I'm All In On This 7 Year Old Ref Who Might Be Better Than Half The Ones We Have Across College Basketball

I'm sure there's cynical people out there looking to hate on this kid, but I for one am all in. I think in a past life, or earlier days I would be looking to hate on him as well, but there's a few things that can't stop me from loving everything about this. 

For one ... the intensity. I don't know how this kid worked his way into shadow reffing these games of kids who might even be older than him but he sure as hell is happy doing it. He seems like he lives to put on the stripes. 100% heart, 100% effort.100% dedication. Which is all you can ask for from a zebra taking a paycheck to make the calls. It's all I would ask for when I played in men's leagues or rec league games. No one is perfect, but give the effort if you take the check. 

Second... his mechanics. Having donned the stripes myself, mechanics are everything. It's the first thing they teach you in the class or training. The go to line is  "If you don't believe your call, no one will." The real diehards tell you practice your calls in the mirror to yourself. Even in a private environment I thought that was a bit extreme, but you'll be surprised how many guys actually do practice it. As a real basketball fan you can tell who has weak mechanics and who has strong mechanics. Open hand straight up on a violation, closed fist straight up on a foul. Hard whistles, clear reporting to the table ... it all matters. You can never give the impression someone in that gym will be able to push you around. And despite this kid not even making First Holy Communion, and likely sleeping with footy pajamas ... he's got great command of the gym because of his mechanics. 

The hilarity of the situation. A kid being all in of reffing is very funny, reminds me of those stories you would hear of kids weirdly being obsessed with commercials they decide to have their birthday party with that theme (read this for reference). Showing up to a gym to coach or be the actual paid ref and being told "oh hey by the way there's going to be a 7 year old kid shadowing the game as a ref today. Just let him do his thing." is a hilarious statement. Ummm ok buddy have at it! On the flip side, adults who take themselves too seriously are CLOWN SHOWS.

I once showed up to an AAU tournament at 8am after being out til 4am for my one night bachelor party in NYC for guys who couldn't go to Myrtle Beach the next month. The first game involved one of the biggest ballbreakers in the neighborhood and some team from Jersey who's coach I could hear screaming in warmups from the parking lot. I was hungover and on no sleep and if things couldn't get worse... my partner introduced himself. 

I kid you not. This guy did his animated dances for every call ... in every game ... of all 6 games we did that day. I wanted to cry. In between games he made the great conversational topics of telling me how many different states he has traveled to, to do AAU games and that "everyone knows me when I walk in the gym." I wanted to fake an ACL tear at about 10am. 

So long story short, I'm out on adults who try to be the show, like Dancing Ref, or some of the clowns on Tik Tok who never did a D1 game yet charge for their "camps", but I love this little kid deciding his life passion is reffing. Also, if he keeps at it, he may be better than half the college basketball refs we currently have. Just ask the former supervisor of officials. 

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Stay with it kid. 

Bonus Plug … here's a conversation with Zach Edey in which he talks about the differences he's seen in consistent foul calls this season.