I like the $50 complaint rule from Osseo/Maple Grove
A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to speak to a group of basketball officials who work with the in-house program for Maple Grove and Osseo. I had a great time. Many of the officials only work in-house games, but some work traveling basketball and a few work high school games as well. But the theme from all the officials is they enjoy the game and want to improve. Many of those officials picked up a copy of BasketCases that evening, and I know that will be helpful to the officials going forward.
During dinner I sat with the couple that runs the in-house program. They told me about a new rule they instituted this year called the $50 complaint rule. The rule states that if someone wants to complain about an official or an incident they have to pay a $50 fee up front. That fee covers the cost of the investigation, the time it takes to get everyone’s side of the story — coaches, officials, scorekeepers, etc. If, following the investigation, the leaders of the association find that the complaint is legitimate, the complainer gets his or her 50 bones back. I like this rule a lot. They told me that it took so long to get everyone’s version of the story in the past it wasn’t worth their time. After implementing the $50 complaint rule, not surprisingly, no parent or coach wanted to put their money where their mouth is, eliminating the formal complaints for the year. That, my friends, is a rule many associations should consider adopting.