My First Game

[M&M Guy]

Originally posted by Cheryl P
Wow, for your first game sounds like you are doing ok. I am struggling. Have done 3 games this season and at least once in each game I have made an unsure call. I end up looking like an idiot and the coaches really start yelling then.

After coaching and playing the game the last 15 years I thought officiating would come fairly easily. I keep watching the Varsity games and just admiring the automation of their calls. How long does it take before things become a little more automatic????

When you're a veteran official.

Remember when you were a tot, and you took your first layup attempt? How long before your layups became automatic? In a way, it's the same here. The more you do games, the more automatic it becomes. Each person is different, so I can't tell you after the 50th game you'll do fine. But find as many games as you feel comfortable working, and keep looking at ways to improve. Keep looking through this site for hints (if you can stay away from the bickering...) There are probably some hints you can take from your playing and coaching days that will apply to officiating as well. You have a good basis to start from, in knowing the game, now it's just a matter of getting used to coming over after being a member of the dark side...