Being young...

[Dan_ref]

Who's Chuck?

[bigdogrunnin]

"What's up Chuck?" - sorry, couldn't resist.

CLH, BE PATIENT! Your time will come. Something I have heard many times is that "when you are the best at where you are at, then you are ready to move on." Work at being the best at where you are, and your opportunities will present themselves.

I have been officiating for about 8 years now, and for the last 2-3 years I really believed I was one of the best in my Chapter. Then I started going to camps . . . and I was humbled very quickly. I too, received great reviews and critiques, and I have been told I should already be calling college ball, and yet I am not. I don't get discouraged though. The opportunity to call college games is a GOAL. Once that goal is reached, I will set another goal. Until then, I can only control what I have control over.

Where my officiating is concerned, that means, dressing professionally when going to games (I always wear slacks, dress shirt, and a tie, and many times I wear a jacket). It tells coaches and administrators that I want to be taken seriously, and that I take my responsibilities as an official seriously. I always have my uniform in prestine condition. I always hustle during the game. I always communicate with the coaches and players in a professional and courteous way. I always study and re-study the rules. I always ask other officials (more experienced) for their opinions and critiques of my officiating. When I can, I give coaches a blank tape and a SASE to send me a copy of the game film so I can evaluate my performance in that game (self-evaluation). I go to camps. I meet people. I talk with other officials. I hang out with officials that already call college games, and listen to their experiences. (If you want to make millions of dollars you don't hang out with the "fry-guy" at McDonald's to learn how, you hang out with people who make millions of dollars! Same with officials . . . if you want to go to the next level, spend time with people who are already there, not with 15-year veterans who still get a GREAT JH schedule each year.)

What I am saying is that focus on those things that YOU have ultimate control over, and the rest will happen on its own. If you focus on those circumstances and decisions you do not control, you will get more and more frustrated until you eventually get bitter, and maybe even quit!

OH, and HAVE FUN! I left a VG Tournament Championship game yesterday and as I walked out the door I remember thinking that I would have done the game for free. That is how much fun I had! I think it should be that way across the board. But that is just me. Best wishes and stay positive!

[CLH]

So what you guys are telling me is quit worrying! haha. I'm a perfectionist in everything I do, and even more so with officiating. I try to do all the little things others don't, have my uniform fitted, wear coat and tie to games, get films all that. It just drives me nuts when I see some guys getting picked up, and I think what the hell are they doing I'm not. I dropped nearly 50lbs in the last few years because I knew I didn't look athletic. Now I weigh about 155 and try to work out, I look alot better.

Oh, and Aggie, its too late, officiating already runs my life. Ask my friends, I watch NBA games, and they automatically ask me who's calling, sad thing is I usually know within a few seconds.

CLH

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by CLH

So what you guys are telling me is quit worrying! haha. I'm a perfectionist in everything I do, and even more so with officiating. I try to do all the little things others don't, have my uniform fitted, wear coat and tie to games, get films all that. It just drives me nuts when I see some guys getting picked up, and I think what the hell are they doing I'm not. I dropped nearly 50lbs in the last few years because I knew I didn't look athletic. Now I weigh about 155 and try to work out, I look alot better.

Oh, and Aggie, its too late, officiating already runs my life. Ask my friends, I watch NBA games, and they automatically ask me who's calling, sad thing is I usually know within a few seconds.

CLH

If what you're doing isn't working, try something else. Perhaps relaxing and getting a life would be a good thing to do, and it might actually help your game.

Of course your uniform should fit, but you may not need to "get it fitted". Of course you should dress nicely when you go to games, but coat and tie is overkill for going to a girls' jv game. Unless that's what you wear all day, and it's just fastest and easiest to show up that way.

If officiating really, truly does run your life, you need to deal with that. A lot of refs joke around about that, but we don't really mean that we are literally addicted. If you are, it's not a good thing. Get some help. I'm not saying this to be critical or harsh, just to express the reality that I see. If you really, truly never get picked up for college ball, will you be able to let go and find something else to do with your life? You've got to keep a perspective now, or you'll won't be able to find one later.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

Of course your uniform should fit, but you may not need to "get it fitted".

I disagree with this. Most officials don't wear their uniform in a manner that looks good or as good as it could be. For instance, many officials wear shirts that are too big.

Once I heard an assigner out west say she (only one female who assigns D1 men's that I know of) wants officials who need to be in D1 rather than want to be in D1. She wasn't asking for anyone to lay down their life for basketball, but she wanted someone who has serious passion for the game.

