How this Ref gets his Revenge/ HS Rats
 

Wreck HS boys rat-ball. Both teams horsing around the whole game. Had 3 Ts (1, inbounder throws ball in defenders face- they both laugh and was nothing flagrant but still whack. 2, player doing chin-ups on the net before and inbound. 3, delay of game- after plenty of warnings.)

At one point early in 1st, during free throws a team is throwing a football back and forth from bench to players at other end of court. (let this go, as even my partner and I got a good laugh, and they put it away before 2nd shot)

I tell my partner I'm only taking this as serious as they do, and we agree as long as this is still "fun" for both teams, and it stays that way, we will proceed.

REF's REVENGE=

In between 3rd and 4th qtrs, I go to the schools equipment room and find a basketball that is so flat it barely holds its shape. When I go to administer inbound to start the 4th, not even my partner knows what is about to happen.

I toss ball to inbounder A1, and begin my count, as he gives me the wtf look. I am already holding back uncontrollable laughs, his teammate starts yelling at him "he's counting, the refs counting!!!" So naturally he throws it in to A2, same wtf expression from him. There is barely enough air in this ball that he manages to get three dribbles out of it (each one getting lower to the floor) then passes it to A3 who shoots an air ball that just goes THUD.

After having MY rat-ball fun for the day, I blow it dead, tell my hysterically laughing partner the game-ball is hiding under bleachers behind him, and we proceed.

Thought you all would get a kick out of this one!

If there was a Like button for this post, I'd definitely click it. :D

If the atmosphere is this casual and everybody involved can deal with it, I guess that's fine. But if you choose to participate in the shenanigans it makes it harder to insert yourself as an authority figure when that is needed.

You never said who won but I assume the generals lost again?

Valid point.

I can assure you this was the sitch. I am more likely to stop a game that has became nothing but a mockery of "pure" basketball. I have canceled games in the 1st quarter for this type of stuff, but today BOTH teams were mutually having fun, it was three pt attempt after 3 pt attempt, team fouls were 3 and 1 at half. We never even saw bonus. Horseplay yes, but control was ours through the game. Not one chip at us over anything. We even went into two OTs.

Today I figured, if you have to deal with a game like this, you can let it irritate you into retirement, or have some fun of your own.

Everyone involved loved the flat ball routine.

Ed - Zackery!
 

An ole Globetrotter routine!

Curly and Meadowlark would be proud.....I guess.

As has been said though, fun is fun. But, be careful though as if something "accidental" happens late in the game and you were party to letting the game go...... Just sayin.

RE: Globetrotter routine:
Was there a "flat ball" routine? I have never seen that one!
Dang it, thought I could patent the play. Doh!

However, funny you mentioned the GlobeTrotter's because this game had me whistling their "theme song" (and not through my fox40).

Again, my partner and I discussed "liability", "mockery", and as an example; we made sure the football stayed on the bench the rest of the game.

Again, as for administering 4th quarter throw-in with a flat ball... I don't care who you are, that is funny. The look on these rat-baller's faces was priceless!

A recent episode.......
 

Outstanding! Thanks for the link. :D

We set up a teammate on our softball team once by supplying the opposing pitcher with a grapefruit painted like a softball.

And?

It didn't get out of the infield.