Can anyone tell me why TASO refs are discouraged issuing cards in non district preseason games ? I have heard it from two refs and have already seen games with multiple intentional take downs that got offender the dreaded talking to. Talking to HS players to keep control of a game ? It would be a joke if not for the danger the other players are in because of this.

dont know if this is the right reason, but kids get stupid in high school. some good players mixed in with some not so good players and maybe some competitive players mixed in with some rec players and maybe some classic players mixed in with some plano/arlington players and maybe mixed in with a "special" player or two and kids stop thinking underneath the lights. some of the coaches are on different levels also.
one thing.....the pre-season non district games often come in tournaments, where the cards can accumulate within the tournament and you can have a player sitting out a tourney final or semi after getting 2 or 3 cautions in the pool rounds. refs may be encourage to watch the card count game to game. ive seen some kids take a caution in a non district match to sit out a subsequent match then be unrestricted for a later, more important match.