[Granny Bear]

With what they are paid and the price of gas these days there is not a lot of incentive to be a referee. Add on to that most all of them work an everyday job then drive a couple hours to show up and listen to a bunch of mommies and daddies who don't half know the rules yell at them all night.

We are probably fortunate they do as good a job as they do all things considered.

Well if they aren't paid very well and they must drive hours to get to a game, then what's their incentive to officiate a game at all?

And if they choose to do the job, whether it be for the love of the game or wanting to help with the youth, etc, then they should DO the job!

As far as the mommies and daddies go, they appear to me to know the rules just fine, or they wouldn't know when to protest. Oh, I know THEIR child doesn't foul, and THEIR child gets fouled all the time....bull!! Those kinds of people are a dime a dozen, and they normally are over it by the time the game is over.

I absolutely have serious concerns over the officiating, at least in the games I've seen this year. I never saw one 3 second call in the entire district and regional tournaments games this year, and very few walking calls. I don't think the officials leaned toward one team BUT the consistencey isn't there...it just isn't there!

Truthfully, I've seen countless times where the shooter was fouled to the point of injury and NO call; while in the next seconds "touch" fouls were assessed. I can name games and names, too.. AND the differences in the officials from one region to the next is astounding.

I don't know the answer to this problem, but there is definately a problem...IMO.