[drinkeii]

Originally posted by Richard Ogg
This is not an easy concept to understand. I'd ask you younger ref's who have been doing this for awhile to try to remember back when you were grappling with this, and have some compassion. For us older ref's, we can't remember back that far, regardless of how long ago or how recently we started this vocation. Now....

Someone once stated that a responsiblilty of the officials is to ensure that the best team wins (or has the opportunity to). Sounds like with a 30 point spread that this was accomplished, regardless of the 3-second call.

Game management is not easy to deal with. One way to look at it is to ask yourself which scenario is best:

1. team manages to lose by only 28 points instead of 30 because the offical failed to call a violation, or
   
2. player is called for 3-seconds, loses cool and expresses his (her) frustration, opponent is amused by the situation and laughs or comments, frustrated player places fist in opponent's face, bench clears and 4 players taken to hospital, ref sued for not controlling game, tesitmony shows that "harmless" violation led to frustration and therefore ref is partially to blame, ref's family spends rest of life living under bridge because home was sold to pay damages....

Blow-out games are tough to call. I do not compromise on my foul calls except for potentially that leaning screen that causes no one frustration. Violations, on the other hand, may get redefined.... Like the losing team steping 2" over the line on a throw-in..... I'll never see it because I will not be looking that direction - guaranteed!

Then why are you officiating, if you're not watching for what you're supposed to be?

I don't see this loss of house thing happening. A court saying "Ignore the rules of the game whenever you feel like it" dosn't seem like a very likely scenario either.