[Welpe]

I showed up for my three 7th grade boys games tonight and my partner showed up a few minutes later. We check the books, have a quick captain's meeting and toss it up. About a minute into the first quarter, the AD comes in and says to us during a dead ball that they need somebody in the other gym for the 8th grade A level game. I confer with my partner and we decide I'll go over and work the 8th grade games.

From what the AD told me, I was under the impression they needed a second official. Oh no...there are NO officials there. I grit my teeth, confer with the coaches quickly, check the books and away we go. The game was physical but a blow out. I called what I could but I felt like I just did not do a good job. I know I missed a lot of contact I just couldn't see properly. I was working free throw line to free throw line opposite the table and moving to the middle of the court when necessary but with the amount of post play, I just couldn't catch it all.

The coaches were OK but I did end up warning the visitor's coach for occasional outburts. Went to the arrow a few times on out of bounds. There were a bunch of problems with the clock starting and stopping properly along with the arrow switching properly, which compounded an already frustrating situation. I didn't realize how mentally daunting it is being the only official on the court.

The game ended without incident and the other two games were a slower pace and both blow outs also. Other than T'ing up a player on the bench for screaming at me over a foul call (which also did me a favor by seat belting the complaining coach the rest of the game), the rest was pretty vanilla.

I am exhausted and more than a little frustrated that not one but two officials failed to show up. This experience definitely makes me appreciate having a partner on the court. Now where's that Motrin...