7 days, 40 games

[JugglingReferee]

Yes, you've read that correctly. In the past 168 hours, I've worked 40 games.

17 of those were actual games - a weekend tournament. I think I had 2 or 3 T's for the weekend (last weekend).

Monday and today I had 10 and 13 "games" respectively. The games are only 4 x 5min quarters, running time. It's our local Catholic elementary schools year-end tournament: both girls and boys. The winner of the tournament is the league champion for 2012. (The boys' GMG went to double overtime!)

These kids are the kids that didn't make the city club teams. Each team has 1-3 "ok" players, perhaps 1 of those 3 is "decent". The rest of the players range from less-than-ok to weak. So yes, it was very difficult to be out there at times.

The coaching is lacking. It's gotta be tough though - to coach such a team.

Oh ya - the games are officiated with 1 official. And there are 3 games being played concurrently, all cross court.

I whacked one coach. He wanted a 3-second call. The point had the ball with pressure. His wings were also pressured. So I'm just above FLE, watching these 3 matchups - and not paying much attention to the key. I look into the key and sure enough - a Team A player. Knowing nothing about how long he's been there, I look back at A1. The coach starts, "8... 9... 10".

He was whacked before he finished the "e" in "nine".

Oddly enough how 2 of his players were also T'd up for loudly contesting calls.

The lady that runs the tournament every year noticed the actions of the kids and said to me, "the kids act out of control because the teacher is out of control". I'm so glad that it was obvious.