[Juulie Downs]

I enjoy reffing the youngest players from time to time. They are often so sincere, so intent, and so clueless.

Yesterday, 5th grade girls, dead ball for my partner to adminster. I'm trail, tableside. I hear the nearest coach say, "Maggie, you're in." Maggie jumps up and runs straight onto the floor. Coach says, "No, no, check in at the table". But Maggie doesn't hear her because she's saying hi to me (she knows me). I say, "You have to check in at the table". She goes back to the table, talks to the table person for a moment, and then squats down in front of the table. I say, "Sub, you're in" and wave her in, while table person also tells her to go on in. Meantime, of course, whoever should be leaving has no clue, so Maggie's not getting the hint. But she finally jumps up from the X and starts to run in. Then, right in front of me, she stops, looks up at me, and says, "Now?" I only nod because I hear her parents laughing from the stands, and I don't trust myself to do differently.

They're so cute at that age!