Can we keep a game from becoming a total train wreck?

[ballgame99]

Originally Posted by Freddy

True or False:
It sounds like you regret calling that many fouls. Really? That perspective, I suggest, might be a contributing cause to frustration over a game many of us would love to be assigned to.
.

Absolutely not! If anything I would have liked to come out even stronger. We knew it was going to be ugly and were prepared to do our best to not let it. Sometimes you just can't stop the train though.
I was just trying to point out that we called a ton of fouls and they just kept coming. So the "they will adjust" philosophy doesn't always work.

[Archie Lib]

Originally Posted by ballgame99

I was just trying to point out that we called a ton of fouls and they just kept coming. So the "they will adjust" philosophy doesn't always work.

In my old line of work we would conduct operations based on "zero tolerance". This would happen when we recognized a particular problem in an area and the only strategy is to tighten down on enforcement to get the point across as best we could to deal with the immediate issue. This would be a good pre-game for a game like this I think, especially since it sounds like the crew was aware of what you were possibly getting into.

I'm new, but I've had at least 2 pre-games this season where this was exactly what was said by our crew chief when games like yours cropped up: Zero tolerance for bullsh#t. Set the tone early, be firm but fair, call the gators but make sure you watch watch for lizards after the whistle. Flagrant fouls, intentional fouls and a (warranted) technical or two may send a message to keep chaos at bay.

But then again maybe not. Maybe the cats can't be herded that day. But at least it won't be because of a lack of trying.

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by ballgame99

Absolutely not! If anything I would have liked to come out even stronger. We knew it was going to be ugly and were prepared to do our best to not let it. Sometimes you just can't stop the train though.
I was just trying to point out that we called a ton of fouls and they just kept coming. So the "they will adjust" philosophy doesn't always work.

Sometimes you "just gotta dance with the one who brung ya."
They do what they want to do and you do what you need to do. No muss. No fuss. No problem. Next game, please!

[twocentsworth]

Teams can decide how they would like to play the game….they don't get to decide how the game will be officiated. If they continue to foul, simply continue to blow the whistle.

Why is it a train wreck if you called 50+ fouls? You ALWAYS have to "manage the game"…whether it's the players, the coaches, the benches, or the score table.

A "wise" official once told me: "Some nights the game is easy and they should arrest you for stealing money when they pay you….other nights - they don't pay you nearly enough to work as hard as you need to. By the end of the season, it all evens out!"

[Hawkeyes]

We have an older gentlemen that is still affiliated with our high school association, but no longer calling games... He comes in the locker room sometimes at half time and is usually very positive; but his favorite seven words are: "keep smiling and blowing that____ whistle!"
I use to laugh at him - now I do as I'm told!!!