Another "That Guy" Moment
 

I had a break between games this weekend, so I went to watch the start of another game on a different court. About 2 1/2 minutes into the game, an official calls a delay of game warning for breaking the plane on an inbound situation. [6th graders] Before the ball is inbounded during the ensuing throw-in, he whistles a T. I went back over to the other court. I saw another official and told him what had happened, and he just said, "Don't tell me, was it that guy?"

Next game, I got switched to the other court and we both got to work with that guy. At the end of the game, losing coach went out to have a talk with him. I moved away, and my other partner said, "I'm not bailing him out THIS time."

Rewind to last year. My first experience working with him was last spring. I tossed the ball up and started working the game alone before he showed up. Every association has one. Don't let it be you.

I've seen some disparity on the way this is called at the middle school level. Some won't call it, but I recall one veteran insisting that rule "doesn't have an age requirement."

It probably has something to do with where you grew up. I remember playing pee-wee basketball in the late '70s, and hearing, "whatever you do, don't reach across the line on a throw-in!" Has the penalty always been the same (warning one, T each additional)?

Just curious - MS spring league 3-person? That's how I read your post.

Sorry. That Guy had an AAU 6th grade game. That game had 2 officials. The game he had with us was an 11th grade AAU semi.

I had "that guy" on the softball field last weekend. One half inning he allowed 21 (instead of the rule-based 5) warmup pitches. One simple substitution took 6-7 minutes to administer... during a timed game.