[mplagrow]

I used to be a teacher, and due to circumstances I often had to ref my own school. This was in a small Lutheran grade school. I agree that it can be difficult, but the fact is that you are often harder on your own kids because you don't want to seem biased and you know their tendencies.

I'll never forget an 8th grade girls' tournament game I reffed with my own students involved. With time expiring, I called a shooting foul on a girl from my school. "We" were ahead by 1. Team B had not hit a single free throw all night. The girl missed everything on the first toss. Second toss, swish! Team B won by 6 in OT.

Now, I know it was the right call. Nobody held it against me.But it was indeed tough to be in that position!