How to get better

[SmokeEater]

Very Good reply BITS...! Couldn't have said it better. This is what I was thinking but could find the right way to put it into text.

Thanks

[tomegun]

More times than not (by far), the rules will be easier to learn if you play or have played the game. It is more important to know how to apply the rules than to only know them.

1. Read the books - don't try to go too deep
2. Live, re-live or re-call experience as a player if applicable
3. Officiate
4. Repeat step 1
5. Repeat step 3 about 200 times
6. Go to step 4

[sphinxicu]

I love what Back in the Saddle stated and I would add one more thing. When I started a senior official told our cadet group to use a notebook of sorts to critique ourselves, i.e. write down things that I need to work on based on my last game or things that went on the game. Use that written critique to get back into the books,especially Rule 4. Another thing is find someone of your requisite ability or little more experience and bet a penny regarding rules, rule interpretations and discussions. That forces you back into the books. This is a great discussion forum but if you have live partners to discuss things with by using the penny bet, it makes officiating fun.

MB

[mj]

All of the above is great. Then watch yourself on tape.

[Raymond]

One thing one of my mentors had me do when I was first starting officiating was to watch an entire game of his with notebook and pen in hand. He had me evaluate every aspect of his officiating then we sat down after the game and went over everything line-by-line.

You'd be surprised what you can learn if you thoroughly study a good official from opening tap to final horn.

[jkjenning]

Wow - thanks for the very thoughtful insights, Back In The Saddle! Very appreciated and now waiting on my printer!!