What makes a great official?

Originally posted by BigDave
Officials at all levels blow calls. That's no secret. Great officials are great because they have characteristics that are hard to teach. Patience. Confidence. Poise. Charisma. Passion. Personality.

One more thing that many of these " great " officials do is ... Have fun. The single most important mechanic that was taught to me by an official who is 84 years old and still doing HS varsity games, was to have fun. Once I could enjoy the game I am working it made a big diference. I'm not saying that I don't still get a few butterflies before a game, I think when I don't feel the "tingle" I don't have a good game. I try to go into each game with the thought that this game is for the kids first, and for me second. Everything and everybody else comes next. All the other qualities are important too, Like Big Dave said, your off the court personality is also important, if you can't have fun in life it's hard to have fun on the court. Just my opinion.