Officiating a blowout (boys MS)

[CMHCoachNRef]

Originally Posted by Eckley

As a first year official, I've come to hear various theories from veteran officials I've worked with as how to officiate a game that is a blowout. Many officials will begin to let some calls go in the name of finishing the game quickly. The local "mercy rule," i.e. running clock, starts when one team leads by 40 in the 3rd quarter or 30 in the 4th quarter. If a team is up by 15 or 20 at the start of the 4th and it's clear the losing team will not and cannot come back from the deficit, should one's officiating change? I've tried as hard as I can to officiate the same no matter what the score is, but I know that many of my partners do not share my point of view.

As a first year official, you are making first impressions with folks (ADs, coaches, players, parents, etc.) nearly every time you step on the floor. Perhaps some of your veteran partners can get away with swallowing the whistle in such games, but you likely cannot.

My advice to you is simple -- control what YOU can control. For you, each game is a learning experience. Try to get better every game. You probably can still work on recognizing fouls, recognizing a travel, etc. The best way, in my opinion, to work on your consistency is to try to make the same call all of the time.

As you know, there are multiple "schools of thought" on whether you make the exact same call in the last minute of a tie game that you do in the middle of the third quarter of a 40 point blowout. Each side will argue hard for their point of view -- and the arguments can be compelling.

However, in your case, you want the ADs and coaches to see that the "new guy" recognizes fouls and violations, therefore we should bring him back. Each official has his own style, but I look at it from the standpoint that I am getting paid the "full rate" regardless of the score. I am going to hustle up to the end of the game. I am going to referee until the end of the game.

It is hard enough for new officials to recognize fouls and violations. Attempting to further muddy the waters by only some fouls is putting an unfair burden on the new official.