Losing control of the game.

[RecRef]

With all respect for Tony and TriggerMN, Juule is 100 percent correct in here suggestion.

We are talking about a bunch “10/11 year old kids” getting banged around in a “RECREATIONAL” league game. Not a North Carolina State tournament game or a NCAA Woman’s game. In all probability the refs doing the game were two 14 or 15 year olds who had minimal training and were afraid to blow the whistle because some adult is going to scream at them. Chances are that these kids are playing on some elementary school court that is tile on concrete.

If it was as bad as cuttplug says, and we do know that coaches tend to exaggerate a bit, the coaches not only have a right to approach the refs but they are legally responsible for the safety of the children. Like Padgett, I’ve been on the board of a rec league for a long time, 12 years in my case, and we preach the young refs and to the coaches that the safety of the kids comes first.

[Rich]

Originally posted by rainmaker
If you and the coach of the opponents' team together talk to the refs at half-time about tightening up, it ought to happen. If it doesn't, then instead of a suggestion to the baord, you should have a complaint.

Another thing I saw work one time, was for the coach of the team that was ahead to say to the refs at half-time, "I've been working with my kids on really clean defense. Would you please call them for the blocking fouls when they bump the dribbler, and the shooting fouls if their arms aren't straight up? Thanks." When this was said to me, we tightened up -- on both teams -- quite a bit.

Also, if you think the refs are just lazy, or trying to get to a hot date, you could say, again at half-time, "I know you guys don't get paid a lot, but if you'd tighten up off-ball right at the beginning of the second half, it may actually speed up the game, since the boys will back off and have fewer fouls at the end. Then we could all get out of here quicker"

I hope you mean at the 5th grade level like the original poster was talking about. Cause if a varsity coach (or coaches) came to me at halftime, I don't think I'd have quite as generous a spirit.

[Rich]

Originally posted by RecRef
With all respect for Tony and TriggerMN, Juule is 100 percent correct in here suggestion.

We are talking about a bunch “10/11 year old kids” getting banged around in a “RECREATIONAL” league game. Not a North Carolina State tournament game or a NCAA Woman’s game. In all probability the refs doing the game were two 14 or 15 year olds who had minimal training and were afraid to blow the whistle because some adult is going to scream at them. Chances are that these kids are playing on some elementary school court that is tile on concrete.

If it was as bad as cuttplug says, and we do know that coaches tend to exaggerate a bit, the coaches not only have a right to approach the refs but they are legally responsible for the safety of the children. Like Padgett, I’ve been on the board of a rec league for a long time, 12 years in my case, and we preach the young refs and to the coaches that the safety of the kids comes first.

If I had a dollar for everytime some clueless coach used the phrase, "Someone's going to get hurt if you don't do something!" I'd be rich. Wait, I AM Rich.

Basketball is not a non-contact sport. Players will make contact with each other, and the official's job is to penalize such contact that causes an advantage not intended by the rules. Just cause they throw their bodies into each other, on the floor, and into walls doesn't mean that we should be looking to invent fouls that aren't there -- which is what I hear whenever I work games at this level, which admittedly isn't very often anymore.

[TPS2859]

Keep it simple!!!

If there is more than one game, have a coach from the next game help reff yours. Then you help reff his game and so on. Its workd for us in the past.

[rainmaker]

Originally posted by Rich Fronheiser

I hope you mean at the 5th grade level like the original poster was talking about. Cause if a varsity coach (or coaches) came to me at halftime, I don't think I'd have quite as generous a spirit.

Good grief, yes, of course. I'm thinking low level rec here. You've got your "I just want to go out for a beer with my pals" refs, who don't call anything, and they need to do things a little differently. From the coach's point of view, what's going to get the job done?

Varsity, even JV, is a whole different story.

[Rich]

Originally posted by rainmaker

Good grief, yes, of course. I'm thinking low level rec here. You've got your "I just want to go out for a beer with my pals" refs, who don't call anything, and they need to do things a little differently. From the coach's point of view, what's going to get the job done?

Varsity, even JV, is a whole different story.

Don't go getting all Charlie Brown on me -- I figured that's what you meant

I have a hard time remembering that not all officials have common sense. Or any sense. I get to hand pick my partners here for the most part. I forget that all officials aren't like my partners.

--Rich

[BktBallRef]

Originally posted by RecRef
With all respect for Tony and TriggerMN, Juule is 100 percent correct in here suggestion.

I can't think of a single situation where it would be appropriate for two coaches to go to the officials at halftime, or any other time, and tell them how they want the game called. I couldn't care less how old the officials are. If they're minors and they're the problem, then there are people who put them in that position who are responsible for them and their actions.