tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705125182248906963.comments2023-05-13T10:25:31.181-05:00Ahab and His White WhaleRev. Riothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05838536515564812622noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705125182248906963.post-67213091737672427482012-11-25T02:34:07.800-06:002012-11-25T02:34:07.800-06:00Hi, nice site, very informative. Would you please ...Hi, nice site, very informative. Would you please consider adding a link to my website on your page. We are happy to offer you a 10% discount to our Online Store if you do so. Please email me back and I would be happy to give you our link. <br /> <br />Thanks! <br /><br />Frank<br /> frank641w@gmail.com<br />sports fanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00939547967741968103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705125182248906963.post-44072541666983886752012-08-09T12:13:50.280-05:002012-08-09T12:13:50.280-05:00I think you had some valuable first-hand insight h...I think you had some valuable first-hand insight here. I used to run scoreboard, and my wife is a derbygirl. The concern for her is that now that certain types of moves are no longer illegal, we'll see more things like rib injuries from elbows and what used to be classified as "dirty" hitting.Lucas Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04863467319627432738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705125182248906963.post-4832508505535465002012-08-09T10:12:26.401-05:002012-08-09T10:12:26.401-05:00I am really glad I found this blog. It's reall...I am really glad I found this blog. It's really nice to hear the perspective of officials! While I'm still a little leery of the new rule-set at least I can rest assured that it will be a smoother situation for Zeebs and NSOs.Scarlet Slamuraihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05569288691266478328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705125182248906963.post-83923320603224944952012-08-07T09:13:39.283-05:002012-08-07T09:13:39.283-05:00Sounds good and could be the start of improving th...Sounds good and could be the start of improving the game. But sad for me. As a new NSO, I can see my chances of getting a game slot getting slimmer. Back to the stands for me, I guess.Michael Khttp://twitter.com/KwanTinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705125182248906963.post-19877268772237020462011-07-18T20:29:08.875-05:002011-07-18T20:29:08.875-05:00What sort of "bad habits" do you mean?What sort of "bad habits" do you mean?Rev. Riothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05838536515564812622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705125182248906963.post-26885559498668744752011-07-06T08:01:05.342-05:002011-07-06T08:01:05.342-05:00This seems to make sense to me. With less NSOs thi...This seems to make sense to me. With less NSOs this means that smaller start-up leagues could be fully staffed on a week-by-week basis. They could also get into bad habits (players and refs).<br /><br />Slips - TCRG, Vancouver BCFish N' Slipshttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Terminal-City-Authority-Figures/117552478260981?ref=tsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705125182248906963.post-47944337488166402702011-03-29T22:59:36.646-05:002011-03-29T22:59:36.646-05:00Posting five months later? Wow! Oh, right, you wr...Posting five months later? Wow! Oh, right, you write everything down in your magic notebook. :-)<br /><br />As one of the outside pack refs on this crew I have a very distinct memory of the Philly/Kansas City bout being one of the most physical and intense I'd seen all year, really upping the ante for the crew. The skaters were really fighting hard, for everything, using every tool in their tool chest - pack re-definition, almost-clockwise hits, 19.999' engagement, splitting packs, almost-multi-player-blocks, etc. It felt like those teams threw everything in the book at us - not at all because of any carelessness on their part, but rather quite the opposite.<br /><br />I honestly don't remember any specific calls from that game, but each jam had a palpable 'hold on to your butts, anything can happen' vibe. Coming out of the Philly/KCRW bout, I felt like the crew had passed a huge intense test under a massive microscope and was ready for anything. It was a great warm-up for what was to come on day 3 (as well as bout two on saturday). <br /><br />- hambone, gothamAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705125182248906963.post-22899089591787519862010-07-13T21:29:40.131-05:002010-07-13T21:29:40.131-05:00But, as is always the case, it's not about act...But, as is always the case, it's not about actual bias is it? it's about perceived bias. You would hope that a fan would forget that one call, but isn't it more likely that they'll ignore the good calls and catalog the calls they interpret to further their theory of bias?