Simply But Yet so Hard..sometimes

[stir22]

Originally Posted by Adam

Sell it.

This. A strong voice and no-doubt mechanic will work wonders. Whatever you do, don't ask the kids,"okay, who touched it last?"

I made the mistake of doing that in a middle school game. I made that mistake ONCE. THAT was a learning experience.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by stir22

Don't ask the kids,"okay, who touched it last?"

The only time that this technique could be used is in a one person game, and if you officiate long enough, you will eventually work a one person game. Most of the time the kids are pretty honest and the game is better without a bunch of extra alternating possession situations.

[Freddy]

Don't do this all the time. In fact, don't do this if you don't have to. Shucks, don't even do it.
At the risk of getting thoroughly lambasted, for which I'm ready, consider this . . .
Oftentimes the players themselves know who knocked the ball OOB. Just a brief pause to allow a slight, furtive glance at the players' reactions can give away what the correct call would be.
Note well: I'm not saying do this. But it seems to hold true the very few times I experimented with it. Or, I mean, I read about it somewhere. Or, I mean, BillyMac told me he did this all the time.