I enjoy (usually) working at all levels. As I have mentioned previously, I have been on the Board of my local rec league for 14 years and gladly work those games. In fact, this coming Saturday morning, I have three 5th grade boys games, with three 6th grade boys games the following Saturday morning (all beginning at 8 am). The second week, I am scheduled to work with my son. That's part of why I do this. It's for the satisfaction and rewarding experiences. Two weeks ago, I "mentored" two HS kids working their first games ever. These were 3& 4 grade girls games - in my opinion the toughest games to work. I had both refs on the floor with me shadowing them and making comments during the game. Then, I worked a quarter with each of them. To me, this is time well spent and I thoroughly enjoy helping to train new officials.
Usually, my rec league uses three criteria in assigning my games. 1) my request based on convenience to me 2) partnering with young officials so I can mentor them and 3) I get the games with the problem howler monkeys. After those games, the monkeys are no longer a problem - one way or another.
One quick story - a few years ago, it was the first Saturday of our season. I was in the stands observing as a Board member for some 3rd grade games. One coach came out in the designer suit, Pat Riley hairdo and with a magnetic board. This is 3rd grade, remember. I knew we were in for trouble. The two refs doing the game were brand new and were HS sophomores. One was a girl and I hoped she would step up if needed. The howler monkey started on her from the beginning. As per her training, she told him to stop properly and gave him the stop sign. He continued. She looked up at me in the bleachers and I nodded. She rang him up. He jumped up, threw his clipboard and yelled at her. She looked at me again and I nodded again. She whacked him for the second time and told him to leave. He got right in her face and that's when I jumped out onto the floor. He knew who I was, immediately shut up and started to leave. I stopped him and told him that if he didn't apologize to her, I would see that he was suspended from the program for life.
Guess what? He apologized.
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Yom HaShoah
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