Small town HS Football..

[Official_21]

My game that was supposed to be in Columbus tomorrow got moved to Hempstead & I got moved to chains (Not that I mind).

Still looking forward to experiencing a game in a small town and seeing what HS football is truly about compared to HS football in a big city (I live in Houston) 

[JasonTX]

Night and day.  Get out of the big city and go experience God's country.

[dammitbobby]

I look forward to your thoughts afterwards... I know I definitely have perceptions of big school football, curious to see how your view of small schools stacks up.

[JDM]

My game that was supposed to be in Columbus tomorrow got moved to Hempstead & I got moved to chains (Not that I mind).

Still looking forward to experiencing a game in a small town and seeing what HS football is truly about compared to HS football in a big city (I live in Houston) 

Small towns roll up the streets. Nothing like Friday night lights in small Texas communities.

[Etref]

The 4 poles of mercury vapor lights, the crowd standing at the rails of the fence, the smell of a cooker, seeing a farmer park his combine in the lot to watch his son play.........nothing better! Seriously, I have worked some big games with big crowds in large venues but the atmosphere at a small town game is fantastic.

[bama_stripes]

The 4 poles of mercury vapor lights, the crowd standing at the rails of the fence, the smell of a cooker, seeing a farmer park his combine in the lot to watch his son play.........nothing better! Seriously, I have worked some big games with big crowds in large venues but the atmosphere at a small town game is fantastic.

Couldn’t agree more.  I tell our young officials that I hope they get the opportunity to work a big game in a small town at least once in their career.  It’s really special.

[AlUpstateNY]

The 4 poles of mercury vapor lights, the crowd standing at the rails of the fence, the smell of a cooker, seeing a farmer park his combine in the lot to watch his son play.........nothing better! Seriously, I have worked some big games with big crowds in large venues but the atmosphere at a small town game is fantastic.

What's always impressed me is that there is ALWAYS 3 (and sometimes even 4) generations of spectators, the majority of which are wearing some type of old/new school colors (hats, shirts, coats, etc.) enjoying each other's company and the game.  It's good to remember that EVERY game is the weekend's biggest game, to the players, coaches and spectators and deserves our best effort.

[ElvisLives]

What's always impressed me is that there is ALWAYS 3 (and sometimes even 4) generations of spectators, the majority of which are wearing some type of old/new school colors (hats, shirts, coats, etc.) enjoying each other's company and the game.  It's good to remember that EVERY game is the weekend's biggest game, to the players, coaches and spectators and deserves our best effort.

Well said, Al. One of the most profound things ever said on this forum. Kudos.
Everybody be safe and have fun.

[SPOTexas]

There is nothing better.  I grew up in a small town in Louisiana (although our school was "big" by Louisiana standards).  It always makes me nostalgic when I work small town games.

[Official_21]

Well the game I worked last Friday was not what I expected if I am honest.

Home team (Hempstead) hardly had anyone in the stands, while the visiting team (Columbus) had a semi full stand. Didn't quite have the atmosphere I expected out of a small town.
I am not sure if this is due to the fact that it was a Friday night game and everyone was still at work or if it was because Hempstead HS were not doing too well or a combination of both.

Game itself, I thought, was going to be a blow out, score was 42-7 in favor of Columbus at half-time. In the second half, Hempstead started to make a comeback, but a Columbus safety and touchdown nixed that notion. Final score 51-26 in favor of Columbus.

[Clear Lake ref]

Hempstead doesn’t have much support these days. I worked this game last year, same story albeit in Columbus. They were quite full and Hempstead stands quite empty.

[dammitbobby]

Out here, may schools have limited attendance social distancing purposes, I've not had even home stands be more than 1/4 full, for that reason.  COVID is just keeping people away this year.

[Covid 22]

The majority of the best games I was fortunate to officiate were at 2a to 4a schools.  But small schools can add a few extra dimensions to the mix.   Examples:

When I officiated in Mississippi:
1) Dressing at home for 90% of the games.
2) Spending halftime on the tailgate of a pickup.
3) "Dressing Rooms"/weight rooms/girls locker rooms that smelled awful and were 100 degrees in the summer and 30 degrees in the winter.
4) Fields with lights that did not illuminate the field past the 20 yard line.
5) Mosquitoes the size of Hummingbirds.
6) Watching the fans go through metal detectors because there was a shooting the week before.
7) Fields with more weeds than grass and nothing but mud after a rain.

When in Texas:
1) See 3, 4 & 7 above and add fields that looked like a herd of elephants had been buried in the middle of the field.  Short wing officials could not see each other from the sidelines.
2) Fields with grass so tall that if you lost a shoe, you had to call time out to get help finding it.  Teams with running games and zero speed in west Texas love to have 6" tall grass fields.
3) Schools that consistently hire young first time head coaches that think games on Friday nights and Sunday afternoon play by the same rules. 
4) Coaches that think the officials know all of their slang for 20 different offences.

Even so, I wish that I could do another 10 years and never call a ball game above 4a.

   

[Etref]

Actually had a wing lose his shoe in a mud game about the 40 on a long TD run

Took us awhile to find it!

[JasonTX]

A small 1A team had some of that tall grass / weeds mentioned below and I commented to the coach about how tall it was and he said they would be mowing it once the game was over.  True to his words, after the game and we were all dressed and heading to our vehicles, they were opening up the gate to the goat pens and the goats moved onto the football field and began to mow.

[ElvisLives]

Game 1 this season. Tossed the coin. Lost it in the (natural) grass. Took several moments to find it.
I love plastic grass.

[Etref]

The plastic grass is sure easier on the old bones and joints

[Official_21]

After reading all the replies in this thread (After my initial impressions), I have come to the conclusion that my experience was an exception rather than the norm.