Approached and berated by two parents

[pfan1981]

Tonight I did two 7th grade girls game. Started with the "B" teams and the home team was crushed by the visitors. I messed up when reporting a number of the visiting team and the girl ended up fouling out.

In between the games (same coaches for both games), I apologized to the visiting coach for messing up. Jokingly I said, "That was the only bad call I had though." She agreed that was the only missed call and told me that we have been by far the best referees they have had all year. As a first year official (100+ games at the scoring table), this sorta made my night. The home coach also said we were doing a fantastic job.

And then the "A" game began. The visiting team took a lead for most of the first half. Visiting coach was barking about the point guard pushing off, we warned the girl and she stopped. The visiting team was more aggressive and didn't play in control which led to bonus and then double bonus (17 fouls in the second half). The home team takes the lead on all of their free throw attempts. With 3 or so minutes left, I am the lead on the baseline watching a visiting shot attempt with four girls going for the rebound, behind them a visiting player hits the ground HARD. I of course didn't see a thing since I was blocked by four girls going up for the rebound, my partner had no call. The coach then lost it. I calmly went over to her and explained that I had four girls between me and the "foul". She kept yelling, I warned her and explained that if she kept it up that it would be a technical foul. She stopped. The visitors kept fouling up until the last play, in fact, with a 10 deficit and only seconds left the visiting coach tells her girl to foul and her player gives the home player a tiny bump. I call it because I don't want her to hammer the home player. The visiting coach then argues my call....hilarious.

Game over, my partner and I are putting our street shoes on behind the benches, but on the total opposite side of where the fans sit. I am all set to drive home feeling great about the game and then two parents ask for my name and my officiating number because they are going to report us to the WIAA for how lousy of a job we did. I said, "No thank you," grabbed my duffel bag and headed to the exit. All the while they are in my ear about how terrible we are, how we should turn our whistles in, and how we can't threaten the coach with a technical about the fans (I assume he was talking about my little chat about her calming down). The principal of the middle school was by the door of the gymnasium and I told with a smile him that he probably wants to speak to these two gentlemen.

Got in my car, and thought, "Hmmmm, 7th grade girls basketball? You're going to get that worked up about 7th grade girls basketball?" I chuckled to myself as I drove home knowing that we provided a fair and exciting game.

I guess, what are your thoughts about my night? Game management probably should have done a better job of intercepting these two, but they could just be going to talk to their daughters. Do I call anyone? The home AD, visiting AD, principal of the middle school?

Any advice or comments are welcome, thanks,

pfan