View Single Post
  #14 (permalink)  
Old Mon Dec 20, 2004, 10:52am
nine01c nine01c is offline
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 406
Another big factor in being perceived as knowledgeable and competent is your general demeanor. Show you have confidence in your calls (and if you don't, pretend you do). This can be done by small measures. Stand straight and tall, hustle into position, blow your whistle sharp and loud while snapping your arm up straight and high. Then a decisive point in the direction the ball will be going (or report the foul with good communication and relaxed). Crisp mechanics will take you a long way compared to timid, sloppy ones. Slow down and show you are in control (for example, don't let a kid grab the ball out of your hands to in-bound it quickly).

Officiating a game requires all the obvious components (rules knowledge, mechanics, team work, game management, professionalism) but a smattering of acting will help you early on to demonstrate that you have confidence and ability. Be sure your appearance is impeccable (no wrinlkes, shined shoes, tucked in, trimmed hair/no 5 o'clock shadow). Most of the coaches, players and fans will already judge an unkempt referee as "no good" before the game even starts.

Lastly, it is my belief that you not announce to anyone that you are brand new. Don't use that as an excuse, just get on with your game, work hard, and learn as you go. With so much confidence, they will hardly believe it is your first season (if you tell them after the game)!
Reply With Quote