Poor Guys
 

In the JV game before the Varsity game I saw last night, sad to say the JV refs did not have a very good game.

Fast forward to the 4th quarter, tight game, back and forth in the final minute. Home team is down by one with about 10 seconds to play. H1 scores on a putback layup. V Coaches want timeout, officials don't realize it until there's 1.4 on the clock. Probably 2-3 seconds ran off after the ball went through the hoop.

Both Visitor JV Coaches run literally past the halfcourt line, gesturing and screaming. They are livid. They finally get their timeout, and I can tell from their body language that the officials are "deer in headlights". The visitor's crowd is really letting them have it. The coaches want time put back on, but the officials do not. (That part they handled well). Anyway, time runs out and the visitors lose. The coaches tried chasing them off the floor, but they got out of there in a hurry.

Part of officiating is being aware of the game situations. I've mistakenly awarded a timeout when the coach wasn't calling one in a late game situation. Too quick a whistle. The other coach was not happy with me. Knowing when a coach might try and get a timeout will only help.

I felt bad for the guys because I think we've all been in a situation like that before, especially early in our career. I do wish they would have had the cajones to T up the coaches for running on to the floor like that. Now that would have gotten interesting.

Ok?

If you'd like to add thoughts, or maybe a similar story from early in your career...feel free?