Important vs. Meaningless ???
 

OK. I can agree with some of what you say. Maybe some games are more important to me than other games, but, nevertheless, they still are all important. I was fortunate to work a high school varsity post season league semifinal, and a final, this past season, and I was a little more excited about working those, than I was about working my Catholic elementary school games. In addition, if the game is more important to the coaches, and parents, than it is to the kids, then don't the coaches, and parents, deserve our best effort?

We are getting paid to do a job, and many of us are fortunate enough to get well paid for some of the low level games that we do. A Forum member refereed to a "Paycheck Official" a few weeks ago in a post. That will never be me. I do it for a lot of reasons, including, but not limited to, the money, as well as trying to give something to the game that I have so much enjoyed for over forty years.

No matter what the level, I always give it my best effort. Furthermore, I have never worked a "meaningless" game in twenty-seven years, and if I ever do, that's when I hang up my whistle.

Billy, somewhere along the way, you switched what you're talking about. Your original comment, and what I disagreed with was:

You were not talking about games that were important to you for some reason. You stated that the game was "the most important game being played anywhere" to the kids. That's just fiction. Have you ever worked a game on the same night that Duke/UNC is on ESPN? The kids (some of the boys, anyway) can't WAIT to get the game over so they can go watch the big boys.

Of course they do, and I never said otherwise. The fact that the game isn't the most important game in the world at that moment doesn't mean that we're not going work hard.

Again, I never said anything about any game being meaningless. I just don't like this mystical importance that you're attaching to every game. It's melodramatic, and I understand it's for a reason (motivation to do your best), but it's just not true.

Not to be a **** stirrer, but many games not only don't even require our best efforts, there's no way to give it. The level of effort that's required for a high level JV game, or a rural school varsity, is way beyond what's required, necessary, or many times even possible in 4th grade boys game.

Perspective. It's a good thing. ;)

I Always Wanted To Be Number Six ...
 

You're correct, but I had no intention of attributing the word meaningless to you. Sorry. I put it in quotes because it was used by the original poster in post #11.

Also, maybe it's different for different kinds of kids, in general, or for kids today, but when I was a kid playing basketball, whether it was in a friend's driveway, with no officials, or in a gym, with officials, coaches, and a crowd, I was only excited about that game, at that time. I used to pretend that I was Bill Russell, my favorite player, blocking shots, grabbing rebounds, scoring a few points, and then go home after my game and watch the Celtics on ABC's Sunday afternoon NBA Game of the Week.

I always gave it my best effort as a player, even with my limited skills, and I always give it my best effort as an official, as I'm sure you do, based on your reputation as a top high school official, an NCAA Division I official, and a highly respected member of this Forum.

What's ABS stand for?

ABS = Accumulation of Bull S***

Ahh rec leagues. There is nothing quite like it. Sorry for being a late comer to this conversation, been working some late games and come home too tired to browse the forum.

Anyways, from my perspective I definitely would have given the player a T and maybe even before you did. My problem with Rec leagues is that I am 19, and I look it. I've been doing games since I was 16 and worked my way up to JV so far, with the occasional off season Varsity game but that doesn't mean squat to these players. I'm working games in Rec league where the players are anywhere from 5-30 years older than me. A lot of the players give me no respect due to my age and appearance so because of this I have developed what I think is one of the quicker technicals around. I have to, otherwise the players will try and run all over me. After the players get to know me and see that I won't put up with any sh!t, we tend to get along fine. Still, there are always the idiots who seem to resent or can't handle the fact that someone of my age has been put in charge of their game.

So my point being, yes I would have given him a T when you did but I probably would have given him one sooner. But that's just me. Anyone have any thoughts on it?

You're from San Diego and you have been officiating for 3 years and you are young. Why haven't you made it to D1 ball yet? :p

Back to OP. Would you have given a 2nd T when the player was headed out the door and made that comment about the official "getting what you wanted."?

Cause I don't know the right people apparently ;)