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Ever try to "manage a game" where several rules have been "kicked?" Doesn't work real good. :-)
Again, I think all the aspects of officiating are important. But given the choice between a partner who has good rule knowledge and good presence, I'll take the rules guy.
Instead of talking theory, let's move to a real life example I had. I'm officiating a varsity game last year with a 15-year vet. I'm lead watching off ball. I hear his whistle and look up to see him signal a travel. Coach is giving him the business. I inbound and we carry on. At quarter break, I ask him what coach was upset about. 15-year vet tells me that he called the travel because the player bent over and touched the ball to the floor while holding it with both hands. I tell him that's a legal play and his response is, "I've been calling it that way for 15 years." Lovely.
OK, now what do we do if it happens again, especially to the other team? Call it as we should or stay "consistent" and call it incorrectly.
This guy "manages a game" pretty good. He has good presence. I don't think he has studied the rule book since his third or fourth year of officiating. I have seen him pull other "myths" out of his *** and it's because his rule knowledge sucks. Give me a less experienced partner with good rule knowledge any day of the week.
Z
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