Attributes

[JRutledge]

1. Court Presence
2. Appearance
3. People skills

Peace

[rainmaker]

1. Someone who's willing to work with me. Nothing worse than a partner who's "too good" for me, or above me.

2. Solid rules knowledge.

3. Great dead ball officiating.

[aussie_ref]

Originally posted by ChuckElias
I'm kind of surprised that you're bringing this topic up again, Mark. Didn't you just recently tell us what attributes you were looking for in a perfect partner?

She can practice blowing my whistle

[dblref]

1. Pleated & beltless pants
2. No patent leather shoes
3. No fishnets

[Mark Dexter]

1. Communication
1. Communication
1. Communication (with me verbally, with me silently, with the table, with the fans, with the players, with the coaches, you get the point).

4. Someone who "has my back" - not that they have rabbit ears, but that they won't hang me out to dry with a coach, and will T someone up for something against me that I don't see or can't call.
5. Rules knowledge. This probably comes from 4 years of working intramurals - partners had a good feel for the game, but our rules sessions only covered part of the book. I could easily see this changing to decisiveness over the next year or so.

[refnrev]

1. Good rules knowledge and how and when to apply it.

2. Good court presence and personality.

3. No showboating, grandstanding, or "one-upping" their partners.

[Camron Rust]

Originally posted by M&M Guy

1) I would change that to good game knowledge. It's important to know the rules, but I think it's better to the game overall. Perhaps someone who has been a former player or (gasp!) coach who has a working knowledge of the game can better apply the rules as they are intended.

While this can be the case, it can just as often be a curse. I've seen many former players/coaches that think they know the game call every myth in the book making the game harder for those that really know the game. Some don't ever study the rules. They assume that they don't need to since they were a good player/coach.

[M&M Guy]

Originally posted by Camron Rust

While this can be the case, it can just as often be a curse. I've seen many former players/coaches that think they know the game call every myth in the book making the game harder for those that really know the game. Some don't ever study the rules. They assume that they don't need to since they were a good player/coach.

I agree wholeheartedly. I guess I wasn't clear in that you need to also know the rules; it's hard to have one without the other. Just having been a part of the game results in what you mentioned. Just knowing the rules without knowing the game results in an official making 20 3-sec. calls in a game. I've had people ask me to officiate volleyball and soccer, but one of the main reasons I don't is because I don't really know those games. Yes, I can study the rules, and I can go watch several games, but I still would not have that "feel" for the game like I do in basketball and baseball/softball.