Hey guys!
The series that gives the "Thursday that was in kickball" is back. While most the items are from last week, I think you will find relevance in them all:
The Fine Art of Line Judging
Let's just get right to the point about the questions you all have had about line judging. We definitely need you all out there and we appreciate your efforts. The one thing that's challenging is the practice of "ref by committee." Many of you all hang out after games with your teammates so he/she aren't stuck on the field while you go out and have beers at Yard of Ale. No problem with that. What I do have a problem with is if our line judges are not paying attention or if 10 people are making the call at third instead of the one appointed to do so.
Nate, who will be guest head reffing the Ligers/Honey Badgers game tonight, made a great suggestion that was shared in the comments of Frank's post and will be implemented tonight:
Refs will meet with line judges beforehand to explain how the game will be officiated, specifically what they need to look for and what calls will be made. Also, line judges will be asked to vocally call out fair and foul balls along the first and third base line. They will be asked to simply give the out or safe signal for calls at their respective plates.
Ultimately, the call lies in the hands of the head ref as they are the only impartial person on the field. Has to be that way. However, they are always looking for the input of their line judges, who will have a better vantage points on certain calls.
Upset Thursday
Lot of strange things happened last week. Ligers beat SuperBad. Honey Badgers didn't lose. Guys, Dolls and Balls didn't get their asses kicked. Will the pattern continue tonight? Could be a bad sign for the kickball elite.
"The Kick"
Not the one that Alison and Maria will be a part of tonight but the rocket shot that Deeks sent into the night air during the Pitches/Shockers game. At this point, I would like to apologize to the player from the Shockers who ran into goal while trying to catch this kick. I really had no idea anyone could kick it that far. It's really Deeks' fault, but I apologize none the less.
Clean Up Clean Up
I have to give you all serious props for your clean up efforts this first two weeks. It has been amazing. I've been the last person on the field the last two weeks and it looks better than it does when I arrive in the afternoon. Thank you!
MS Paint
While thankful for those who participated in the contest, I expected to see more. You're reputation precedes itself in this area. I decided to try my hand at MS Paint as well, depicting a recent dream I had about sandspurs.
Happy Birthday Yellabird!
And lastly, happy birthday Kevin. In your fake afro wearing, inappropriate joking honor, I will drink the finest beverages Florida's brewers have to offer on Saturday.
10 comments:
Nothing changed. There was no ref meeting at the beginning. I reffed first base after our game, and the home plate ref made the safe/out call every time. Pointless to be out there reffing.
I'm sorry that our reffing doesn't meet your exceedingly high standards. You do realize that your work at first base is on a volunteer basis. If you do not want to be a line judge then don't do it. Get some else from your team to do it. But don't do it and bitch about it.
worst
Thanks for the birthday wishes and the pizza last night, Johnny.
I think we're starting to get closer to being on the same page with the refs but it's not totally where we want to be yet. Obviously a work in progress. Having some familiarity with the people doing the reffing (same refs over time) will certainly continue to help.
The refs can do a better job of working with volunteer refs to gather as much insight on a play as is readily available (ie a better vantage point on close plays). Some of these volunteers out there are experienced refs and many of those have been playing this game for years.
And we players can definitely do a better job of accepting their decisions on every close play that goes against us.
And the ladies at the field can definitely where more revealing clothes at the fields & bar.
*wear*
lol, nice Yella!
Yeah after talking to Frank a bit, this whole thing could just be a communication/understanding thing.
Frank sees himself as a veteran kickballer and an experienced ref (which he is).
The refs, who I still believe are doing a very good job this season, see themselves as the final decision maker on all plays (which they are).
So there is some compromise there. The paid refs can do their job knowing that our line judges are not bums. And our line judges just need to pay attention and call what they see.
But ultimately if the home plate umpire wants to overturn something, we can't come to the conclusion that he's doing so for fun. It's what he truly believes. Just have a brief conference, state your case, and if he still sees it differently then it's on him.
The line judges never have to take any burden of wrong calls.
I wanna be paid to ref. I already know all the rules and shady tactics to circumvent them.
In response to Johnny's eloquent rebuttal, I do understand that it is voluntary to the person that does it, yet required none the less (risking a paper forfeit). I do want to do it, and I do take pride in doing it. What I am "bitching" (I guess this is how you see it) about is me taking the time to do it, wanting to do it, then not getting to do it when the time comes because the home plate umpire makes the safe/out call for you. Its just kind of discouraging.
Bito, I think the fields are too dangerous for you. You're better off at IKEA.
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