My eight-year-old plays basketball on the "instructional" level.  This means that, for many of his teammates, they're playing team basketball for the first time.

Sometimes that makes it a little extra fun to watch.  Like the times when the kids forget what sport they're playing, tuck the ball under their arm, and race down the field court.

Games take a little longer on the instructional level, because the referee often stops the action so players can tie their shoes.  Third-graders have not mastered the art of speed-tying, for the record.  Sometimes the ref gets impatient when he has to stop the game so the same kid can tie his shoes three times in a single quarter--so he ties the shoes himself.  In a triple knot.

The ref also takes extra time to explain to kids why he made a particular call.  In the beginning of the season, especially, the ref might let things go while concentrating on other things.  Then, when he's convinced that the kids have learned the "back court" rule, he'll focus extra attention on "3 seconds in the key."  It's like having an extra coach around, and the team definitely benefits.

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