New Ref

[Smitty]

Sure, talking with experienced officials is a great way to learn the nuances of officiating beyond the rule book. But take everything with a grain of salt. Some of the older guys are so set in their ways that they haven't really come up to speed with the rules as they've changed over the years. If you hear something that just doesn't seem right, check with your rule books later on and if you're still unsure, talk to the rules commissioner in your association or whoever is in charge of rule interpretation and get the proper instruction from them. Just because someone has been doing this for 25 years doesn't necessarily mean they know everything. Most do, but a few don't.