[Back In The Saddle]

Watched a camp game today between a pretty good 4-A school and a much less talented 2-A school. With about 7-8 minutes left in the game, the winning coach started to play his subs.

Then his scrubs.

And pretty soon he was putting jerserys on what looked like 6th grade boys and putting them on the floor. And before you ask, no these were definitely not diminutive freshman. The first one on the floor was wearing a collared shirt under his jersey, and obviously was not there to play. Perhaps they were younger brothers of some of the players. Who knows.

Needless to say, he pissed off pretty much everybody in the building who wasn't one of his weenie supporters. And there was an understandably ugly moment after the game with the opposing coach.

I wondered at the time what I would do if it were my game. I considered that if I were the losing coach, I'd probably pull my team. If I were the losing players, it would be hard not to give one of the little wannabes a lesson in playing with the big boys. (Okay, I discarded that idea pretty quickly).

A little later on I settled on what I could do as an official.

1. When the little kid reports, I refuse to allow him into the game
2. When the coach wants to make something of it, I inform him that making a travesty of the game is grounds for forfeit, and I would not hesitate to do so
3. Find the first possible opportunity to unload the *******
4. If he doesn't have an assistant, even better as I would forfeit the game

Any thoughts?