What Would You Change About High School Sports?
PressBox asked each of its four high school interns what they would change about high school sports today. They all came up with some pretty good ideas. Tell us what you think about them -- agree or disagree? What do you think needs to be changed?
Officiating Needs To Be Improved
I played baseball at Boys' Latin, and we had a game against Park who was in first place. It was the top of the fifth inning and we had a one-run lead. There were two outs and the count was two and two on the batter. Our pitcher threw the pitch, and it was called a ball -- it should have been strike three.
The umpires called a delay because of rain, completely taking the air out of our team. When the game resumed, Park tied.
BL should have been out of the inning and the game should have been called because of the rain and thunderstorms. Specifically with umpires in the MIAA, it seems sometimes they just want to go home and don't really care about the game. That isn't fair to the kids who work their tails off during the season.
I know it's not the majors, but it's not recreational ball either. The umpiring needs to be improved with better understanding of the game and better calling of the game.
The strike zone should be reasonable, not out of control. During the 2010 MIAA A Conference championship lacrosse game between Boys' Latin and St. Paul's, the officials missed at least three calls against us. I don't even know that much about lacrosse and I could tell they missed calls for tripping and holding. This is the MIAA, not recreation, which means the officials shouldn't be missing these calls in a championship game. Those kinds of calls can change the momentum and a team's confidence during the game. I think the officials in lacrosse need to be more meticulous in their calls and call it fair for both sides because it just does not always seem they are consistent.
Overall, whether it's in the MIAA or in the public schools, the officiating needs to be taken seriously with calls made equally for both sides. It shouldn't matter if a team is playing at home, and the home team shouldn't get all the calls. Personal problems with coaches or schools should not determine the way a ref calls a game. The officials need to always try and do their best and be consistent with their calls.
-- Billy Michaelson
Response:
I certainly agree officiating at the high school level is frustrating, painful and sometimes a little unfair. However, I disagree that these referees don't care about the game or are just showing up to get their paycheck. We don't compare high school athletes to professional ones, so I think it's unfair to do the opposite for officials. There is a reason why these officials are not at the professional or collegiate level -- it's the same reason most players won't receive a sports scholarship to college. They are simply not good enough.
I can go out and throw a baseball as hard as I can, and no matter how hard I try, Tim Lincecum will still throw harder than me. There is nothing I can do, no matter how hard I train, to be able to throw a football as far as Joe Flacco can. He is more naturally talented than I am. In the same fashion, MLB umpire Joe West or NFL referee Ed Hoculee have more talent than your average MIAA official. And even with their expertise, they still make mistakes.
Take for example Hoculee's missed fumble call on Jay Cutler two years ago that kept the San Diego Chargers from winning a game. Watch an Orioles game on MASN and listen to broadcaster Jim Palmer complain about every other pitch being called incorrectly. Officiating is not easy. There is not simply a switch that you can turn on that will make you a better referee or umpire. Sometimes, you have to realize that, like a receiver dropping a ball or a hitter striking out, officials make mistakes, too.
-- Cooper Sutton
Response:
To be perfectly honest, I played in the championship game for Boys' Latin, and sure there were a few missed calls, but they were on both sides, not just against Boys' Latin.
It has been a constant theme all year, but they haven't cost anyone a lacrosse game. They are not perfect, and they are not going to make the right call on everything. They don't have any personal grudges against anyone and they aren't looking to make personal grudges. They are doing their best to call a fair game and make the right call.
People should be happy we have referees who understand the sport and aren't there just because they are a part of the referee association.
We had a lacrosse game in Florida against St. Andrew's School and the referees did not understand the sport of lacrosse. They called move and picks when the ball was still on the ground. They called slashes when players were giving poke checks. I don't know if they were giving St. Andrew's a little home field advantage, but it appeared the referees were not familiar with lacrosse at all.
In Maryland, we have knowledgeable refs (at least when it comes to lacrosse) who are there to call games and nothing else. It's not like they are making a living off being a referee. They do it because they want to help out high schools by officiating their games. If they were disinterested, they wouldn't sign up for the job. Although they occasionally mess up, they are trying their hardest and should be the last people to blame for a loss.
-- Noah Bond
Posted June 7, 2010
