IAAM 2026

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had someone tell me the refs in Baltimore help the home team and the refs in AACo help those schools, is that a thing? I seen some really bad refs this year but I don’t see them intentionally helping the home teams.

They all work all over the area so I really don’t buy that. Every team complains about the refs. Ask a completely objective observer and they will usually say the calls were even for both. Some refs definitely allow more aggressive play but I have never seen where they call things grossly one sided.

Philly and Florida refs … they do seem to favor the home schools but I am biased being from Maryland.

Out of the entire IAAM season, my DD only had one game that seemed poorly officiated or biased. To me, this seems incorrect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had someone tell me the refs in Baltimore help the home team and the refs in AACo help those schools, is that a thing? I seen some really bad refs this year but I don’t see them intentionally helping the home teams.

They all work all over the area so I really don’t buy that. Every team complains about the refs. Ask a completely objective observer and they will usually say the calls were even for both. Some refs definitely allow more aggressive play but I have never seen where they call things grossly one sided.

Philly and Florida refs … they do seem to favor the home schools but I am biased being from Maryland.

Out of the entire IAAM season, my DD only had one game that seemed poorly officiated or biased. To me, this seems incorrect.

In the one IAAM matchup that stood out to me, one team was clearly the better defensive team, but this included more aggressive play than the other team. Refs were calling closer to a middle school game than a college game, so the better defensive team was penalized for their superior play. It’s much better when the teams are more evenly matched with defensive talent and the refs let them play aggressively.
I’m not talking letting them swing near heads, but don’t hand out yellows for extending below the shoulders or swings nowhere near the head especially when you are 40+ feet away. I don’t have much to complain about shooting space and 3 seconds this year. The only coach I would not trust in regards to doing whatever he can to get on the refs side plays on Bestgate Rd.

[Anonymous]

I think the most interesting matchup is St Mary’s vs SPSG.

SM will really try to slow pass down, which could take away from SPSG ability to win draws.

I think a 8-6 type game is expected. SM is physical so if refs allow it, it’s going to be their advantage.