Learning to relax.

[Tim Roden]

I tend to agree that experience helps. But on the other hand confidence and controll is the key. I know the first time I called a game, the first time I called a varsity game, the first time I called a game in an arena.(seats behind you in the lead) It was a nervous thing. But as you get used to it the better off you are. The other thing is do it right every time. That way when an evaluator comes along, you don't have to change anything to make him think you are doing it right. So your not nervous in front of him.

The final thing is someone thinks you deserve to be calling the game that you have tonight. So the floor belongs to you. Not the players, not the coaches but to you. Relax and do your job. There is nothing that will or will not happen that you you don't allow.

As far as surviving the first two minutes of a game. It is easy. I think any official in the country can call the first half of any game played. It is the second half that separates the men from the boys. That is where tempers flare, that is where the game is won and lost and the right call can mean the difference between getting scratched and being put on a coaches, "I want him every time" list. So once you get past the opening jump ball, there isn't much to worry about in the first half.