View Single Post
  #8 (permalink)  
Old Sat Feb 26, 2005, 08:37pm
dblref dblref is offline
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 1,453
Quote:
Originally posted by tomegun
Quote:
Originally posted by canuckrefguy
Quote:
Originally posted by tomegun
While what you say is probably true in your case I think it is only fair to point out the flip side. There are younger officials who do not want to hear anything and do not make adjustments. This is very frustrating for a veteran official up to a certain point. I deal with this by going out and working the best game I can. I flip the script by working through my parner's deficiencies and it helps me. The time has also came when an assigner has asked me what I thought about one of those officials and/or do I want to work a particular game with them. So, what answer should I give?
I like to commmunicate with someone like they are an adult. Once you lose someone they are gone and I feel like what is said during the course of a game must be positive or it could negatively effect the rest of your game. I like to encourage by telling someone "I know you can do..." They know I have faith in their ability to adjust while knowing that an adjustment needs to be made. I would also suggest using a negative veteran to your advantage by taking what he has to say, using it if you feel so inclined and then working that much harder the next time you are with him. You are here so I'm confident you can make this adjustment.
Interesting, but I am not one of those "younger officials" who can't take feedback. I am not a rookie either, and consider my relationships with partners and comm skills to be one of my assets. But I've come across plenty of officials similar to the type you mentioned.

When an assigner calls and asks ME about a partner, I am honest, but accentuating the positive if at all possible.
Trust me when I tell you I don't hang anyone out to dry. I would rather work on my own game than step on someone's neck to move up. When you are "accentuating the positive" while talking to an assigner make sure you aren't "piling on the poo" because a lot of assigners will ask you a question that they know the answer to just to see what you will say. Might not be the case with your assigner, but it happens. Also, I didn't post anything referring to you personally so I'm sorry if you took it that way. When I prepare for a game, comfort amongst the crew is at the top of my list of priorities to achieve the best chemistry we can. If, along the way, we are able to communicate openly then mission accomplished and nobody leaves feeling like they have been picked on. I have ran into some guys like you described and thankfully I have the confidence in Tom (just thought I would use the 3rd person there ) to work to the best of my abilities. I haven't had a perfect game yet, but I'm trying.
Glad you have confidence in me. My name really is Tom (actually Thomas but I'm called Tom), just as I think you are also.
__________________
Never argue with an idiot. He will bring you down to his level and beat you with experience.
Reply With Quote