Curious. How do people want *high school* officials to be "publicly" held accountable? Shamed on the town square? Tarred and feathered? Also, how do you know the official didn't own up to the mistake to the coach later? Too many have unrealistic expectations for people who are barely payed and without them there would be no game despite some who ask "why have them at all."
And yes, put up or shut up because I can bet almost everyone on here criticizing the referee for missing an "obvious" call would also miss a similar if not worse call if put in the same position.
Great response. I scratch my head at the need for accountability in high school athletics for officials, other than the game/season evaluations that occur from coaches and supervisors which can end up in less games or removal from working varsity or upper level games.
Many of the anti-referee responses on here are why I haven't gotten back into officiating. I worked a ton of CIML basketball and baseball games during and just after college. In fact, they were so desperate for baseball officials that I worked over 40 varsity games my first summer (at age 19) - and I had never worked an officially sanctioned baseball game before. Ever. They just didn't have enough umps.
I had to stop once my career and family got going and planned on getting back into after I got more time back. As I've watched my own kids go through rec league, then AAU and now high school, I can tell you there is zero chance I'm going back into it. Listening to parents who don't know the rules scream, and coaches who make a point of grandstanding and embarrassing game officials for judgement calls are just not worth it.
For those who mocked the "sign up or shut up" response earlier, think about that and your attitude toward game officials this winter as you continue to see old, fat, marginal officials failing to keep up with the speed of big school basketball and wonder why there aren't any decent young referees around. It's a direct reflection of the ridiculous fans and coaches who go way over the line more and more. It won't be the officials fault when there aren't enough officials to hold all the games...