[williebfree]

It is amazing how much you can stare at, see, and NOT process as a new official. I believe it is from mental overload. When you are starting out, you are trying to see EVERYTHING. In reality, as a new official you are missing most things.

For example, in this case, the "greenie" may have been concentrating on the clock, the defender and contact in the upper torso and above area, even though it appeared that he was "looking right at him."

With experience, officials build "filters" that help them instinctively sort out non-essential information. This allows the official to see the picture clearer. In fact; several officials have commented how they can even mentally capture the action and replay it a 2nd time in their mind to "verify" their call before they even blow their whistle.

I can imagine this incident will make the roolie a better official.