Quote:
Originally posted by SMEngmann
As a second year official, I can relate well to your post. I have been assigned as the R several times already with inexperienced partners and I find those games at least as useful as games in which I work with an established vet or I get evaluated. Those games have strengthened my game management skills considerably as I know that if I'm not on top of my game, especially in terms of dead-ball officiating, that the game probably won't run smoothly. Also, with less experienced partners, I find that I'm most likely to have a meaningful pregame with them and to effectively take care of business than with an experienced ref, not always though. Often dealing with "the veterans" can be tough as they give the "rookie pregame" and some dramatically expand their court coverage early, not trusting me because they haven't worked with me. While most vets can give valuable feedback, occasionally they can come off as unapproachable or as know it alls.
|
I'm enjoying this thread, because for many of us we've started taking for granted how hard officiating is.
Last night, like every night, we made the R/U determination in the locker room, actually while heading out to the floor. I work with the same few partners just about every night, so our pregames are usually fairly quick and happen more informally as we're driving to the game.
I haven't worked any subvarsity games this season but have worked some rec ball. And the one thing I will not do is call my partner's court. It does nothing for the game and does nothing for the development of my partner. Actually, if I get a partner who is a ball-watcher (which newer officials tend to be until they realize how much fun and how important off ball coverage is), I tend to expand my off-ball coverage a bit -- in the gray areas, I'm always looking off the ball and finding other competitive matchups, cause I know my ball-watching partner isn't doing that.
I'm glad you had a great experience. I'm almost ashamed at my whining about how long the JV game was last night (see the parallel thread going here) -- many people would love to just work that varsity game and that is something I need to remember more often.
Best regards,
Rich