Wreck Ball- How do you guys do it?

[VaTerp]

I did not call much wreck ball during the season, mainly b/ I have a young daughter and spend time with her and the wife on the weekends. Anyways, with my HS season likely over I decided to take 3 rec games (11/12 grade boys) at a HS less than 10 minutes from my house and paying $40/game. Still not worth it.

I issued 5 T's in the 3 games. The last 2 were for a player who fouled out and then walked by the table clapping the whole way and said, "good call, buddy." And then the coach comes to the table, pats me on the shoulder, and condescendingly says, "nice job all game." I should have tossed him.

I heard more disrespectful and unsporting comments in 3 games today than I did in 40+ varsity contests. The worst part was that the coaches and parents did not address any of the "young men" playing but only helped create an environment where blaming the officials for every missed shot, turnover, and ultimately losing the game seemed to be the recommended course of action.

After the first game, several players made comments like, "way to blow the game ref," "thanks for sucking so bad," etc. Not one coach or parent said one word until two kids from opposing teams almost starting fight each other after going through the line to shake hands.

As someone who worked in youth development and with youth sports for a number of years it is really disappointing to see a culture of teenagers who feel entitled to everything and feel that they can address adults in any manner they want. And it really brings into question what is anybody getting out of playing these games at all when the coaches and parents don't have enough sense to let kids know when they are being entirely inappropriate.

Then people wonder why more experienced officials don't want to do these games even when the pay is decent. It's simply not worth it.