Floor Markings

Originally Posted by grunewar

ARGH!

Dug up this old thread as I reffed two boys 12U games last night in a horrific gym.

Carpet floor with absolutely no room for players, coaches, parents, etc. to sit/stand. Coaches are nearly forced onto the floor as there is little room for them to stand on the sidelines next to the table. Spectators are barely off the court, and are ON the court when they stretch their legs. Plus all of the various equipment (mats, benches, poles) along the endline make it impossible for the officials to get properly positioned - I nearly tripped and fell a few times and players crashed into objects at great speed and peril sometimes (or so I thought).

Captains and Coaches meeting was serious business this night. Players were given great latitude along the sidelines inbounding the ball. One boy tried to inbound the ball and keep his feet out of bounds and practically fell onto the court he was so off balance. When the players and parents started arriving for the second game, the corners of the gym were barely playable with so many people in attendance.

My least favorite moment. I'm on the sidelines and call a violation. When I put my hand up - it went up and into a chain net hanging from one of the side basket that was just off the floor. Chain net in an indoor gym?

Only good part was I wasn't tired at the end of the night from too much running......

If I never call a game in that gym again it'll be too soon.

If you all watch the movie "Boys Town" made back in the 1930's with Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney, you'll see a big room in which Mickey is celebrated as the newly-elected Mayor of Boys Town. That room is now the middle school gym, which has a carpet floor and not much room like grunewar described in his posting.