Quote:
Originally posted by JRutledge
I have always said that we are salespeople. That is all officiating really is. No matter what we know, or how good our "product" is, we have to sell ourselves first and anything we do second.
|
Jeff, I agree 100%. It's the same problem some folks (of course, not me!!!) have with appearing weak. You may not feel weak, but if your eyebrows are up, and you keep turning your head away from the action to listen, instead of firmly asking the person to wait; if your sentences all go up at the end, and if your grin appears rather foolish, well, it doens't matter how certain you are about your calls.
I've been thinking about it like a stage play. I have gone and watched the better refs and then tried to imitate specific physical motions I see in them. Drake, you are definitely one of the best refs, I've seen you and I know. But you might be able to learn something by watching someone who is good, but more relaxed, or appears more personable. At the JH and HS level, you might even talk to a coach after a game, and ask who he would suggest you watch. Or ask your assignor, who gave the comments.
Drake, I also wonder, from some things you said in your original post, is WNBA out for you this year?
[Edited by rainmaker on May 1st, 2003 at 12:24 PM]