New season, some observations (LONG)

[Rich]

I worked my first high school game of the season last night, a 66-43 boys game that was essentially over by halftime. We work 2-official games in Wisconsin. Some quick observations by just another official:

(1) I absolutely, positively hate the new on-the-blocks positioning. That positioning may be what the college officials use and the 3-official crews use, but it is stupid to use it in a 2-official game. It puts the officials about 80 feet apart during the timeout. There were several instances that I wanted to have a brief word with my partner and the distance was a barrier. Besides that, we found ourselves gesturing quite a bit regarding the subsequent throw-in spot in case the non-administering official was asked by the bench closest to him.

(2) I'm also unenamored by the non-calling DQ foul provision, which I mentioned in another thread. Another contrived way to keep an official from having to communicate with a coach after making a call. Didn't happen last night, though.

Some general notes about my game and how it fits into my goals for this season:

(1) My number 1 goal this year is to be a better trail official. I found myself coming down the court last season too close or even with the ball-handler instead of TRAILING. My goal this year is to be more patient and realize that I am able to see what's going on from a few feet behind the ball-handler. Heck, I can see the sun and it's 93 million miles away.

Last night, I didn't get in front of the ball once as the trail. I stayed out of bounds until the ball was on the court every time, too. I was very pleased with that. I also found that by doing this things felt a lot less "frantic."

I tried to take this into the frontcourt as well. Last season I would find myself moving around rather frantically, trying to find good angles. Watching some other smooth officials, I found that they moved around but always with a purpose -- to get an angle or to close down on a rebound. I felt better in the frontcourt, as well.

(2) I wanted to communicate better this season, remaining at the spot of the foul longer and communicating the foul better to my partner. This is a goal for me every season, but for some reason when the score becomes lopsided, I tend to start getting "faster" in my reporting. I was a little better then usual last night, but I need to exaggerate this for a while until it becomes routine.

(3) Regarding coming ballside. I did it 5 times during the game last night, all in the first three quarters. Once I had a foul against the post player as he laid the ball in. The other times, the ballended up going the other way.

Truth is, I've been doing this for years and it just seems to be more of an emphasis this season, which means that my partners won't think I'm strange for wanting to come across.

(4) After all the talk of bad tosses in another thread, I told my partner to be the referee last night. I work about 10-15 games with him this season, so I'll get my turn.

(5) My new shoes are exactly what I needed. I have no foot pain whatsoever today and that has never been the case for me. Anyone who has to buy bigger shoes because of wide feet needs to look at the New Balance 608/609 shoe. Go to a store that sells New Balance and have your foot measured. The officiating supply stores all have the D and EE sizes, but when measured the pedorthist suggested a EEEE for me because of my orthotics and nobody seems to carry those except the local New Balance store. And before you say I have fat feet, I also found out that New Balance sells a EEEEEE width.

I'm sure I'll have more as the season goes on. But I felt really on top of things last night, which is great since I haven't worked an actual game since February (I don't do rec ball).

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Rich