Okay, I took you guys advice and signed up with a real association ( I've only worked Rec and Intramural ball). Finished an 8 week clinic and learned a lot.

My first two games were 8th grade girls and I worked with a veteran. Can I say "HAD A BLAST". The gym was packed and the games were fun to call.

Next set of games were 7th grade boys in a packed gym and the first game was interesting. We (I) allowed the wrong team to inbound and they scored. While in the clinic I really studied the correctable errors and have a good understanding of them. I told my partner (3 yr Vet) we couldn't correct the error and she, along with the coaches disagreed. I tried to explain, but she didn't understand and sided with the coaches and removed the score. The second game was close and my partner was still reeling from the first game. I was okay because of the year long stay on this board and was confident. We eventually finshed doing a good job.

Oh, before we started the first game a player approached me and said " Thanks for Reffing our games we know you prefer to do big games". I replied "Thanks and I'm really glad to be here". BIG difference from Rec and Intramural Ball.

Learned there are plenty of opportunities. My goal this year is to work hard and maybe land a Sub varsity game. Well, just yesterday I was assigned to a boys JV and 9th grade game. I had to pass because I was obligated.


Lastly, wanted to say THANKS for the advice, will let you know how things go and will probably have questions too.

A nice reply would have been "Is this a big game for you? Well, then it's a big game for me, too."

Of course, I would have said, "If I'm working the game, that makes it a big game."

Congrats, Woodee!
Now you need to figure out a way to convince the Vets not to overrule you when you are correct.
I had a hard time with this for a while, but now there isn't an official in the association who would go against me on a rules question during a game.

Mark,

You are CRAZY!!!!!!!

Crazy!!!!
 

Yes he is. Ain't it great!

Of course because of your involvment here you were correct that this was not a correctable error... only an officiating error.

Glad you had a great time and am sure your will have a great time for your JV and 9th grade games.

You may find that some of those 9th grade games are better than the "BIG" games. 9th grade games can be pretty exciting.

Nevada -- I would humbly submit that since you are the one most likely to be the vet in that situation, you need to help him out by being willing to give in. If you can learn this, and teach other vets how to do this, it will help Woodee and others in his situation a great deal.

Now if you can just keep you finger off of the horn!

I love it! There are certainly many things that I am still working hard to improve.
To let others in on this joke, tomegun worked the last Nevada state championship game this past season and I did the clock. At one point, I became momentarily distracted during the administration of free-throws and didn't notice that tomegun (as the lead) had already given the ball to the free-thrower for the second of two shots, so I hit the horn for a sub from the shooting team who had just sprinted to the table! He calmly blew his whistle got the ball back from the shooter and then gave me the best "Ah, come on!"-look in the history of HS basketball. I wanted to crawl under the table.

You are certainly right about vets needing to be willing to give in, Juulie, and I always do what I can to help newer officials when I am their partner.

However, my point was more about the older vets who can't seem to believe that the younger official might be right.

Even though I have 8 years of HS experience, I am still quite young at 29, and have faced the situation Woodee described numerous times. I have concluded that it takes some mixture of familiarity with your elder partner and a display of personal strength and confidence by the younger official to allow the correct call to prevail in these instances. And that is what I was attempting to impart to Woodee. Be strong and have confidence in yourself young man! Don't let others convince you that you are incorrect when you KNOW that you are right!

And what about "the old man" who also KNOWS that he is right? What ya gonna tell him when the rook is determined to make a mistake?

Udaman, Woodee!

Dan,
It's tough, but we both know that we have to work together out there.
I was once part of a three man crew that had a tough rules sitch. The R was unsure, the U1 was sure, but wrong, I knew the correct rule. In order to convince him, I asked the R, "How many times have I screwed you?" He said, "Never." Then I asked him, "How many times has (the other guy's name) hosed you?" He responded, "I'm going with you!"

Of course, there is my general belief that the old guys rarely get it right! ;)

Be careful with this, if things work out you'll be an old guy yourself one day. ;)

Hmmmm, me thinks that I should start listening more to Dan!

Yes, Dan has LOTS of experience!!

Thanks Mick!!

Depending on the importance of the situation I've been told to make sure the crew it right by any means. If all else fails we may have to go on "record" with our beliefs. U1 to R something like this: "I want it to go on record that I think, by rule, X situation should be handled such and such way." This puts the ultimate burden on the R. If you are the R then the decision made is part of the responsibility.

Nevadaref, often times someone on the crew keeps the crew loose. You helped keep me loose that night. I don't think for one minute you weren't giving max effort. Hey, things happen. How can we criticize a table crew trying to do the job the right way when we make mistakes EVERY time on the court.

The only thing that I did not se mentioned and I am not sure of the full scenerio. Whether you are the new person on the block or the old crusty seasoned veteran.
If you are going to have a discussion, try and keep it away from the coaches while you are trying to deteremine what is right and wrong. Could make the game very interesting down the stretch.

AK ref SE

Regarding opportunities, I was scheduled for a girls 9th grade game and a girls JV game. Well the 9th grade game was cancelled and it left the JV game and a Varsity game. We worked the JV game 3 person and when I decided to leave (I wasn't scheduled for the Varsity game) the senior official asked if I would do the varsity game and I did.

Here is the scoope:

The JV game ended on a last second shot by the home team down 1 for the win. The varsity game was also exciting. We had the National Anthem, Music and the works. Have to admit, Girls b-ball is very physical and sometimes gets ugly. I actually got my first boo from the crowd when I called a jump ball right when the ball became loose from the players. The fans stopped booing when the saw they had the AP arrow. I laughed inside.

The senior official gave some good feedback. The other guy was distant and didn't say much. On four occasions he called timeout without blowing his whistle. It was weird!!!

Got a question, during timeouts my partners would NOT go to their spots, which left me by myself at the blocks. They would huddle at the center circle. After two times I would grab the ball and go to the spot where we would resume play. What do you do in the sitch?

I'm scheduled for 9th grade boys next week and anxious to see the difference in play.

Unless we all three are meeting in the last coupla minutes, I can be found on my spot, regardless of partners' position.
If they want to meander around in No Man's land, fine.
mick

Mick,

Even to the point that it looks like there is NO unity or team?

Screw it. Don't let 'em pull you down.