The players were better, the uniforms were fancy and we played most of our games under the lights in front of small but impressionable crowds at Mielke Field. Getting ejected in this setting would be a bad idea. I continued to yell with authority, but worked on some new skills. I learned feel the ref out early, then plan my epithets strategically. When he begins to look visibly annoyed, it is best to lay off a little bit and grumble underneath your breath.
Timing is important.
I did lose my cool one Saturday morning against Hudson. Saturday morning games were difficult because our boys always came out sluggish. I tried not to think too much about why, but it always frustrated me. Our center ref, Mr. Herzog, was older than he should have been. Hudson played rough, like they always did, and I was becoming frustrated at our lack of protection.