Overtime
 

Being new, most of my games have been blowouts. Earlier this month, I had one that was close in the early part of the 4th quarter.

The other night, the horn went off for the 4th quarter. I looked up at the scoreboard and thought, "There must be a light out on the scoreboard, it looks like the score is 39 to 39".

Overtime!!!

I know that is a bad word to some, but I was glad to see it. Both teams were good sports and played hard. At least ONE of the coaches was a good sport. LOL. It was a shame that one team had to lose.

Fun games happen every now and then, thank Goodness, just enough to keep us going back for more. :)

Yes, you'll hear a lot off officials say if you go to overtime you didn't do a good job, but that is just a joke to almost all. You have to work the game as it is. By the way, it sounds like you had a good night, but if you worked the game correctly you woulnd't have gone to overtime.:D

Is that because they're thinking, "extra period"?

What is a 4th quarter?:D :D :D

It makes it easier if you think of it as the second half of the second half...

They probably do in Minnesota this year.

Close games and overtime improve you as a referee. Any tough call is magnified.

Don't you notice how fast they go by?

Overtime Joke
 

I hate it when officials joke about not liking overtime games. First of all, what can be more exciting for players, fans, coaches and officials than an overtime game ? Secondly, when nonofficials hear us joke about not liking overtime games, they may be led to believe that we're in it just for the money and can't wait to get out of the gymnasoium.

Officials, please stop this joke.

OT can be a special time for both player and official. Everyone gets to contribute, maybe its the kid who's been sitting on the bench and now one of starters has fouled out, and that kid plays like he could have been starting. As officials, we like to see the players form the outcome of the game. As mentioned, calls are now magnified and so now each toot becomes a possible momentum shift for one team. It does truly make us better, it's 'crunch' time, it's why we chose to get into this work. Its why we prefer to work on the floor instead of sitting in the stands, because we know we can and are willing to put our 'ability' in front of those who would like to be us. Aw, gee, I'm gettin' a lump in my throat...