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I started in in Catholic league grades 6-8 and weekend youth rec ball, probably like most of you. I took every game I could get but since I now get a pretty full public school schedule I don't do many of those games anymore. I will do a few here and there but only to help out a friend who is assigning. Quite frankly, I no longer enjoy doing them and don't feel they are worth the money. It has been my experience, at least in my area, that the parents, coaches and players in the local Catholic league are the most ill behaved, obnoxious and unsporting people I have ever seen at a sporting event. The people in the youth rec leagues and weekend tournaments are a very close second. Add in the fact that you usually work multiple games in a day in these leagues and the aggravation adds up. Also, in most instances, the players are more well behaved than the coaches or fans. The nastiest, most insulting comments I have ever been subjected to have been from local Catholic league parents. The folks who run the program admit that fan behavior is appalling but nobody ever has the balls to do anything about it. I know that you aren't supposed to talk to the fans and in a regular public school game I never would because game management will handle a problematic fan for you. But nobody will in the Catholic league or weekend tournaments so I have on many occasions told a parent to shut it up or leave. Had one this season who was yelling "brick" every time a kid from the opposing team shot a free throw. I stopped play after the 2nd one and told him that he was a little old to be taunting a 7th grade kid. Looked like he felt about 2 inches tall after that. I guess the point is when they can no longer find anyone to officiate their games, maybe they will take a stand on behavior. Until then, I won't work them.
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