What can you do?

[kdays78]

Have you guys ever worked a game with a new partner that seems to be struggling? I worked a Freshman Girls game last night that can be ugly with out anyones help. It just seemed like the play was some of the worst I have seen this year. The coaches needed educated on the rules of the game. Fans had no clue (when do they ever) but they did pay there $4 so why not blame the ref for a poor excuse of a basketball game with non stop complaining. I am trying not to pass the blame but there were some calls for a 9 year veteran that made it hard to keep in the flow of the game.

A block/charge foul that could have gone either way partner blows whistle fist in the air no motion I am assuming block I start lining up for free throws then I look over and see a motion for player control. Which is fine, but a call like that has to be a instant sell call. Just little things like that kept adding up through out the night.


I was just curious if you guys have ever been in games where you feel it is giving your career a black mark? If so what did you do?


Thanks

[mick]

Originally posted by kdays78
I was just curious if you guys have ever been in games where you feel it is giving your career a black mark? If so what did you do?

kdays78,
Welcome to the forum.

From time to time, a game will become a toilet bowl.
And when we are in that toilet bowl, we feel like IT.

Take a deep breath.
Stand tall.
Concentrate has best you can.
Maintain your composure.

Your next game will be better.

mick

[Hartsy]

Originally posted by kdays78
Have you guys ever worked a game with a new partner that seems to be struggling?
It just seemed like the play was some of the worst I have seen this year.
Fans had no clue (when do they ever) but they did pay there $4 so why not blame the ref for a poor excuse of a basketball game with non stop complaining. I am trying not to pass the blame but there were some calls for a 9 year veteran that made it hard to keep in the flow of the game.
Just little things like that kept adding up through out the night.


I was just curious if you guys have ever been in games where you feel it is giving your career a black mark? If so what did you do?


Thanks

I worked a GJV that went just this way. Some really ugly basketball. Not much my partner and I could do to help clean it up. In fact, we probably made it look worse than it was. To say the game didn't flow well is an understatement.

Partner had a quiet whistle and was more hesitant on his calls than I sometimes can be as a second year guy. He corrected himself on a bad backcourt call, called a block/charge just as you described, and more than once once didn't whistle on an OOB on his line.

To top it off the game was a close one, with the visitors ahead most of the way. So you can imagine the crowd response. Coaches were not too bad.

I worked it as Mick suggests, and tried to smile as much as I could. Communicated verbally with the players more than usual to explain what was happening at times. This seemed to help some.

I can't offer much more. Don't worry about how you looked. I talked to the coaches after my game (unusual for me) but home coach said all his games are like that. I figure the same in your case. You probably didn't look too bad.

[zebraman]

Originally posted by kdays78
Have you guys ever worked a game with a new partner that seems to be struggling? I worked a Freshman Girls game last night that can be ugly with out anyones help. It just seemed like the play was some of the worst I have seen this year. The coaches needed educated on the rules of the game. Fans had no clue (when do they ever) but they did pay there $4 so why not blame the ref for a poor excuse of a basketball game with non stop complaining. I am trying not to pass the blame but there were some calls for a 9 year veteran that made it hard to keep in the flow of the game.

A block/charge foul that could have gone either way partner blows whistle fist in the air no motion I am assuming block I start lining up for free throws then I look over and see a motion for player control. Which is fine, but a call like that has to be a instant sell call. Just little things like that kept adding up through out the night.


I was just curious if you guys have ever been in games where you feel it is giving your career a black mark? If so what did you do?


Thanks

I think we've all worked these games. I've worked worse... games with a brand new official who either NEVER blew the whistle or else blew the whistle whenever a defender got within the same zip code as the offensive player.

It's an excellent time to work on being a "referee" rather than just an umpire. Take care of everything outside of the court (subs, coaches, clock, sell tickets, cook hotdogs etc.) :-) so that all your partner has to worry about is the 84' feet of court. Work it with a smile on your face and as Mick likes to say, "get in, get done, get out."

Z

P.S. to Mick. Do I owe you a copyright fee for using that "get in, get done, get out" saying? I've used it a few times in our local association meetings and quite a few of our officials are fond of saying it now.

[LarryS]

Originally posted by kdays78

I was just curious if you guys have ever been in games where you feel it is giving your career a black mark? If so what did you do?


Thanks

Usually I apologize to my partner for screwing up his/her evening

Seriously, I have had games where either I, my partner, or both of us just didn't seem to get settled in. Thinking about them now, as mentioned, it normally happens when the game is ugly and non-competive. Those games can make it difficult to stay focused...and that is when the feelings start. That is one of the things I am working on...staying focused regadless of the game, surroundings, coaches, etc.

[mick]

Originally posted by zebraman
P.S. to Mick. Do I owe you a copyright fee for using that "get in, get done, get out" saying? I've used it a few times in our local association meetings and quite a few of our officials are fond of saying it now.

No, Z.
Yer good.
mick

[ditttoo]

What did you learn - both good and bad?

We call so many games that if we learn just 1 thing from each game (learn 1 good thing and learn 1 bad) by the end of the season we ought to be pretty good.

Did you have a post game discussion and focus on the specifics of what you did good and bad? The block/charge situation you mentioned is probably more due to a lack of officiating maturity than anything else. Good that he got the call "right" but bad with the mechanics and lack of communication between you two. Had one the other night where we started off in the wrong direction, immediate backcourt and everybody yelling at us trying to get us straightened out but we just ignored - make sure of the basics, get the table to feel more comfortable in hitting the horn, be more aware of surroundings, and thank goodness we finally did get it right when we did.

Unfortunately, there are games like yours out there every week; key is to miss as many as possible. But when your time comes due, suffer through and try to learn both good and bad and at least salvage something. Hang in there.

[rainmaker]

Originally posted by zebraman
... and as Mick likes to say, "get in, get done, get out."

The real question is, why didn't Mick say it?

[zebraman]

Originally posted by rainmaker

The real question is, why didn't Mick say it?

That's a good question rainmaker. It's his saying and it would have fit in perfectly in his first post. Maybe Mick (unlike me obviously) doesn't want to wear it out.

Z

[mick]

Originally posted by zebraman

That's a good question rainmaker. It's his saying and it would have fit in perfectly in his first post. Maybe Mick (unlike me obviously) doesn't want to wear it out.

Z

As a stand alone, it doesn't say much.

mick

[blindzebra]

Originally posted by kdays78
Have you guys ever worked a game with a new partner that seems to be struggling? I worked a Freshman Girls game last night that can be ugly with out anyones help. It just seemed like the play was some of the worst I have seen this year. The coaches needed educated on the rules of the game. Fans had no clue (when do they ever) but they did pay there $4 so why not blame the ref for a poor excuse of a basketball game with non stop complaining. I am trying not to pass the blame but there were some calls for a 9 year veteran that made it hard to keep in the flow of the game.

A block/charge foul that could have gone either way partner blows whistle fist in the air no motion I am assuming block I start lining up for free throws then I look over and see a motion for player control. Which is fine, but a call like that has to be a instant sell call. Just little things like that kept adding up through out the night.


I was just curious if you guys have ever been in games where you feel it is giving your career a black mark? If so what did you do?


Thanks

Work on being a great partner and do things that help "flow".

On that PC call, I'm gonna say, "Good call partner, B ball here," and get the ball in play BEFORE anyone has time to question it.

On the next timeout get with your partner and talk about coming out strong on block/charge.

Treat every call with, "Will it make the game better."

Get it back in play as fast as you can after a call, run to report, hustle them up to shoot free throws, run the subs on and off the court. CREATE TEMPO.