Overall, I was pleased with the level of refereeing in our game.
Also, the refs in our lower state finals were very good and probably the best crew overall we've had the entire year. I will get back on later and post specific names because they did a good job and deserve to be recognized. In addition to this crew, Howard Ash always refs a strong game and so does Hal Cauthen. If you want refs who keep up with the play and know the game, hire these two. I have seen the referee who does not seem interested in being there and does not want to keep up with the play and seems to have no ambition to control the game. However, whenever a coach brings this to the attention of someone in charge, the coach is being "petty" and "looking for someone to blame". How do you filter out the worst of the worst when you cannot criticize anything a referee does?
I think the over-the-back versus undercut rule and the old hand-to-ball or ball-to-hand rules still give people fits because referees call it different ways. Also, there were several instances on Saturday where one of our players was taken down and the ref put the whistle in his mouth but did not blow it and did not say "play on" as to give advantage. It looked as though the referee was arguing with himself as to whether it was a foul or not. Referees- do not second guess yourself. Remember what your teachers told you before you took a test-- your first instinct is usually right.
