how many fouls is too many?

[Pantherdreams]

42 in a half seems like a lot, but without seeing the game I can't say for sure it is too many.

Things to consider:

- It is your job to call the game and manage the game not decide how it is played or send "messages". If there is llegal contact that is more then incidental and leading to adv/disadv. situation you call the foul. Don't worry about how teams are playing or "cleaning it up" just call the fouls you see.

- If both teams are pressing, both teams are probably experienced and capable of playing through pressure. In a JV game you might have some disparate levels of size and athleticism but if both teams are playing this hard, then they may have the capability to play through the contact you are finding excessive in a JV game. Be patient and call the game and play that is infront of you.

- Officiate the defense but don't hold them responsible for everything that happens. If a defender is putting his hands in and on/ forearms in and on the the offense doesn't like the contact so they stop or change their direction, that is very different (imo) then the offense getting directed or moved off their path by hands/forearms. The ball handler also has no expectation of time and space so there will be some contact and maintaining of space by both that will be required as the game moves on. If it is not clearly hurting the ball carriers ability to perform their current action or is not rough play you don't have to call that just because you don't like the action.

- We are not the arbitors of what is and is not good defense. You get to determine if it is legal or illegal and if there are fouls taking place. Just because positionally they do different things, or they have more active hands then we were coached or like to see doesn't make it wrong. You just have to call the game in front of you.