What would you do?

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Everyone has a travel team. And at that age just about anyone that wants to play can find a team somewhere.

Not true here in my hometown of 40,000 people. We have one travel team for each grade, six, seven, and eight. If a player doesn't make that team, then he's relegated to playing recreation basketball, where the competition is not as good as the travel program, as is the strength of schedule, the amount of practice time, and the quality of coaching.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Not all high school players are at the same level of competence and I do not think many people decide to call the game that drastically different.

You are absolutely correct. Most of us don't.

But once you venture down to officiate games between pre-teen gym rats, then you can, or can't, adjust to the talent, and experience, of that team, league, or individual, as well as the expectations of that league. I've been working this Catholic middle school "junior varsity" league for over twenty-five years, and I know exactly what's expected of me. If I call a do-over in the original post, especially if it's early in the season, early in the game, and with a confused player, I'm 100% positive that my assigner, all my partners, the league president, both coaches, the principal, and all the fans wouldn't blink an eye. In fact, I'm certain that my assigner, and the league president, are pleased with the job that I do, as I am usually selected to officiate league playoffs, and have worked state, and New England, tournaments at this level.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

There are always different levels.

Agree. And some of us adjust, or are allowed, or even encouraged, to adjust, and some of us don't adjust, or are not allowed to adjust, or are discouraged from adjusting. It all depends on the individual official, as well as the expectations of the assigner, and the league.