Newbie questions

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by euby

Wow...thanks for the quick and thoughtful reponses...I appreciate it.

I must admit I'm a little nervous about the whole thing but my goals aren't exactly that high! If I can have an impact at the youth level I would consider my efforts a success. Right now I have scheduled 8 games of in-house at the sixth grade level on Saturdays and 7 games of AAU (3rd thru 6th) on Sundays....so my whistle will get worked out and on. The association (Indiana Officals Association) will hopefully get me lined up with some middle school games to get me started and I will go from there.

I'm sure there will be situations arise during the course of the year when you guys who are in the know will be called upon...thanks in advance

Oh yea...one other question. I've seen you guys post about camps...is there a place to look for available camps to attend?

Anyone interested....here is my league website. www.djba.org

Thanks again.

Steve

Being nervous is normal. I started working 6-8th grade games. Every game was a big one for me at first, because I had so much to work on and I didn't feel comfortable with it all yet. Today I wouldn't be the least bit nervous, and you'll get there too soon enough.

As for goals, it's good to have them. Quantify what it means to have an impact. If you don't know what it means, how can you do it? And set goals to work on specifics too. I started keeping a game journal early on. After every assignment I'd sit down and write a page about what went well, what went poorly, what I recognized that I did wrong, questions I needed to find answers too, etc. If you'll do that, you'll work up a good list of specific things to work on pretty quickly. Then attack them one or two at a time. Work on those two until you've got 'em cold then move on to the next couple.

As far as camps go, your local association will probably be the best place to find out about them. For the most part camp season is over for the year. But maybe there's one or two left in your area. Get to camp as soon as you can. It'll be the single greatest learning experience you'll have this early in your career.

And smile. This is fun Welcome to the brotherhood.

[Mwanr1]

I’m rather new as an official myself. I hope my advice will help

When making a foul call, reporting a foul, in bounding the ball, and issuing for free throws, takes your time! Make sure you and your partners are aware of the foul and/or violation and are both on the same page. I am aware most middle school games often use the 20-mins running halves format except for the last 2 minutes of the game unless a 15+ or 20+ lead. Don't get caught up worrying about the running clock. It is important to remember that 5-10 seconds extra you take will usually not have a big effect to the game. However, if you rush through it, that 3-5 seconds u saved can give you hours of headache later on.

Slow down and make sure things are in control before issuing the ball for play. If you call a total of 15 fouls and you take an extra 5 seconds each per call, you are only using 75 extra seconds. That’s only 1 min and 15 seconds extra of running time. No one will pay attention to that lost time. But if you rush into things and screw up on one big play, you can potentially lose minutes in correcting the error and hours of writing a report to your supervisor. SO REMEMBER: SLOW DOWN, STAY POISE, SMILE AND HAVE FUN!

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Mwanr1

I am aware most middle school games often use the 20-mins running halves format except for the last 2 minutes of the game unless a 15+ or 20+ lead. Don't get caught up worrying about the running clock. It is important to remember that 5-10 seconds extra you take will usually not have a big effect to the game. However, if you rush through it, that 3-5 seconds u saved can give you hours of headache later on.

Slow down and make sure things are in control before issuing the ball for play. If you call a total of 15 fouls and you take an extra 5 seconds each per call, you are only using 75 extra seconds. That’s only 1 min and 15 seconds extra of running time. No one will pay attention to that lost time. But if you rush into things and screw up on one big play, you can potentially lose minutes in correcting the error and hours of writing a report to your supervisor. SO REMEMBER: SLOW DOWN, STAY POISE, SMILE AND HAVE FUN!

That might not be completely true. Where I live they play 6 minute quarters with a regular clock. I am sure based on what rules an area or organization adopts, this is going to vary all over the country to come extent. But the idea of not rushing is correct either way.

Also he might not start out or work a lot of JH games. I know when I started I worked a small percentage of JH and middle school games. I worked mostly HS games. Even now most new officials work a healthy amount of HS games. JH games are not for everyone and not everyone can get to those games as 4:30 where I currently live.

Peace

[26 Year Gap]

[QUOTE=Mwanr1]I’m rather new as an official myself. I hope my advice will help

When making a foul call, reporting a foul, in bounding the ball, and issuing for free throws, takes your time! Make sure you and your partners are aware of the foul and/or violation and are both on the same page. I am aware most middle school games often use the 20-mins running halves format except for the last 2 minutes of the game unless a 15+ or 20+ lead. Don't get caught up worrying about the running clock. It is important to remember that 5-10 seconds extra you take will usually not have a big effect to the game. However, if you rush through it, that 3-5 seconds u saved can give you hours of headache later on.

