Suggestion to new officials

[isualum12]

Disclaimer: I am a second year official that went to camp this summer and learned a ton from this board last year and plan to do the same this year.

This year at camp I heard this suggestion so I have used it this preseason and it is a solid idea. I wish I had used it last year.

In our area we are given the part one test with our books. They require 1st and 2nd year guys to take it home and take the test. (Everyone has to take the other test on the test night to be certified) Obviously it is open book and many of the questions you don't have to open the book for if you know the game Example: The coach or captain shall designate which player(s) shall attempt the free thros for a technical foul. Seems streight forward and easy to answer.

This year I took that test and answered all 100 questions but I also required myself to look up each and every question and write down Rule number- Section- Art. Even the questions that seemed streight forward I had to read through the section to find the correct rule-section-art. In this process I ended up reading the entire book a couple times and covering other things that are not covered in the test.

You may not be the fastest on the court or the cleanest mechanics but you can always know the rules....