You Worthless Piece of...

[JThompson]

Whew!

Got through my sixth and seventh games of the season (my first). I have been working with the instructors of my certification class, who have taken me along as JV officials to work the games prior to their Varsity contests.

Well, tonight I had to work with another first year official because everybody else had to take the Part II test, so no other officials were available to do a Middle School A & B contest at a local gym. I knew going in that it was going to be pretty intense between the two schools.

It turned out to be ugly.

Now I myself am new, but I have worked several scrimmages so far, so I have been able to work out a few kinks (not that I don't have MANY more to shake loose) and get to know what proper calls look like and begin to understand proper mechanics.

This guy has only worked one scrimmage, and from what I hear, it didn't go well.

He couldn't put the proper amount of air into the whistle several times tonight, and really just looked confused on the court. The visiting team coach really ate him alive tonight. I could only try to do my game and keep him out of the line of fire as much as I possibly could. Many could tell that he was a first year official, and took advantage of that.

Now that being said, as I said earlier, I am first year also. But, I have had the opportunity to work scrimmages with many other officials and learn from them. I felt like I had to take charge tonight and not let the game get totally out of hand.

The score - Home 54, Visitor 18.

Total fouls - Home 14, Visitor 16.

The visiting team just could not keep up with the Home team full court pressure. Visiting coach wanted to complain about every call, and that got his fans started. We got through the game, and as we were running off of the court to our locker room, after doing the best job I could to hold this thing together, I had a visiting mother yell at me "You better run, you worthless piece of sh!t".

All in all though, I feel I did the best job I could under the tough circumstances.

Guess it only gets better, huh (or worse!).

John