"All But One" .....official left .....what wii you do ?

[JMN]

Derock,

Thanks for clarifying that you didn't really mean "abandon". You meant "adjust". That's a bit better as long as it reconciles with the rules.

I'm not hyperventilating; in fact I was perfectly calm when I replyed to your post. And breathing isn't optional, but thanks for the concern. Also, I agree with you that officiating HS is different than officiating youth ball. Maybe that's one of the reasons you take a lot of heat on this board. Still, you have radical views relating to understanding the rules as compared to most of us.

I too (and would guess most if not all officials) may "find" a penalty when the game is lopsided and beyond competitive. However, I try to minimize them and don't do it to control the score as much as I do the tempo of the game. I may still have a 50-0 game at the youth level, but if I do, the winning coach will get guidance from me to run the ball (and we have a running clock). Derock, I don't believe it's your (our) place to have such a significant impact that you actually materially affect the score. I hope that our "game sense" is consistent and not used to an extreme.

At some point you just have to let the kids play, even if it's a lopsided, ugly, can't wait to get it over game. That's part of the deal you get when you take up officiating.