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tjslax
06-07-2005, 01:14 PM
Right off the bat this sounds bad.

I was working a 7-8 grade game, by myself of course. The home team clearly outmatched by the visiting team. About 2 min to go in the first quarter 2 players get tangled up with each other (one from each team) on a ground ball. I called a quick loose ball push award the ball and tell the two kids who still want a piece of each other (I'm not sure how big a piece you can bite off at that age), to knock it off or they'll get a USC.

Almost exactly 1 quarter later I see something out of the corner of my eye , between the same 2 kids, which is immedietly followed by an elbow from A1 and a subsequent retaliatory slash from D1. So I assess each a USC, and we play on.

About 45 sec later, the half ends. I am hanging out at midfield pondering the meaning of life when a parent comes strolling out, hands in his pocket, dark sunglasses on and a swagger that he says he knows what's what. He gets to midfield, where I'm standing, by myself and says "About that Unsportsman like call?"

"Yeah, I'm just trying keep the game under control, keep the kids safe...you gotta call 'em tight when your by yourself." I said awaiting his verbal abuse for putting his son in the box ( :guns: or the crack of gunfire because I have now single handedly assured that his son will never play lax for Hopkins).

"That was a great call. You got my son, but he's gotta learn to walk away there, so his team can be man up. I just wanted to let you know all the parents think you're doing a good job." He shook my hand, said thanks and walked off the field.

I was expecting the worst seeing him come out, and was very pleased with what actually happened. In games you've worked by yourselves what do you do at halftime? Go to midfield, sit in the box, talk to the fans, have a few beers at the car :yumyum: ?

Thrillhouse
06-07-2005, 01:35 PM
have a few beers at the car :yumyum: ?

You know, they make those backpacks with the bladder and tube system so you can take the beer with you and drink durning the whole game....

Great story. It's nice to hear about the good parents, too often they are overlooked because everyone has to pay attention to the whacko's.

Snake~eyes
06-07-2005, 02:12 PM
I was expecting the worst seeing him come out, and was very pleased with what actually happened. In games you've worked by yourselves what do you do at halftime? Go to midfield, sit in the box, talk to the fans, have a few beers at the car :yumyum: ?
I usually go sit at the scorers table...


and talk to the lady score keepers :naughty: jk

laxfan25
06-07-2005, 03:18 PM
I usually pop out my laptop with the wireless card and ask a few questions on the Lacrosse Forum regarding the calls I blew in the first half! LaxRef is always there with a cogent comment. After that I log into DorksAnonymous and bare my soul.
Isn't it nice when you get favorable comments after the game? It is especially satisfying when they come from the side that lost - then it means something! Of course, that's a rare occurrence.

LaxRef
06-07-2005, 04:41 PM
I usually go sit at the scorers table...

and talk to the lady score keepers :naughty: jk

Um, didn't you notice the size of "her" Adam's apple?

laxref39
06-07-2005, 05:00 PM
That's a great story, especially the part about mmmmm beer! Don't do many jh games but I would usually go the scorer's table. Sometimes I will banter with the parents. Youth and jh is a good time to interact with the parents, once you get beyond that point the attitudes become a bit more serious!

LaxRef
06-07-2005, 05:06 PM
Don't do many jh games but I would usually go the scorer's table.

Wow, I've never done a Johns Hopkins game! :chuckle:

laxref39
06-07-2005, 05:17 PM
Wow, I've never done a Johns Hopkins game! :chuckle:
Sometimes when I line up the youth players and the uniforms conform I'll say somthing to the effect of "We have the blue jayys of hopkins against the rutgers scarlet knights". Some of them get it, some of the just give me a wietd look!

3rdPersonPlural
06-07-2005, 07:04 PM
I have found that, since most parents out here know less about lacrosse than I know about what my wife REALLY wants, I am well received if I mosey on over to the spectator section at halftime and say: "I'm the guy responsible for keeping your kids in one piece for the next hour or so. Any questions?"

Or

"There was a disturbance in the force over here when I didn't call tripping over there, and I figure you guys want to know what on earth I was thinking."

or (and this works best for middle school games)

"Some of your kids look like they've been playing for a while. How many of you just moved here from a lacrosse hotbed?" This is guaranteed to get a dialogue started.

The goal of this intercourse with parents is to portray yourself as a human with the best interests of their kids at heart. Also, if you can bring them up the curve as to why we call what we call when we call it, and, of course, the inverse, they'll be more cooperative with and respectful of subsequent officials.

What we're doing every time we work a game is contributing a little bit not just to the viability of that one game, but to building a committed and vibrant lacrosse community in our neck of the woods. Out here where schools can't, then won't, then are reluctant to support the game in it's infancy, it's the parents with their checkbooks who are carrying the financial onus here. I applaud them whenever it can be done in good taste, and they really appreciate it.

blindbill
06-07-2005, 07:09 PM
I guess when 3pp says he has interaction with the parents, he has INTERACTION. How long is half time anyway?

3rdPersonPlural
06-07-2005, 08:33 PM
I guess when 3pp says he has interaction with the parents, he has INTERACTION. How long is half time anyway?

Hey, I'm A.D.D.. I can form a lifetime bond in 10 minutes, and I'll forget about the entire thing by the end of regulation.

laxfan25
06-07-2005, 08:45 PM
I had a 5th/6th grade game earlier this year, and they had to scramble to find some goals for the game. During the delay, I decided to have an impromtu rules clinic for the kids. There was a big soccer circle at midfield, and I had the kids all line up around the circle. I went over some of the basics - don't push in the back, go around the guy and check his stick instead; slashes, the proper way to make a body check - leading with the shoulder, etc. In the game that followed, we had two total penalties. One of the parents called the assigner and raved about what a great ref I was. The kids and parents all learned a lot, and I really felt good after the game. They're off to a good start!

kamikaze0188
06-07-2005, 08:51 PM
Wow thats the funniest typo I've ever seen..

LaxRef
06-07-2005, 10:08 PM
Wow thats the funniest typo I've ever seen..

I must have missed it. Which one?

blindbill
06-08-2005, 03:51 AM
The goal of this intercourse with parents

He da MAN!!!

laxref39
06-08-2005, 06:42 AM
The goal of this intercourse with parents

He da MAN!!!
Isn't that a town in Pa.?????? Just don't tell the kids, then the mailman and milkman will all want to be refs!