I agree being a ref is a tough job,you have to let a lot roll off your shoulders. By the way, I have a tough job, and so does my neighbor, and just about everyone else. One of the tougher jobs is getting to the state tournament with average strength and quickness. Some are not born with wonderful reflexes, so they rely on other things to help them compete, like more hours in the gym, and tougher dieting. I witnessed this type of job for the last 12 seasons.

Having a placing at state taken away by an obviously bad call is inexcusable, remember I said obviously, not borderline. I witnessed this very thing in a second round 5A 119 match.

Paying refs more might be a good start, competition will raise the bar in any discpline. I don't know if there is an evaluation done by the coaches at the end of the season , but that would be a useful tool. On the other hand , making the refs jump through too many hoops could possiibly drive some of the good ones away.

That kid was my son, and somewhere along the line he has learned to lose gracefully and accept life as it comes, I am proud of him, for he is a better man than I ,because my butt is still a bit frosty.