Just finished my last games of the season tonight (2 varsity). I'm in that transition between sub-varsity and varsity and have to say that all of my varsity assignments this year have been great. Good partners, helpful feedback, and games in which to work on different aspects of officiating (from game management to squeekers).
Then tonight. I'm lead with 4 seconds left in a tie game. H1 starts her drive from the 3-point line and I've got her from that point, to where she crossed in front of me, to when she went into the lane. Then she tried a reverse layup and I wasn't ready. Thought there was contact as the defense came over for the block and there was not (slot passed on it). Sinks one FT, game over.
The boy's game was physical with no flow. I passed on calls I should of made (and my partners sometimes did), made calls that upon reflection I didn't feel should be made, and started listening to comments from the crowd (instead of just hearing, and ignoring, them).
Two lessons I learned (well, re-learned) tonight:
- Slow whistle - don't think you've got a call, know you've got a call especially with the game on the line. I've had this in fits and starts this year but have not been able to consistently watch the play through, then call it if it happens.
- Get over it - The whole time in the boy's game I'm thinking the same thing I tell the kids I coach in baseball - "You can't do anything about what just happened, but you can do something about right now". It helped get me through what I felt was a rough game on my part.
I'm going to get over tonight and hopefully learn something from it. I want to attend my first camp this summer and will come back stronger next season. Didn't want it to end this way but it is what it is.