The High School Advertising Paradox
The USSF season is winding down here, so I may get a bit more philosophical (although how much of a change that will be is debatable, since I started this in the final quarter of the season and tend to rant by nature). High School season is about to start, and so I'm going back through the rule book, and noticing a couple things, that don't necesairly bug me, but just sort of stand out.First, how to become a ref. Your state my vary, but here, it's basically accepted that our high school play is somewhere between second and third division of USSF (club) ball. It's also, IMHO, much more physical (Why? It's what I did before I lost all my marbles and became a goalkeeper - I can't beat this guy with skills, so let's see if I can out muscle him, and if I can't out muscle him, a good hack will keep him away). Add the larger number of fans, and coaches that would rather be working pointy-ball games, coupled with the smaller and poorer-quality fields of high schools, a recipe for unnecessairly physical games. That being said, becoming a referee is actually easier for high school than USSF. Here's the usual process for each:
*USSF: attend 16 hour course over two days (this course goes over all the laws of the game, as well as basics of positioning, game management, discipline, etc.), read the Laws of the Game, pass 100-question closed-book multiple choice test, get your spiffy new badge, and work games usually no higher than U14 or 15 (maybe higher when on the line). <P>
*NFHS (National Federation of High Schools): Attend rules meeting that lasts 2-3 hours with coaches (this means, if you're a returning ref, you may not feel comfortable asking certain questions about previous game situations) - the meeting covers "points of emphasis" for this year's season as well as safety precautions, and proceedural requirements (such as "you will not start the game without ball chasers"). Considering there multiple ways of reffing the High School game, such as the Diagnal System of Control, the Dual System of Control, or the Double-Dual (AKA Three Whistle System - I'd have documentation on those except I'm unable to find them on the web, and the NFHS will sue anyone that posts portions of their "Rules Book" (sic) - but the USSF will crucify anyone who uses the Dual or Double-Dual in a USSF sanctioned game), there's no discussion on how to run those systems. And you take a 100-question, open book, take-home test that you mail in later. And poof, you can ref high school.
Odd stuff. This isn't the only odd thing the NFHS does.
Another odd thing the NFHS does concerns advertising. It's been more than 10 years since I was in high school, but advertising (for the school's benifit) was everywhere. In the hallways, cafeterias, and especially at the sports events: signs, scoreboards, programs, but not on the players themselves. OK, not too terrible, but they even regulate how large the manufactuer's logo can be, and its placement, as well as how the color schemes in the jerseys can be. I don't know - it just seems awfully pointless and micro-managerial. Then again, it's against the rules to play a high school game with a ball that doesn't have the NFHS approval logo on it (can we say, "Give us the money"? I knew you could).