Being young...

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by CLH

Ok guys, I'm getting a bit frustrated. So, I'm 23 and in my 6th season, I'm one of the top officials in my league, I get the good games here, I've been to playoffs and Regionals. But, I feel like I just can't get over the hump of being a good official, to a great one. I can work my butt off in a game, and it always seems like theres one call or one stupid little thing that stands out, to me, my coaches, or my partners that jacks up the whole night. I've been to college camps and I feel the same way, all evaluators think I'm already working college ball and tell me I should be, and yet I'm still in high school. My camp games seem same way, work a great game, but theres that one little thing that screws up the whole thing. Anyone ever feel like this, and if so how did or what did you do to correct it?

CLH

I haven't done any college ball, and haven't even been offered any, so I can't speak from the inside of that angle.

But I do expect that your young age may be a little against you. I'd give it another year or two before you really start fretting. Also, you might think about changing your way of thinking about the game. You're never going to be "there". Don't even try. When you are unwilling to settle for anything but perfection, then it only takes one small dink to ruin everything. The trick is to learn the sort of zen attitude of doing the best you can right now. This is also useful when you're working several levels at once.

"Here I am in a boys 6A varsity play-off. I need to be attentive here, fast here, hold the whistle there, listen to this, say that, and keep my self right here."

"Now I'm helping out a friend doing a 6th grade girls game, I'm walking slowly, signalin this, saying that, coaxing here, encouraging there, ignoring that, calling this, correcting this mis conception, sympathizing with that one, and doing this game right here right now."

I'm definitely not a Zen kinda gal, but I've been finding that this attitude is very much more practical and functional in giving the appearance of confidence and calm control. And that appearance is what always will carry you to the next level. It's not the mistakes that will hold you back, it's the fluster after the mistakes.

At least, that's how it appears to me.