<br /><br />I would also add that, at some point, arguing based on how we (as a general we) came into derby has to become an irrelevant or dated point, we're moving beyond that by and large. People regularly come in as referees now, and nothing more.Rev. Riothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05838536515564812622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705125182248906963.post-34356236453459367872010-07-03T00:01:04.266-05:002010-07-03T00:01:04.266-05:00I'll freely admit I have two sets of wheels th...I'll freely admit I have two sets of wheels that were given to me by manufacturers. One of them came from a company owned by a skater I have reffed before (one of two such companies). The only thing I was expected to do in return for receiving them was test them on multiple surfaces and tell them what I thought. And the fact that I am a referee is a big part of WHY I was asked to do this. As a referee, I travel a lot more than skaters do. I regularly officiate all over the area and skate on a far wider range of floors than them. The skating skills that are required of me are, in many ways, an exaggerated version of what's required from skaters. As an OPR, I have to skate faster than the pack; as an IPR, I'm skating in tighter circles than anyone on the track; as a jammer ref, I'm doing both these things at the same time. On top of this, I am a frequent visitor to gearhead boards like Skatelog and have a pretty substantial arsenal of wheels from all manufacturers, ranging anywhere from 84a (hybrid indoor/outdoor wheels) to 97a (hard wheels I only use on recently refinished floors). So if I try something out and say "this sucks," they know it's a more educated and meaningful criticism than they're going to get from someone who buys wheels once a season and always gets the same thing.<br /><br />Honestly, I think that in a sport where many referees were brought into the fold by friends, roommates, family members, and significant others, and where it's not unheard-of for refs to have dated several skaters, the concern over "discounts" is trivial and really, really reaching. Presumably I'm calling a fair game, right? Presumably, unless one team is really that much more penalty-prone than the other, any doubt inspired by my unpopular no-call on Suzie Wheelowner would largely dissipate as I call penalties on both teams, right? And presumably we all know that the game belongs to the skaters, and we are solely messengers who relay their actions and apply the consequences that they, en masse, decided were appropriate for those actions, right? That does seem to be what happens in derby, anyway. Being fair and above-board is our Teflon.!@#$%https://www.blogger.com/profile/04219711819129617653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705125182248906963.post-85230326591044365292010-04-17T01:56:37.256-05:002010-04-17T01:56:37.256-05:00Thank you Rev Riot. I just found your blog and hav...Thank you Rev Riot. I just found your blog and have been reading your post. I really enjoy what you have to share and i will be sharing your blog with all my Refs. Every thing is well put. I have learned some new things reading your stuff in hopes to improve the way i handle and look at my job as ref.Hue Refnernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705125182248906963.post-86612489944892155252010-02-03T23:28:58.853-06:002010-02-03T23:28:58.853-06:00On one hand, I do agree that the game should alway...On one hand, I do agree that the game should always come first, and for some people, it clearly doesn't. But that's the case regardless of how much flair people bring to the track. There are always going to be people for whom the game and its rules are secondary. Some people get into reffing because it gives them people to yell at or hit on. Some people are into it for the sense of community, because they lack any other sense of identity or belonging, or because they think it gives them "cred." Some people simply get involved because they wouldn't otherwise see their significant others several nights a week. And a lot of them dress fairly conservatively. In most circumstances (i.e., outside tournaments), I don't think flair gets in the way, as long as it's within reason -- don't wear team colors, don't wear anything that's a safety hazard, and don't wear anything you're afraid will get ruined with a choice fall or two. And in most circumstances, it makes people think because it pushes them outside dominant sports paradigms. I love reffing, and I love it no matter what I'm wearing. But I wouldn't have even thought about it if it weren't for witnessing Justice's opening lap at Charm City's first intraleague championship. What drew me to the sport is that it had room for a little skinny dude in a costume ref dress whose name was an ironic take on an African American Supreme Court judge. If that were not the case, and the refs simply blended into the background, I think I would have been a lot more intimidated by the prospect of putting on stripes and a lot less likely to be conscious of that as an option. I have fun sometimes with my clothes and what-not. If that makes one person out there see reffing as something that can be fun, it's worth it.