tell you why I am not officiating this year. I don't want to wear a mask.
Then
Quote from: MNbadger on September 23, 2021, 07:19:34 AM
Quote from: Houndhead on September 23, 2021, 07:09:51 AM
Quote from: 400excracer on September 09, 2021, 01:02:17 PM
I can tell you why I am not officiating this year. I don't want to wear a mask.
If you are vaccinated, why the need for a mask? :P
If we could get enough people vaccinated, we might be able to not have to wear them......That is not for sure either, we'll have to wait and see. In regard to your question:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/why-the-cdc-recommends-wearing-masks-indoors-even-if-youve-been-fully-vaccinated-against-covid-19
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/already-vaccinated-heres-why-you-shouldnt-stop-wearing-your-face-mask-yet/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/coronavirusfrontlines/2021/07/30/why-vaccinated-people-should-wear-masks-indoors-for-the-foreseeable-future/?sh=3b37d9a57543
You say the mask was the deal breaker then post this. Man I am confused!
If the mask is the reason why this individual isnt going ref, then it is his thought and people question it. Strange world we live in.
To the gentleman that isnt going to ref due to wearing a mask, thank you for your time and service in past years of reffing. Best of wishes to what ever the future hold for you.
Reffing is down in ALL sports not just wrestling. There has been a dip for some time now.
I can see why people dont want to ref. There is no punishment for coaches that are way over the line in their yelling, name calling to gomalong with fans.
I for one am not sure I want to coach any more but there is no amount of money some one could pay me to get on the mat and ref in this back boneless world we live in.
I enjoy refereeing wrestling. It is nearly impossible to do this and coach however. It has been many years since I've seen coaches who also reffed. There were a few I know who did it earlier in my coaching career.
The parents and fans never bothered me when I reffed. I always thought it was kind of fun when they got on me. It may be much worse now as some are saying. The one thing I see is that it is usually the fans and coaches (including myself on occasion) who end up in "stuff" with referees. The wrestlers always seem to take everything in stride at least this has been my experience.
The reality is there has been a lack of referees for every sport for years and years, long before the pandemic. I know someone already pointed this out. When I was on our community soccer board we spent a huge percentage of our time and effort into recruiting referees, it seemed endless.
I think part of it with wrestling referees is the same as for wrestlers. Wrestling is such a huge commitment, more of a lifestyle than a sport. I think when wrestlers are done with their competitive careers, they are done. They don't want to "go in the hole" for the winter anymore. I know I am not producing anything new here, just adding my 2 cents.