Getting the bat off my shoulder.

Sometimes making the right call in a wrestling match is like trying to hit a fast ball. You have to make your decision quickly, and make sure you actually hit the ball. I think I had a couple of strikes today at Morgan County.
We were using assistant referees as requested by the tournament director. We do not get a lot of opportunity to practice officiating with assistants because most people just don't want to pay the extra fee associated with it, but Coach Robbins wanted to have extra eyes on every match so for the conso semis, and the finals we used assistants. On to the hits, and misses.
Hits
In one match the referee was on the far side, and I had an opposing angle. One of the wrestlers through an illegal headlock and I was able to see it from my position, and let the referee know. He negated the takedown he had awarded and gave the other wrestler a point for the illegal hold. There was another match that a wrestler was forcing his opponent off the mat every time he stood up. After the third occurrence I told the referee what I was seeing, and on the fourth, fifth, and sixth occurrence he was hit for stalling. It was not popular with the crowd, but it was right.
Strikes/whiffs :(
For those of you that have been reading my Blog you have more than likely noticed that I do not use wrestlers names, and only occasionally throw in a coaches name. This is going to be an exception to that rule. In the finals of the 171 pound match I was the referee. Jared Hemmings of Greater Atlanta Christian was wrestling Jonathan Hill of McEachern. It was a good close match with plenty of action. Late in the match down by one Hill cut Hemmings to tie it up with a takedown. In the ensuing scramble Hill ended up turning the corner on Hemmings and took his back as they were going out of bounds. Hemmings kept his hips high and drove the position out of bounds. I did not get my bat off of my shoulder. I did not award the takedown, because In that quick instance I did not think he had control. The coach did not call for a conference so that decision stood. As the end of the match drew near, Hill got a little too aggressive, and Hemming was able to take him down to his back at the end of the match. Here is the bad part and the reason I feel like I owe Hill an apology. Coach Fakalaris asked me after the match about the situation, and I explained that I did not think he had control, but it was really close, and if my assistant had have told me that he thought it was a takedown I probably would have awarded it. Latter I asked the assistant if he thought it was a takedown, and he said yes. He said he did not let me know because I did not ask his opinion. This call may, or may not have cost Hill a win. I would love to be able to correct it, and if the coach had have asked for a conference before I had restarted the wrestlers, I probably would have asked the assistant, and we would have gotten that call right. Sorry Coach Fakalaris, and Mr Hill, I think I missed that call. In another match that I was the assistant in, I think there was another illegal headlock, but it happened so fast we may have missed it.
I will learn from my mistakes, and utilize assistants better the next opportunity I have.
Good tournament Coach Robbins, thanks for having us.