<br /><br />Getting off your lawn now, Mister Riot.!@#$%https://www.blogger.com/profile/04219711819129617653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705125182248906963.post-90760947810714391172010-01-26T00:44:15.045-06:002010-01-26T00:44:15.045-06:00Thank you. Just thank you!Thank you. Just thank you!RoughRee, TCRG Authority Figureshttp://www.terminalcityrollergirls.com/refereesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705125182248906963.post-41123334920718394752009-06-18T14:26:12.518-05:002009-06-18T14:26:12.518-05:00I think it is sometimes easy for players to get ma...I think it is sometimes easy for players to get mad at a call and demonize the refs for it and let out their frustration on them. But we skaters have to remember that Refs are there doing a job so that we can play the game we all love. They are enforcing the rules that we players have voted on. They aren't calling us out to be a-holes or to f-up our game or for some other weird personal reason. Yes, there are sometimes bad calls. But swearing at or otherwise being rude to the ref (who then gets to call you for the rest of the game) is not a effective way of dealing with it.<br />I always tried to maintain a tone of courtesy when speaking with Refs and officials – because let’s remember - Refs are people too.Allie Gatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06078827536934439640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705125182248906963.post-10678223986209790242009-04-20T22:30:00.000-05:002009-04-20T22:30:00.000-05:00sorry, it isn't as clear as I'd've liked. If one p...sorry, it isn't as clear as I'd've liked. If one person is consistently screwing up, yeah, that needs to be pointed out.<br /><br />What I was saying was that, if there's no pattern, no perceived repetitive behavior, there's only this one SINGULAR call that a team thinks is wrong, this hardly warrants raising at the meeting.Rev. Riothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05838536515564812622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705125182248906963.post-60412598385390022462009-04-16T20:02:00.000-05:002009-04-16T20:02:00.000-05:00Like Hell Kat, I'm not necessarily convinced that ...Like Hell Kat, I'm not necessarily convinced that such meetings need to go in the direction of bigger, general problems. If one person is doing something consistently wrong, that person should be held accountable; as much as ref crews may be teams, part of teamwork is taking one's due share of the heat instead of spreading it to those who don't deserve it.!@#$%https://www.blogger.com/profile/04219711819129617653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705125182248906963.post-16018585053170266092009-04-15T09:09:00.000-05:002009-04-15T09:09:00.000-05:00Also, as much as possible, topics should stay away...<I>Also, as much as possible, topics should stay away from specific calls (i.e."In the second period so and-so did this and the ref called that") and aim more towards bigger, general problems ("We feel like out of play wasn't called consistently between refs", "It took forever to get people in the door and we started way too late")</I>I understand the usefulness of this in the meeting setting. But do you have a way of accepting feedback when it IS an individual problem or a training issue for a specific skater or ref? <br /><br />I'm relating this to the passive aggressive way that some managers at my work deal with issues - instead of addressing problems with the offending employee(s), the manager calls a department-wide meeting to discuss the problem in a vague, generic, and indirect way, which wastes time and rarely changes or improves behaviors.Hell Kathttp://hkpuss.livejournal.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705125182248906963.post-91556146829077566862009-03-13T00:22:00.000-05:002009-03-13T00:22:00.000-05:00Reader (and MRD skater) Charlie Hustle sends along...Reader (and MRD skater) Charlie Hustle sends along this related link!