Any Thoughts on how to become a better official.

[JRutledge]

I think the best officials are simply students of the game. They watch officiating and try to learn from other levels. I think the best high school officials even watch what goes on at the college or NBA for example to learn from things they do. When you stay in a bubble and only think what you are doing or what is asked of you at your level, you never are willing to grow. What guys at all the levels do is what we do at the high school level and often what is done at the other levels will come down to us in high school. I think that is what the best officials do.

Now if you want to get to other levels or not, you have to go to camps and get evaluated by others. It is good to hear what others think about your game. And you should go every single year. Not just when it is going to get you a game or when you are required to go. Go when it has not other benefit but learning about your game or seeing more plays.

Also and finally, find a mentor. Find multiple mentors if you like. And every mentor should be at a level you have not achieved yet to start. So if you are working lower level games, get someone that works varsity ball. Likely someone that has worked the playoffs or even the State Finals (or whatever you call it) in your state or jurisdiction. They obviously either know how to get there or they have achieved it themselves. They can talk from experience and not just someone that is complaining about why others are passing them by. If you want to work college, then have someone that helps at that level as well. It might help you get to where you need to get or what camps to go to or speak on your behalf.

Bottom line those that you will be competing against are doing these things on many levels. There are people that make this their life and try whatever it takes to get better. That manifests itself in how they workout in the off season or the games they go watch when not working. There is no magic formula, but I think you have to be able to watch a NBA game as say to yourself, "How would I have called that play?" When you do that all the time, then you are half way there. If you say, "I do not have to think about basketball until October/November or when the meetings start" you are way behind those and might get passed by and not get as good as you can be.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I think the best officials are simply students of the game. They watch officiating and try to learn from other levels. I think the best high school officials even watch what goes on at the college or NBA for example to learn from things they do.

When I attend a University of Connecticut mens game, or womens game, or head down to the casino to watch the WNBA Connecticut Sun, I spend more time watching the officials than the players.

[crosscountry55]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

When I attend a University of Connecticut mens game, or womens game, or head down to the casino to watch the WNBA Connecticut Sun, I spend more time watching the officials instead of the players.

They use three officials in those games, right?


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[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by crosscountry55

They use three officials in those games, right?

In Connecticut? A third official? I just figured that the extra guy in the stripped shirt was a salesman from Footlocker trying to drum up some extra business.

[crosscountry55]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

In Connecticut? A third official? I just figured that the extra guy in the stripped shirt was a salesman from Footlocker trying to drum up some extra business.

Well played, sir.


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[justacoach]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

When I attend a University of Connecticut mens game, or womens game, or head down to the casino to watch the WNBA Connecticut Sun, I spend more time watching the officials than the players.

Glad to hear you're not averse to the WNBA. Season's coming up, I'll be hitting you up with some tix.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by justacoach

Glad to hear you're not averse to the WNBA. Season's coming up ...

I just like to use it as an excuse to go to the Mohegan Sun Casino. I tell my conscience that I'm just going to a basketball game, not a den of vices.

[geronimo]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

When I attend a University of Connecticut mens game, or womens game, or head down to the one of the great variety of online casinos to play in the WNBA Connecticut Sun, I spend more time watching the officials than the players.

I`d do the same!

[LRZ]

I live near a D3 school and most of the officials I see there--men and women--are younger. I guess you have to climb that ladder to get to D1.

[Pantherdreams]

VIA my experience and mistakes and conversations I have with substantially higher level officials than me.

1. It is more important to be consistent with your crew and the expectation of your assignor/conference/etc then it is to be right. You want to make the correct calls, but which correct calls to make, let go, and how the game should be managed needs to be a direct reflection of your management. Once you are so good you can be a cowboy that everyone tolerates because they are so good do what you want, until then following the law of the land is more important than how you see the game (if they conflict).

2. Only officials and losing coaches/fans care about violations. Make the right calls when it comes to travels, and clear violations but if any violation is your best call or what you are known for then it probably won't translate to upward mobility.

3. Coaches/Conferences/Assignors etc all need to know you can manage different styles of games different ways. If you can get all the calls you need to get in a slow grind em out game, and do the same in a wide open emotional train wreck without trying to let/turn one into the other that will go a long way.

4. Working levels and games with high level (D1 and Potentially Pro) athletes even when they are just young in high school or junior high. Is still a different animal than a regular high school or middle school game. You have to call the game in front of you but can't punish the best player(s) on the floor for being able to do or live with more than the other kids on the planet.

5. You can be concerned about sportsmanship and the integrity of the game as it applies to your job of officiating the game in front of you. If you want to impose your expectations in a blow out, or how coaches interact with their athletes, or style of play etc. You can in good conscience do that, but its not what assignors want their big time officials in big games doing.

6. Must be willing to accept that balls and strikes are important but so is appearance, how you move, how you communicate. Being unapproachable, sloppy mechanically, physically not meeting standards or visible expectations will be just a damning as not knowing rules/calling a game poorly when it comes to upward mobility beyond high school.

7. You have to call a good game. Not perfect and not your best everynight, but your floor as an official still needs to be where most of your peers ceiling would be night and night out.

[bucky]

I could talk about "the path" for a long time but will try to keep it simple. Also, don't want to dissuade you or anyone else.

1) Many have discussed appearance, specifically shirts. I'd suggest one size down and really work on your upper body. You can tailor shirts if you have the money.

2) Many have discussed being "in shape". Huh? Have you seen all of the D1 officials on TV? You do not have to do much to look like them. Distance traveled for a game is around 2-3 miles, with much of it walking or barely jogging. If you can't do that, then you have issues far beyond officiating.

3) I found that getting advice from mentors and experienced officials was a bit contradictory to directives handed down from Adams/Collins/etc. Just before Adams, big-time officials were stuck "in their ways" and called a game they way they wanted, based on experience/level/score/etc. They were not as black-and-white (as far as rules). So, you might get great advice from some experienced mentor only to have someone like Collins tell you otherwise after the fact. Then it is too late, you have already made the mistake in some game. Find a mentor that is not too old/experienced or one that will advise based on NCAA leadership.

4) You may want to forget a lot about #3 because it isn't what you know but rather who you know. Find a D1 assigner and become their friend ASAP. To get into the Good 'Ol Boy network, you have to become a Good 'Ol Boy right? You asked why there were mostly older refs at the D1 level. That is because the money resides there. People tend to not want to give up money

5) Fork out lots of many and attend camps galore. That is where the path ends for everyone. After that, see number 4.

6) Work on spelling/grammar. ("latter" from your post)

[bob jenkins]

zombie thread