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Then you agree with me (except for the myth part of course).

Welcome to the cynics club. Next week is your turn to bring the donuts and coffee to the meeting.

Yep, I agree with Ignats75. :D

I may miss the meeting; could you e-mail me my donut?

http://agitprop.typepad.com/photos/u...zed/donuts.jpg

Eat hearty. This ought to make it easier for you to work the baselines while I handle mid court.

is that krispy kreme

Geesh, if I eat all those, I'll be staying at that one baseline, while you handle the rest of the court.

Although, if it's a Sat. morning CYO game, I suppose I can do that... ;)

I never said it's not worth my total effort. When I worked kids rec ball, I gave it that, running up and down the court for as many games as I was scheduled. But the atmosphere was a lot looser and I made sure I didn't take anything or anyone too seriously. Most of the idiots that work rec ball that loaf and walk and don't work hard either don't know any better or simply don't care.

Now, do I stand at attention on the blocks during timeouts? Do I insist we long switch on EVERY foul? No.

My decision to stop working that ball had nothing to do with me thinking the games weren't worth my total effort. They just weren't worth my time anymore. I have a full time job where I travel out of town about 50%. I have a 2-year-old daughter who likes having daddy home and asks me every day if daddy's going to "play basketball"? And tonight's my fourth varsity game since Monday, so I'm sure the question's coming soon....

I work 40 basketball dates a year, give or take a few. I also work 100+ baseball games and 30+ football dates a calendar year, too. I stopped "loving" getting up early on a Saturday morning and working 4 games a long, long time ago. So now I don't.

I propose a 4-man crew. Two trails, two leads, no running. Maybe a couple of folding chairs.

Good idea.

What's the mechanic on taking your chair across the lane? Do you fold it first, or just carry it as is?

This brings up an question of ethics.

Coach of team A buys the 4 whistle crew a box of donuts and a box -o- joe. Should we refuse it? Or accept it but risk the temptation to 'repay' the favor at some critical point in the game...

You place chairs on each side. Better yet, just bounce/toss across the lane when necessary.

You also have to switch every 5 minutes so the trails get a chance to sit down.

Will you stop merging threads!!! I'm gonna get so confused I'm going to start quoting Old School, and then I will have to resign.

Nah, they have chairs in front of the table

The leads get to eat and drink while sitting on the folding chairs. The trails have to manufacture a whistle when they are hungry/thirsty/tired of standing. (Kinda like how the NCAA TV officials manufacture a cheap whistle JUST AFTER getting under the 16/12/8/4 minute media timeout marks. :) )

It may be a lower game but to those kids that is just as well as a NCAA championship game. IMO every game I do if I didn't do something correct It bothers me what ever the level of game it may be. I look at those lower level game a place to improve my skill and mechanics. In most cases those games is where I learn.

not to sound arrogant -- but i will -- generally you learn all you can up to a certain point at each level then you rely on the next to teach you more.

I have learned what i can from this level and the biggest thing I have learned is that I am done working them. just personal preference. The only youth games I do (younger than high school) is the AAU variety. And for the most part I treat these like a HS game.

Calling 50 travels and 3 second violations is great for a week or so. whats next -- well i got the held ball covered thanks to frosh/soph girls (big shout out for that) and I got the block/charge really covered with the boys side (just much quicker than the girls -- the block charge in a mens game IMO can be the most difficult call to make).

So I am not saying the game ISNT important -- I am saying in the grand scheme of things and all basketball games that the LOWER THE LEVEL = LESS IMPORTANT because A BOYS VARSITY GAME WILL NEVER BE ON THE SAME PAR AS A 7/8 GRADE GAME -- and I DONT CARE ABOUT THE KIDS SO THERE I SAID IT