[theboys]

Y'know, its overstating the comparison, but the more time I spend on this forum, the more I see a similarity between you and police officers. You're a tight-knit group, often in an adversarial relationship with the people you interact with. Cops protect the public while overseeing administration of the law - you protect the game by overseeing administration of its rules.

But, just like the police, one bad apple can ruin the reputation of the larger group (e.g., Rodney King). Unfortunately, because the police often feel like they can only rely on each other, when dealing with bad cops they simply close ranks. Giving up another cop is very difficult.

Ultimately, though, such an approach hurts the public's trust. And, if you take the same approach as officials, you're hurting the game.

No matter what level I'm coaching, I'm giving my best to the kids. I screw up...a lot. But, its never because I'm not trying my hardest. I expect the same from my players and the officials.