[Rob1968]

Bainsey,
The statement "You have got to make a decision! Which side of the whistle do you want to be on?" was from my assignor to me, not from me to you or any other official.
Two points, I think we agree on:
1: Knowledge of the game from a playing viewpoint is very helpful as an official. When I work with a new partner, I can usually tell if they played at an organized/coached level, mostly because of their ability to anticipate the plays. That understanding often puts them way ahead in their progress and performance in our craft.

2. In a training setting, two years ago, with 140 officials, I asked for a show of hands, of those of us who had played at least Jr. High, High School, or College ball. There were eight of us. The starting point for training differs considerably for most of the 132 others - terminology, game strategy and our reactions to it, etc.

In pre-games, I tell my partner(s) that we should understand the basic execution by the teams, after the first two or three times up and down the court: Is their big a black hole, a relay, or a decoy? Zone, vs man-to-man. And during warm-ups, I ask them to try to pick out the real leaders/shooters on the teams.
Sometimes, I get a blank stare.

Several of the younger officials whom I have mentored play on a regular basis. They are among the better officials in our area, not only in physical conditioning, but in game awareness. At my age, my conditioning for officiating takes a different path.