How to get back in the game

[Rich]

I was working a girls varsity game last week. Crash, clear block. I summon the spirit of indulgent, incorrect mechanics and bang my hips when selling the call. I linger and watch the players go to the floor and once I see that there's no injuries or any USC I go to the table.

I get over to the trail position and the table buzzes me. I'm thinking that they are not paying attention and allow myself to get just a little annoyed. When I went over, they told me I had reported the number of the shooter. I quickly realized they were right.

I laughed, they laughed. I still had both numbers in my head, but for some reason I was paying attention to the offensive player as she took the worse end of the collision. I said, "you mean I didn't report 21 white?" Nope, 50 blue.

I was still smiling as I got back to the trail position. A few years ago something like this would've bumped me off my game, but for some reason the water rolls off the back a lot easier these days. Heck, even the coaches smiled.

Rich