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Old Tue Feb 05, 2019, 01:54pm
Kansas Ref Kansas Ref is offline
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Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Kansas
Posts: 633
Ode to the High School Basketball Official

Intrepidly you go.
Enduring traffic, making it to games in a hurry after gettong off work, sometimes without food to eat, yet always with rectitude of mind to arbitrate a contest in the most excellent manner.
Arriving at a school and letting the reminiscence of nostalgia of your old high school days ebb up in your mind---as you see the once again the purity, optimisim, and exuberance of the high school atmosphere but now viewed as through the lens of an adult on a mission.
Reviewing in your mind the Rules of play and expecting surprising events that will require you to correctly arbitrate a play that you've not seen before--without the aid of an instant reply--and to make this decision confidently and without undue delay.
Intrepidly you go.
Making a hundred instantaneous observations during a possession, yet gleaning from those numerous observations---which actions are worthy of "play on" and which are worthy of "stopping" due to some violation/foul which you must decide how to administrate.
Reacting each time to your partner('s) call and pausing for the consequence of it.
And, with all matter of calmness, you must acknowledge and respond to the chagrin of coaches while ignoring the cat-calls of fans.
Intrepidly you go.
Hustling up and down the court to be in the best position to see the play, yet having the presence of mind of let a play develop prior to killing it prematurely.
Reflecting on the game on your drive back home and sometimes cursing yourself for missing a violation----regardless of how minute or inconsequential---because you strive for perfection.
Intrepidly you go.

Last edited by Kansas Ref; Tue Feb 05, 2019 at 01:59pm.
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