Are area football officials biased?

Yes I believe that officials are biased against and they call more penalties on William Penn than they do other schools. It has been this way for years. The kids rarely get the benefit of the doubt...if a call or play is in question, it usually goes against them.
It is a shame when KIDS openly discuss the fact that in just about every game they have to physically prepare for the game as well as mentally prepare to get slighted so they have to make sure that the game is not even close. Perception is reality!
As a matter of fact let's just call it what it is...racism! Yeah I said it and I know that people will read this they will try to put another spin on it but it is real. Just read some of the comments to the articles on the ydr website especially the ones that have to do with the city and the city school system and you will have an idea what some of the people of York County stand for. These personal beliefs and biases are carried by some of the officials and affect how they do the job of fairly officiating games. What, I can mention that some officials should be having background checks for being child sexual predators (ie. daily record article) but i can't mention racism?
Some typical view of city kids are... "black undisciplined, athletic and should be able to play through this". At least this is the general thought process of some of the officials that call the games. It seems as though officials try to over regulate/officiate the game when they are officiating York High games. For all who read this, don't be so quick to defend the officials because I brought up the issue of race. If you are turning a blind eye to it you might be a part of the problem.
I'd be willing to bet that if you would simply review the number of penalties assessed to the William Penn football and basketball teams over the last ten years and compare them with their opponent’s number that the number would be staggering. By no means am I basing my argument on just the numbers alone because there are some situations that are subjective and are based on the judgment of a referee. These are the instances where the Bearcats get the short end of the stick.
For the good referees reading this, kudos to you and keep up the good work and for the ones that I have unnerved...well it is my hope that you would be willing to open your mind and change your outdated perceptions of people and if you can't do that well just do your job with integrity and be careful because there are people watching!

I don't know if it is racism - but I do think that officials will penalize the winning team during a blowout in an effort to slow down the offense and keep the scoring differential down - Have heard coaches at halftime of some games to not let this team run it up on us - and the penalties act to even up the score.

I think for the most part the Officials do an excellent job. There are a couple of old/fat guys that can barely move that need to give it up. How can you argue an Officials call when 98% of the calls are judgement calls?

If you want top notch high quality Officials the schools better be prepared to pay for top notch high quality Officials. I have been at thousands of game throughout my lifetime and the coaches scream and go crazy for really no reason. They yell for hold before the play even starts. Da High, Eastern and Susquehannock coaches are out of control and need to be put in check.

I agree with Me - Most officials do a fine job officiating a tough sport - and that some of the guys are simply not in position to see and make the call due to age or physical condition. Also some coaches are out of control - I am surprised that some form of punishment is not in place to prevent coaches from venting in the news media - both College and pros do have penalties in place to prevent Coaches from airing out the Refs.

The headline above read are some football officials biased? I agree some coaches may need to show a little more self control and some officials do a fine a job but to get back to the above question I think that some officaiating crews show bias for or against certain teams. Most notably York High.

the whole truth of it all is. that offcials are bias. where i come from it's been that way for years and years. what you do is build a team that can withstand playing two different opponents at the same time......it's tough to do!!!! Someting needs to be done for sure. Local rivalries are great , but today we have playoffs. Alot more at stake then personal pride.

I agree with Gee Whiz that there should not be coaches calling out the officials in the media. It's disappointing enough the press only like to print bad news. Coach Ortega is young and seems to be doing a good job at York High but I think he should use some of the same self discipline in his comments that he hopefully is teaching his student athletes. He has a way of bringing poor officiating to the attention of the officials. It is called an officials rating form. I understand every coach has the right to use them. As for the comments made by Reality I agree turning a blind eye is being part of a problem. I suggest you should be part of the solution rather than the problem. Why don't you put in the time and become an official and try to correct this terrible injustice you perceive to be taking place. Nice win last night in New Oxford Coach Ortega . You have a nice team with alot of class. I only hope you show that much class in your interview and keep the negativity out of the media; they thrive on it.
Lastly Me and Gee Whiz if this is an issue of predjudice to you don't dicriminate against " old, fat, or out of shape " officials. I don't think all officials are good but ther is not a waiting list to become one.

