Teen-age Officials

[Ref in PA]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

This is a question for those of you who started officiating as teen-agers.

When I started reffing at age 16, I only had a rule book. I drew upon experience playing the game and trying to read and comprehend the rules. I reffed little kid's games my first year and added and adult rec league my second year. Later on in college, I reffed intermural games and attended a clinic and watched videos.

I knew how to manage a game, but my rule knowledge and mechanics lacked quite a bit.

[fonzzy07]

I am a current teenaged ref. I am doing the high level rec games and am doing my fair share of middleschool games ie 7th, 8th, and freshman patch games. I read one section of the rulebook a night. I have also found that my first year when I wasnt as exicted about reffing, the simplified and illustrated version of the rule book helped. Right now I am working as many games as possible, reading the rule and casebooks, talking to other officials, watching other officials, and I plan to attend a camp this summer. I know I'm weird for doing this at such a young age, but I am a ref so I guess it makes sense.

[refTN]

Originally Posted by fonzzy07

I am a current teenaged ref. I am doing the high level rec games and am doing my fair share of middleschool games ie 7th, 8th, and freshman patch games. I read one section of the rulebook a night. I have also found that my first year when I wasnt as exicted about reffing, the simplified and illustrated version of the rule book helped. Right now I am working as many games as possible, reading the rule and casebooks, talking to other officials, watching other officials, and I plan to attend a camp this summer. I know I'm weird for doing this at such a young age, but I am a ref so I guess it makes sense.

Not weird at all, I attended my first camp as a teenager, if you are doing this at that young of an age then you have a passion for it and there is no problem with getting seen at such a young age. It can only help you. Alot of people say that the first impression is a lasting one, but as a teenager in a profession where alot of guys are alot older than you, the evaluators are going to be saying to themselves that you have plenty of years to be molded since you are so young.

[fonzzy07]

On that how do I start to get looked at? what do I need to do know to get the big games down the road?

[refTN]

Originally Posted by fonzzy07

On that how do I start to get looked at? what do I need to do know to get the big games down the road?

Getting the big games involves time, seeing plays, and having a good feel for the game. It will just happen if you are good enough.

To be seen, just go to camp, listen, and work your butt off, hard work pays off.

[tjones1]

Most important to me is the will to want to be perfect, even though I understand that isn't possible.

Asking as many questions as possible, reading this forum with all the various situations that occur, watching the varsity guys -- seeing their call, do you agree, if not do you see where they are coming from, and of course working the games so you can make mistakes and learn from them. As an official, I'm not worried about making mistakes, but I am worried about making the same mistake repeatedly.

[Back In The Saddle]

Maybe I'm the wierd one, but when I was a teen I would take the rulebook too literally. It wasn't until I grew up that I could understand how the rulebook was more shades of gray than black and white. That actually helped me a lot.

[refTN]

I knew how to do nothing, I just blew my whistle all the time, which caused for a lot of problems. I was always trying to explain to the coaches why I called this and that. I read my rulebook cover to cover(except for the score keepers responsibilities) and after seeing tons of plays do you get better and better at calling a game. ABA director of officiating Tom ( I can't think of his last name right now) said there is a difference between a referee and a whistle-blower, a referee can distinguish at different levels of play what is and is not foul in regards to what players at different levels can play through, and a whistle-blower is just what his name describes.

As far as how I comprehend my rulebook. As far as that goes get a mentor, preferably two, to have two different point of views or philosophies of what that rule means or how they interpret it, you then can choose or even mix the two if possible into the philosophy that you will eventually gain and have.