Originally Posted by BillyMac (Post 971798)

I only get two, or three, varsity prep school games (only eight such schools in our local area) a year. My local interpreter makes available a handout on prep school rule differences (NCAA/NFHS hybrid), including a short synopsis of shot clock rules. I just downloaded and read through the handout yesterday knowing that I have a varsity prep school game next week. I keep the laminated handout (with a short synopsis of shot clock rules) in my bag and make it part of every varsity prep school pregame conference. I sleep well at night knowing that I've done enough to make me a pretty good prep school official.

However, I've been officiating with NFHS rules for thirty-five years (thousands of games) and I'm still stymied by a few of the rules, and interpretations, so it shouldn't surprise anyone that I'm occasionally stymied by NCAA rules, especially shot clock rules.

And it doesn't help that there's usually a poorly trained kid at the table, usually pulled out of the bleachers, working the shot clock that knows less about shot clock rules than a tree stump.

I feel that I've done my job preparing for such games, but it's still great to get an NCAA partner to confidently deal with the shot clock problems that often arise.

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef (Post 971799)

I just do not agree with the approach that since you only work a limited amount of those games that you should not be held to same standards as a college official working those same games ... to dedicate yourself to knowing Connecticut prep school shot-clock rules as thoroughly as you should know NFHS/IAABO rules.

Originally Posted by BillyMac (Post 971798)

... I've been officiating with NFHS rules for thirty-five years (thousands of games) and I'm still stymied by a few of the rules, and interpretations, so it shouldn't surprise anyone that I'm occasionally stymied by NCAA rules, especially shot clock rules.

Originally Posted by BillyMac (Post 971803)

I know shot clock rules to the best of my ability depending on what's the handout that we're given, and responsible to nterpret. Sometimes things get really weird, things that aren't covered on the short synopsis handout, things that are often discussed by college guys here on the Forum (recent one: where ball is inbounded after specific type of shot clock violation).

Experience plays a big part of understanding (not just memorizing) a rule set.



That's why my comfort level goes way up when I work such a game with a college guy. He's more experienced with shot clocks than me, and will definitely have more expertise when something weird happens, and will be able to react quickly to such a situation, due to his experience level, while I stand there scratching my head trying to figure out what was on the handout regarding this weird situation.

At any level, the more experience one has, the better official one will probably be. For all intents and purposes, I'm a second year prep school official. Knowing the rules is great, but there's no substitute for experience.

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef (Post 971805)

At the college level is expected that the newer/rookie officials are the best at rules interpretation. All my college supervisors routinely tell their vets to listen to the rookies when it comes to rules. What newbies lack in experience they are expected to make up with rules knowledge.

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef (Post 971805)

At the college level is expected that the newer/rookie officials are the best at rules interpretation. All my college supervisors routinely tell their vets to listen to the rookies when it comes to rules. What newbies lack in experience they are expected to make up with rules knowledge.

Originally Posted by Dad (Post 971822)

What college level? I've never heard this and would never expect a rookie to know more than I do. I don't expect much of anything from them besides looking pretty and not messing up a call right in front of them.

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef (Post 971826)

College level? :confused: What college conferences have you worked that you haven't heard this? You're expectations are nowhere in line with the expectations of college supervisors I've come across.