Delay to the nth degree

[BillyMac]

A few weeks ago, in a sixth, and seventh, grade Catholic school game, I made a crossing the boundary line delay of game call with seconds left in a tied game. It was a reaction call, very obvious, and, at the time, I didn't think twice about the call, until I realized that this was the second delay call of the game, against the same team, and that the technical foul shots, one was eventually made, would give the one point victory to the other team. Nobody, players, coaches, or fans, complained about the call. I went from a reaction call, to feeling a little too "officious", until my partner pointed out to me that it was the same player who got the first, and second, crossing the boundary line delay of game call. I'm still not sure that I feel 100% "great" about the second call, but I don't feel too badly about it either. Players eventually have to learn the rules, and by making calls like this, they will certainly learn the rules and play the game as intended.

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

So your answer, as an official, is to instruct the OTHER team how to work around the violations instead of penalizing the offenders? Then maybe you should coach instead of officiate.

Since when are coaches and officials, especially in an 11 year old rec league, adversaries? Since when are they not trying to accomplish the same goal?

Raise your hand if you have ever personally witnessed 9 INDIVIDUAL / SEPARATE Technical fouls in one game AT ANY LEVEL (fights excluded). Case closed.

I guess the OP made his point - he is the ultimate authority. And ruined the tempo of the game in the process. When all he had to do is back the kids up 2 feet. Even HS rules dictate if the OOB area is limited there is a 3-foot line that the defense can't cross marked on the court. Why couldn't he have just said "Move back a little". This would have kept the game flowing and at a time out could have instructed coaches how to instruct their players relative to the rules. he would have shown the coaches he is on the same side as them - trying to do what is best for the kids. Instead, he chose to be robocop.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Ralph

And ruined the tempo of the game in the process.

HE ruined the tempo of the game?

I agree that it's nice if a game has "tempo." But it's not up to us whether it does.

[rockyroad]

And just so we're all clear that this Ralph guy has absolutely no clue - 7th graders are not 11 years old. Stick around long enough Ralph and you will realize that quite a few of us "long-timers" on this board post things just to vent and we don't need or want any validation from anyone in those threads.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

7th graders are not 11 years old

Most of them in this league are 13. There's a few who are 12 and a couple who are 14. Not that it is a big deal, but when I went into 7th grade back in the Stone Age, I was 10 - and this was in a pretty rough jr. hi on the south side of Chicago. I grew up really fast.