i'm coaching a girls u17 basketball team this summer in the local pal league. my team consists of girls from an inner-city magnet school that has a population of 400 students. on the night of our last game, there were 4 white girls and 2 black girls that showed up to play for us. our opponents were from another inner-city high school with a population of over 1000 (probably the largest in the city). their team was 100% black.
the refs they get for these games are competent, but are old and tend to be out of position and miss a few calls. often this can lead to dirty play and drama.
anyway, i literally had to outfit the teenager at the desk of the gym to start the game because (guess who) were late. my sg and sf got off to a huge start and gave us a 7 point lead early (in girls basketball, 7 points is significant). now the other team got rattled. we called a TO to get organized with our half-court offense when two of our girls quoted their coach as saying "are you going to loose to these crackers?!!!". I replied "we can call al sharpton after the game, but right now i need my 4 to be lower in the zone for the kick out pass!". i could tell that they felt victimized. not by the words, but by the double standard.
the game went on, and 2 second before the half, one of my girls got blatantly punched in the stomach along the side of the court. no call (2 white refs), out position. at the end of the half, we still had a 5 point lead and had the other team coming unglued. for many reasons, we weren't 'supposed to be' winning.
the other coach cut the bench short early and some of the parents were giving him an earful in TNB fashion from the bleachers. a scene erupted which fortunately did not turn to violence.
in the second half, our opponents ramped up the dirty play with many elbows-a-flying. i've already talked to both refs with the sob story, so i called a TO and gave my team a spoon full of reality. i told them to "give it back to 'em. if the refs aren't calling it, it's your only option." this is not what my team wanted to hear.
over the years, you get to know the refs. they are all nice people doing the best they can for a few bucks to supplement their income. i refuse to throw a 'bobby knight'.
with about 2 minutes left the score was tied and for some reason, the one ref gives the other coach a technical. the guy was obnoxious all game, and seemed shocked when it happened. we pulled ahead by 1 and the smallest girl on our team hit a huge shot over their tallest girl. we won by three.
when it came time to shake hands, only the coach and 2 other girls had the class to line up and shake. the rest of them left in a huff.
i rarely get a chance to talk with my kids after these games because most of them play in a soccer league on the same night, but i was very proud of my kids.
and that's my story.
the refs they get for these games are competent, but are old and tend to be out of position and miss a few calls. often this can lead to dirty play and drama.
anyway, i literally had to outfit the teenager at the desk of the gym to start the game because (guess who) were late. my sg and sf got off to a huge start and gave us a 7 point lead early (in girls basketball, 7 points is significant). now the other team got rattled. we called a TO to get organized with our half-court offense when two of our girls quoted their coach as saying "are you going to loose to these crackers?!!!". I replied "we can call al sharpton after the game, but right now i need my 4 to be lower in the zone for the kick out pass!". i could tell that they felt victimized. not by the words, but by the double standard.
the game went on, and 2 second before the half, one of my girls got blatantly punched in the stomach along the side of the court. no call (2 white refs), out position. at the end of the half, we still had a 5 point lead and had the other team coming unglued. for many reasons, we weren't 'supposed to be' winning.
the other coach cut the bench short early and some of the parents were giving him an earful in TNB fashion from the bleachers. a scene erupted which fortunately did not turn to violence.
in the second half, our opponents ramped up the dirty play with many elbows-a-flying. i've already talked to both refs with the sob story, so i called a TO and gave my team a spoon full of reality. i told them to "give it back to 'em. if the refs aren't calling it, it's your only option." this is not what my team wanted to hear.
over the years, you get to know the refs. they are all nice people doing the best they can for a few bucks to supplement their income. i refuse to throw a 'bobby knight'.
with about 2 minutes left the score was tied and for some reason, the one ref gives the other coach a technical. the guy was obnoxious all game, and seemed shocked when it happened. we pulled ahead by 1 and the smallest girl on our team hit a huge shot over their tallest girl. we won by three.
when it came time to shake hands, only the coach and 2 other girls had the class to line up and shake. the rest of them left in a huff.
i rarely get a chance to talk with my kids after these games because most of them play in a soccer league on the same night, but i was very proud of my kids.
and that's my story.
