Letting it get out of control

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by btaylor64

Picking up first fouls in our game is very crucial, especially in very heated games, moments and situations.

I've been taught to extend that to the first three minutes. During the first three minutes it is possible, in a way, to set the tone for how the rest of the game is to be played.

Ignore stuff that goes on those first three minutes, you may find the fish you need to reel in is struggling more than the rod and reel you have in your hand can handle.

This could be taken wrongly, but you and I are, to a certain extent, in the behavior modification business out there. Contests I've seen that got out of control later on were often on that track from what was passed on earlier in the game.

I pregamed this all year when I was R, but had one partner earlier in the season who responded, "No, I don't do it that way. I let the kids set the tone and then I adapt to that. Let's let 'em play." No wonder this fellow official has numerous games that get out of control and gets yelled at a lot. He sets himself and his crew up for what he gets later.

That said, sometimes the wild card of emotions run amok can mess things up unexpectedly and in spite of the best efforts of the officiating crew. Those are the situations which sadden and sometimes shock me. But I guess that's why we get the big bucks.