During an 8th grade girls game with a couple of young, rookie college-age officials, they called the game as one would expect from 1 and 2 year guys--just learning. The second string played the 2nd and 4th periods (with an additional 5th period for the first string again), and consisted of players that simply haven't played much and don't know the game, but round out the roster. Anyway, one quite athletic girl who falls in the category of "hustler without a clue" had a few hard fouls as she ran into players accidentally while trying to get the ball. After the third foul, one of the officials goes over to the coach and tells her, "Number 31 has had 3 hard fouls now. Next one she gets, she's out of the game." He told the player the same thing. Word has it that the girl, who was simply trying to play hard, was devestated.
My thought was, too bad this official didn't recognize the situation for what it was: an unskilled player who simply didn't know the game but was trying her best and had no intention whatsoever of hurting anyone. Would have preferred he talk to the girl and encourage her to stay under control and try harder not to run into players. Then if she did, call the fouls as prescribed until she fouled out. He rightly had safety on the forefront, but went about it in the wrong way I thought (inexperience, of course). For the benefit of the young officials who read this forum and work a lot of 5th - 8th grade girls ball, how would others of you handle a similar situation?
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Thu Jan 11, 2001, 09:27am
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