o help explain this idea, let me provide an example I had from the recent Washington 2A High School Tournament. We were in Day Two of the event, and teams were now playing for position. As a result, teams were laying it all out on the line, fans were getting more excited, and the energy level was way up. All of that makes for a great match, but it can also make coaches have mood swings larger than a golf drive by Tiger Woods.

In this particular match, I was R2 (umpire, in NFHS-speak) with my partner Greg as the R1. Greg and I had worked the day before, and we had a great partnership going. Before the game we had discussed quiet calls, communication style, and the other basics, so we had a solid foundation to work on. We were in Game 3 with the match tied 1-1, and I was focused but enjoying the match in that rare zone that brings me back to officiating time and time again.

Continued...