Pregame in younger levels

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Originally posted by refnrev
Just curious. Do most of you do pregame meetings with captains and coaches at younger levels (8th and lower)? I always do. Do a quick sportsmanship talk and make sure they are legally and properly eqqipped. I officiate in two states because I live on the border. In one state it seems to be common procedure, at least in this area, because everyone expects it and does it. In the other I must be the only one who does because when I call for captains and head coaches to meet at the center line before the game they look at me like I am from another planet. What do they do where you are my esteemed colleagues?

7th and below, no captains'; just coaches. 8th, I hold captains' and coaches separately. Captains: "Congratulations on being selected Captain, be a leader out there, go back to your warmups". If anyone thinks these kids are listening to more than one thing (if that) they are kidding themselves. I can count on one finger through 30+ eighth grade games that the "captain" came to me with an on-court problem, and that one time was to tell me that "number 42 pinched me".