Preventative Officiating Techniques

[NoFussRef]

Maybe 10+ years ago or more, telling youth boys to "quit slapping at the ball like the girls do" or telling girls to "stop acting like the boys and play good defense" would get a good chuckle and the desired effect of better defense etc...

However nowadays, and as of about 3 Seasons ago... nothing but trouble.

I made that mistake at a game and it turns out one of my assignors was in crowd. WHOOPS!

While administering FTs I told a group of 10-12yr old boys (both teams in double bonus, stop clock, terribly lazy defenders just hacking at everyone and everything) "Guys, let's stop just slapping at the ball the way the girls do, I wanna see good defense, and move your feet!"

Had sparingly used this speech in a few times over the years with either sex of player and always got the chuckle from the players, and the crowd. But this time I got a gym full of both sides booing, even my bookkeeper would only show me disgust the rest of the game.

Worst part was after game one of my area sports managers approaches and asks me if I had learned anything.... :> Uhhhhm Yep.