Thank you, I appreciate that.

RE: Control. I've had 2-3 games this year that started getting really chippy in the 2nd quarter, so during halftime I suggested to my partner that we stay on top of it. Before the 3rd started I went to each coach and told them we didn't want an injury or a confrontation so we were going to tighten it up to keep the game under control. They understood, thanked me for letting them know, and then relayed the info to their players. We then backed it up with our whistles and each of the games, though very close, were uneventful. I have no idea if that's one of those "book" things, but that type of communication has worked for me so far.


Thank you; I understand that now a lot better than I did just 3 months ago.

Back in December I had a coach and asst coach constantly chirping and questioning each call. I ignored it then, but if it happened today I'd give them their warning. I did that last week to the coach of a FR girls team who was complaining loudly because they were losing and were on the short end of a 10-3 foul count. During an OB I walked over and told the coach the reason it was 10-3 was because his team was chasing and playing D with their hands instead of their feet. He agreed, but kept complaining. I then told him he'd had his say and needed to quiet down and coach his team. Not only did he not give us any more grief, but his team started playing hard and won the game.

Yep. Where do you think George got them?

Oh, I thought you meant the other Woody.

Mention his name & he'll expect you to take him for a walk.

http://www.trendypuppy.com/collarswags/gypsy-sue.jpg

1)Naw, I was talking about a different dumb animal.

2) I do tricks for a brownpop too.

Particularly if they are "balsa" wood.

Experience, Experience, Experience
 

Experience has a a lot to do with it. When I started officiating twenty-seven years ago, my hair was entirely brown, I didn't know any of the coaches, they didn't know me, and I called a lot of technical fouls.

Today, my hair has as much gray as brown, I've been to at least ten schools in our area over twenty times, I know most of the coaches, and they know me.

I've only had to call two technical fouls this year, both on players. One, flagrant, against a player who slapped another player during the aftermath of a held ball, and the second against a player who threw a ball at an opponent.

I haven't even come close to giving a technical foul to a coach this year, not even a stop sign, and I work about three high school varsity games a week, as well as a few Catholic middle school games every weekend.