Pregame in younger levels

[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?

[tjones1]

Guess I can't answer this question since I live 50 minutes from ya!

[refnrev]

I know you do. I've been there when you've done it. You did well, too, I might add.

[missinglink]

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".

[RecRefNC]

I do a VERY short pregame with coaches (remember I only whistle in younger leagues by choice) with any "house rules" of the league. Only thing I do after that from a game management standpoint is to (a) before the tip, go to each bench and remind players to double knot their shoes and (b)have the kiddos point to the basket they are shooting towards when we are at the center circle.

Would I do this for anything 6th grade or above? Absolutely NOT.
Yet, since I'm reffing youngsters (and calling with my son, which is a BLAST) and I have had to stop the clock several times due to "shoe emergencies", I do these game management things to keep the game running.

Now when our son graduates HS, then I'll look at moving to work to move up to better games.