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Old Fri Oct 14, 2005, 02:05pm
mcrowder mcrowder is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Little Elm, TX (NW Dallas)
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Ed - your comments here at the end struck a note. I think that is a BIG part of the difference. At Varsity, JV, 9th, and even 8th and 7th to almost the same degree, the coaches have a direct responsibility to their schools, and if they are continually getting flagged or tossed at their games, their schools would eventually fix the problem one way or another. Knowing this, MOST of those coaches are relatively sane. And knowing this, officials (self included) will flag a coach when he goes too far.

At youth ball, this is not true. They do not really answer to much of a higher power, and even where they do, their livelihood is not at stake should they be removed. And most won't be removed - NO ONE has enough volunteers as it is. Knowing this, many of them are horses asses. And knowing this, most officials will NOT flag a coach that has gone the same "too far" as a high school coach. Most will take MUCH more abuse before stopping the situation, as there is more of a reluctance to penalize "the kids" at that level (self included). I believe many of us feel guilty punishing 8 year old kids for the antics of a jaggass coach, whereas we would not feel guilty throwing that very same flag in a JV game.
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