Slow down and make sure things are in control before issuing the ball for play. If you call a total of 15 fouls and you take an extra 5 seconds each per call, you are only using 75 extra seconds. That’s only 1 min and 15 seconds extra of running time. No one will pay attention to that lost time. But if you rush into things and screw up on one big play, you can potentially lose minutes in correcting the error and hours of writing a report to your supervisor. SO REMEMBER: SLOW DOWN, STAY POISE, SMILE AND HAVE FUN![/QUOTE]
This is good advice. There is a guy in my area who started when I did and he seems to have a permanent scowl.

[Ref Daddy]

Had a summer to work an association camp - noticed and reminded me of my "hardest habit to realize and then break".

Don't watch the game. Watch your assigned players and areas.

If you ever catch yurself watching an arching three pointer or looking up as the lead - need to make corrections.

[swvaref]

This site may be helpful.VIRGINIA PREPS.COM. Cick on message boards on the left. Scroll down to ASK-REF BASKETBALL. There should be a link to ZEBRAS. INC.I thoght it has some cool links there

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

And smile. This is fun Welcome to the brotherhood.

...uhhhh.... Let's try, "Welcome to the fellowship". There's still a sort of gender angle in "fellow" but it's not quite as glaring as "brother".

Euby -- I recommend tape. You learn a lot in a hurry from watching yourself on tape. It's humbling, so brace yourself. but it's worth the squirming to really see what others see. Appearance is about half the battle. If you look athletic, and confident, you can get away with a lot. Tape puts you ahead of the percentages by getting your appearance under control in a hurry.

And what everyone else says is also important, Have Fun!!

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

...uhhhh.... Let's try, "Welcome to the fellowship". There's still a sort of gender angle in "fellow" but it's not quite as glaring as "brother".

Do you take weight-lifting so that you're strong enough to carry that humongous chip on your shoulder around?

Wimmen!

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

...uhhhh.... Let's try, "Welcome to the fellowship". There's still a sort of gender angle in "fellow" but it's not quite as glaring as "brother".

I'll tell you what. When the ratio of male basketball officials to female gets above, oh let's say 100:1, then maybe you'll have a legitimate case to make and I'll worry more about it.

Until then, I'm with Brother Bill: We few. We happy few. We band of brothers.

[Juulie baiting: more fun than bear baiting and legal in all 50 states ]

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

I'll tell you what. When the ratio of male basketball officials to female gets above, oh let's say 100:1, then maybe you'll have a legitimate case to make and I'll worry more about it.

Until then, I'm with Brother Bill: We few. We happy few. We band of brothers.

[Juulie baiting: more fun than bear baiting and legal in all 50 states ]

This day is called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.'
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day: then shall our names.
Familiar in his mouth as household words
Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

[Back In The Saddle]

Amen, Brother. Nobody says it quite like Bill.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

Amen, Brother. Nobody says it quite like Bill.

How 'bout Brother Bob?

The old cave-men knew best
Grab girlies by the hair
And though they may protest
Drag them into your lair
So young men seeking mates
Take my tip, if rejected
A modern maid just hates
To be respected.

It's true, it's true.....

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

How 'bout Brother Bob?

The old cave-men knew best
Grab girlies by the hair
And though they may protest
Drag them into your lair
So young men seeking mates
Take my tip, if rejected
A modern maid just hates
To be respected.

It's true, it's true.....

There was an old hermit named Dave...

(btw, good find: Robert Service)

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

I'll tell you what. When the ratio of male basketball officials to female gets above, oh let's say 100:1, then maybe you'll have a legitimate case to make and I'll worry more about it.

Do you mean below 100:1? Then, we're already there, since nationwide the ratio of male to female basketball officials is about 10:1, and even lower in some localities.

JR, it's not a chip on the shoulder. It's an insistence that the reality of females in the fellowship be recognized. You'd never know it on this board, but there are lots and lots of female basketball officials, and the language needs to reflect that.

Now you guys can bait all you want to, if that makes you happy. I'm going to spend the weekend worrying about something more important than the fragility of the male ego.

[Mwanr1]

Where I'm from (BAY AREA), many female officials..... 10 to 1 is still rather high... more like 6:1.

-M