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				Originally posted by otis3zeb  
Hello all, 
     I have been reading alot on this site and it seems helpful, I was recently an Umpire for the last 5 years, and have seen alot of help and advise for our fellow umps to-be.  Which is great, I have passed it all on to my Ump. Thanks.  Now for a little help for me,  Any advise, of some common mistakes  a first year Ref. would make, and some proper mechanics, besides the more common ones.  Any thing would help!!  I have been assigned a couple of big games, I really didn't think that I would get.  Any advise would be app. 
 
 
[Edited by otis3zeb on Aug 17th, 2002 at 06:50 PM] 
			
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 Common mistakes:
- Preliminary signals - they really do look at them
- Taking leadership and control - you are the person they look to for leadership, that is, your crew, the players and the coaches.  If anything goes wrong it is under your watch.  Organize a thorough pregame.  Let the crew know your are in charge and what you expect.  Does not mean you dictate but exercise discretion.
- Working with game management - make sure you have all the information about halftime and pregame activities.  My first game the home team wanted a 25 minute halftime.  I told them sure, as long as you do it in 20.
- Being too close to the play - referee starts out at about 11 or 12 yards in back of the LOS and stays back to get a full view of the play.