I was not able to make the game Friday night in New Oxford. Can somebody tell u show the Officials were? Were the professionls or did they take this article out on Coach Ortega and the Bearcats? Did they blow call sall night long?

Thanks!!

For the most part, there are some officials that do a good job. However, if you have ever been to a York High football or basketball game you will understand what Coach Ortega was trying to say. There are more questionable calls and non calls against York High than any other school in the county. Why be biased with the city kids? They work hard like other schools but end up working twice as hard when they have to play against not only the players but the officials as well. You may think the only reason Im saying this is because my children play and attend York City schools. That is not so. I graduated from Red Lion and to this day I see the difference between how games are called between different schools. When there is a match up with York High you can count on having more than your fair share of fouls and penalties. The only thing we ask is let the kids play. Call the penalties fairly for both sides no matter who is winning or losing. Thank you to the officials who take their job seriously. For those who feel the need to slight certain teams, you may want to stick to your full time job. Let the men and women who care about the kids and want to do a good job take your place.

There is no racism in high school football in york county. The refs are pretty bad around here no matter what game you go to. And for those of you saying that the york high kids have more calls made against them in basketball, maybe that is because a york high basketball is twice as aggresive and physical then other teams which means they are going to get called with more fouls. It isnt racism at all. The officials are bad this year, you just have to get used to it.

My belief based on what I have seen over the years is that officiating is biased. I base my decision not only on attending York High games but various games across the state of Pennsylvania in both the sports of football and basketball. What I have seen over the years is when any team has the advantage against another team and the scoring starts to get out of control, some officials start to officiate the game differently to keep it close. I am not positive as to whether it is a racial thing, but it seems to be common when teams from the county are playing teams from the city. Surprisingly, fairest officiating I have seen is when to large schools from separate citys are playing each other. York, LAncaster, Reading, Chester, Coatesville, Harrisburg. Whenever these teams are playing each other the officials tend to let the student athletes play and enjoy the game and the fans see a better officiated game.

Regarding Coach Ortega's comments and whether they were right or wrong. He was just in expressing his concern to the media. Yes there are forms to be filled out and sent in, but in reality nothing ever comes of it. As a former coach myself in the Baltimore area, it is hard to explain to your kids night in and night out why your team has seen so many bad calls that has affected the game and the psychie of the players and coaches. It discourages the kids from wanting to be involved in the game at all. I applaud Coach Ortega for putting these comments in the for front of his interview and at least putting his feelings out there so thats his kids can understand that he feels their pain. It is not about showing them poor sportsmanship it is about showing them that they deserve fair play during games as every other team.

Also, I was at the New Oxford game on Friday night and it was a very well officiated game. Kudos all around to the players and coaching staffs of both teams and the officiating crew.

It seems as though officials try to over regulate/officiate the game when they are officiating. Seems that coaches being part of a league can form together in protest to the referee association. There is a way to formally question the calls if the officials are a problem noting trends in their judgment being questionable. Calling the penalties fairly for both sides no matter who is winning or losing is the integrity of every official working the game. Thank you to the officials who take their job seriously. Most are their, who enjoy their job, most are only part time. Because there are some situations that are subjective and are based on the judgment of a referee we must calculate their calls over time. There is biased and if indentified action should be taken. Its up to the coaches the other referees with integrity, schools, county to find officials that have diversity and ethic training to overcome the biased. We can talk about the out of shape official, being in better fitness. There are many that are superb officials.

Yes officials around here are biased. Ever since I played high school sports, the Adams County officials seem to be the most biased. Anytime a York County School( no matter what the school district is) The York County teams always get the short end of the stick!

that's york high ByMe, not DaHigh it's people like you in the county that really irritate me.
i've been going to York High football and basketball games for years and have notice some of the most biased officiating against the bearcats that i have ever scene. and i'm truly tired of it. I am A PROUD YORK HIGH GRAD.
GO BEARCATS. keep your heads up.