[ImagineThat!]

My biggest problem with officiating is the difference that many of them make between boys and girls games. They will allow boys to do things they don't allow girls to do. If a boy makes a jump hop to the basket, nothing is said. If a girl does the same thing, most times, they will blow the whistle immediately and call walking. Many times they assume girls doesn't have the capabilities to make some of the moves that boys make, especially when a young lady has good footwork and is making post moves around the basket. Anytime a referee makes a call based on an assumption, it is usually a bad call. I know that girls cannot jump as high, run as fast, nor are they stronger then boys, but most good girls teams are more fundamentally sound then boys teams. Boys are just allowed more freedom.

First of all, let me say that I'm not saying you're totally incorrect in you statements. But, maybe some of the calls that you are talking about are because they are slower when made by the girls. The slower move, even though it may be the exact same move made by a boy, allows the ref more time to see the move and make a call (even if it is an incorrect call).

I agree that the officiating is horrible for the most part (I hate to stereotype all officials) and it seems to be getting worse as some of the older officials are retiring and younger officials are coming in. It seems that most younger officials do not put the time into studying the rule and case books. They also seem to be more easily influenced by external sources.

The thing that irritates me the most is when an official feels that it is his/her job to even up the game. His/her job is to call whatever he/she sees (plain and simple). To me, as long as the game is called consistent at both ends, then it is the coaches' and players' jobs to adjust.