<BR/><BR/>http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/13/science/13traff.html<BR/><BR/>An interesting read, I wonder if the person being talked about could be talked into investigating the same things in derby?Rev. Riothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05838536515564812622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705125182248906963.post-4710182940972434152009-03-04T11:51:00.000-06:002009-03-04T11:51:00.000-06:00Nice post, I think the derby player and/or coach c...Nice post, I think the derby player and/or coach can learn a thing or two from this. I have attempted to relate derby play to some of the stuff I teach on how ants are able to cooperate to perform a task without actually communicating, just by having everyone follow the same simple set of rules (kind of what you are implying by the bird flock analogy). I might attempt to formalize my thoughts more in my copious amount of free time...caesarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12287901830092910801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705125182248906963.post-6165917137535440992009-02-16T22:54:00.000-06:002009-02-16T22:54:00.000-06:00You're both right. I engaged in slight hyperbole, ...You're both right. I engaged in slight hyperbole, started shouting at my computer and it decided to change the code. Fixed.<BR/><BR/>But you're right Mike about there being a difference in a head referee making a call over something that is resoundingly gray or something more concrete and defined. I guess really that's why it got to me, because it is so defined.Rev. Riothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05838536515564812622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705125182248906963.post-17047596971943787032009-02-16T12:13:00.000-06:002009-02-16T12:13:00.000-06:00didn't get to read it yet, but in my browser (fire...didn't get to read it yet, but in my browser (firefox) the font is HUGE! don't know if something changed in the code for this entry or what... or maybe you're just yelling, I've heard you can't control the pitch or the volume of your voice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705125182248906963.post-35493103294821086642009-02-15T23:36:00.000-06:002009-02-15T23:36:00.000-06:00"When I'm not head reffing, my reaction to my head..."When I'm not head reffing, my reaction to my head referee's interpretation should only ever be "OK, I'll do that, let me know if I need to adjust more"."<BR/><BR/>I know you don't mean that completely. And you shouldn't. Adjusting is a negotiating process; deferring to the head referee over minutiae that you feel still falls in the jurisdiction of the rules is one thing; but overlooking the rules because the head referee wrongly calls "8.3.1" or somesuch nonsence is not an issue I see you tolerating. Nor should you.Mike Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04607145891273410079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705125182248906963.post-81387436389707480512009-02-09T22:01:00.000-06:002009-02-09T22:01:00.000-06:00Something that can really help with this is having...Something that can really help with this is having a clear division of labor among refs, especially if you ref with the same group of people most of the time. On my league, the front inside pack ref watches the front half of the pack, while the back inside pack ref watches the back of the pack. At a recent scrimmage during a split pack, even though I was front pack ref, I looked back to see if the skaters in back were trying to speed up. This caused me to miss the fact that the skaters in front were not slowing down, for which I should have been assessing penalties. Clear communication about which refs are watching which skaters, whether it be the whole pack or parts of the pack, can help in quickly identifying who is "most responsible."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705125182248906963.post-15833067526396402782009-02-05T17:09:00.000-06:002009-02-05T17:09:00.000-06:00brown or black?brown or black?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705125182248906963.post-87681334881031166392009-01-31T06:21:00.000-06:002009-01-31T06:21:00.000-06:00hear hear !!! We had a "situation" like this on th...hear hear !!! We had a "situation" like this on thurs night during scrimmage practice, a player having a go at one of our refs. Being a "fref" (fresh meat ref) It was a real eye opener for me. Altho it was a horrible night all round, 42 deg cel heat everyone was exhausted and short tempered, I thought the ref handled it well, all he said was that he can only make a call on the things he sees and whatever had happened (to the skater having a go at him) he hadn't seen it happen.<BR/>It got a bit serious and he then invited the skater to have a go at reffing to see just how difficult it is! Funnily enough she didn't take up his offer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705125182248906963.post-71819179502196307132009-01-18T15:02:00.000-06:002009-01-18T15:02:00.000-06:00This is well said, and good to think about. Thanks...This is well said, and good to think about. Thanks.Ruth of All Evilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16231584018075608650noreply@blogger.com