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Clark,
I can't tell you how refreshing it has been to read through all of your posts in this thread. I'm glad you're having a blast, and it sounds like you're extremely talented. I hope that your job, family, etc. will work out in the future so that you can go as far in this business as your desire and ability allow.
Your posts certainly read like ability is not going to be an issue. You clearly have a good feel for the game. I can tell you that that there are twenty-year vets who don't ever have the realization you did about the play near the bucket where your foul wiped out a lay-up. That's heady stuff. What you'll find is that even though you've already leaped the "officiating IQ" hurdle on that play, the toughest one has yet to be negotiatiated: patience...to see the whole play, letting it start, develop, and finish. This will come with experience, but in the meantime, you can try to use your thoughts to overpower the reflexes that cause you to put air in the whistle at the first sign of trouble (at least that's the instinct I fought when I started doing this). Have talks with yourself during the game, during plays. E.g., "Okay, he's gonna make a move to the bucket. I need to lock in the defender, check. Defender didn't get there. Shooter gets bumped off course a little, nothing yet, though, as it's still basically a lay-up. Wait, that bump did knock him off balance, that lay-up's coming up short, BANG!" That's when you blow. Don't take the specific example too literally, as there are obviously times when a play dictates an absolutely immediate whistle. In foul calling, though, I have benefitted a great deal from such thought exercises.
You're way ahead of the game, too, in realizing that your game awareness is not where you want it to be. this has been the least natural progression in my game; that may be, though, because I haven't worked on it as hard as I have other areas. Anyway, game awareness will pick up little by little (or maybe for you by leaps and bounds) as your comfort level increases and you are able to absorb more of your surroundings with less conscious effort. It's a lot easier to discipline yourself to sneak a peak at the clock at every whistle and at the beginning of each new possession when you don't feel like you're hanging on to the game by a thread.
I was struck by your comment about your style of running.
Don't be afraid to look athletic. In fact, try to look athletic. Different supervisors stress this to different degrees, but I've never, ever heard any official or supervisor say, "Man, that guy would have better credibility with players and coaches if he looked less athletic." If you look and run like you could be playing in the game as easily as officiating it, it can only help you with players and coaches. Everything you do and say becomes more believable, which translates to less garbage from those people, and thus a smoother game. Think about when you were playing, how you perceived an official who didn't look to have stepped onto a court before his first time picking up a whistle.
You're right on about running too much sometimes. As officials, we are cameras, constantly taking shots of the action, trying to evaluate those pictures as quickly as possible in order to make decisions about them. Still cameras take sharper pictures than bouncy ones, same same with us. Obviously, the clarity of our mental picture has to be weighed against how quickly we need that picture evaluated, but the point is the same: when you have a good angle on a play, stand pat and referee the play. Take advantage of the opportunity to take a sharp, complete picture. Alternatively, when you need to take a step, take a step. And when you need to haul ***, well, you get the picture.
I'll quit now. Keep working hard. Keep having fun. It doesn't feel as much like hard work when you're having fun.
Welcome to the club.
John
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