I'm also somewhat of a perfectionist and I think perfection should be your goal. Whether you reach perfection or not is another thing, but attempting to do less will lead to lesser results (my opinion).

Stay hungry!

Just another perspective.

[BEAREF]

I officiated my first varsity game right out of high school back in 1976. Over the next couple years I found other things that were more important to me than officiating so I got out. I kept involved by playing pick up games and helping to coach traveling teams. About eight years ago I was asked to officiate a Freshman Team (boys) game and was hooked. I got recertified for high school the following year and have been enjoying a pretty full schedule since then, however, mostly JV and with a few varsity games. I feel that I'm on the other spectrum...being old. In this part of the country it seems as though the younger officials are getting the assignments because they will be around than us older guys. It's not my appearance as I've been told many times that I don't look any older than 30. I'm just hangin in there hoping that the hard work and preparation makes me better and that someday I'll make it to the next step on the ladder. If not...I will continue to do the best than I can.

[tomegun]

I cringe when I hear talk about "college camps." Has anyone ever heard of someone going to play a sport with the bigger boys because it will help them get better at the level they are at? That is what I think about "college camps." Also, the term "try-out" is probably thrown around too much. IMO, true try-out camps cost zero and may include being put up in a hotel and per diem. Most other camps are just teaching camps or money pits. Just my opinion.
I wish nobody felt the need to explain why they don't want or have time for college ball. It isn't for everyone and sometimes it makes me sick. Family (kids especially) are more important and everyone doesn't have a career where they can take the time off. I would suggest every official remain open to what a camp could offer. High school basketball needs good officials, bad!

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

Of course your uniform should fit, but you may not need to "get it fitted". Of course you should dress nicely when you go to games, but coat and tie is overkill for going to a girls' jv game. Unless that's what you wear all day, and it's just fastest and easiest to show up that way

I have to disagree with this comment as well. The better your uniform fits, the better you look, the better you will be perceived. Your uniform is your business card. It is not much different than how you dress going to job interview. And in reality we are being judged as officials the same way on the court as someone is going to a job interview. Someone is going to see us for the first time and they will make judgments about us based on those first impressions. Maybe we will eventually prove them wrong, but we might not get another change to achieve that.

Peace

[Snake~eyes]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

If what you're doing isn't working, try something else. Perhaps relaxing and getting a life would be a good thing to do, and it might actually help your game.

Of course your uniform should fit, but you may not need to "get it fitted". Of course you should dress nicely when you go to games, but coat and tie is overkill for going to a girls' jv game. Unless that's what you wear all day, and it's just fastest and easiest to show up that way.

If officiating really, truly does run your life, you need to deal with that. A lot of refs joke around about that, but we don't really mean that we are literally addicted. If you are, it's not a good thing. Get some help. I'm not saying this to be critical or harsh, just to express the reality that I see. If you really, truly never get picked up for college ball, will you be able to let go and find something else to do with your life? You've got to keep a perspective now, or you'll won't be able to find one later.

I also have to disagree. Getting your shirt to fit well at the HS level may be uncommon, may be uncommon at the lower levels of college but that's irrelevant. It looks so much better when your shirt fits nicely. This goes to first impression and court presence.

Also have to disagree with dress to a game, this differ by area but I think its great to wear that to go to a game - first impression is everything and hopefully that will give you that little "extra"



Anyways, I just want to say I am in a similar boat. First thing off, be patient! Your time will come. You have to be in the right place at the right time. So keep learning and keep going to camp. Try to network with more people at camp, this helped me greatly and I continually try to email these people occasionally. Try to talk to a well respected official in your area who may be at the college level and see if he can give you any advice. You are still young and have plenty of time to get to the level you want to get to - be patient!

Good luck!

[FrankHtown]

At our State Meeting a few years ago, Monte McCutcheon (NBA) was the keynote speaker. Along with the great stories he had, he also mentioned he used to go on to the court with the attitude of calling a perfect game. And, he said, usually within the first 3 minutes, that goal was shot. So if perfection is your goal, and it's gone in the first 3 minutes, what is left?

He said now at every game, he picks something to work on. Signals, voice, presence, positioning, communicating with coaches....something that at the end of the night, he can say he got better at it, rather than trying to be "perfect."

I think it's an educational alternative to "perfection."

[refnjoe]

Well, as a new official who is a few years older than you, I envy the position you were in. I wish I had gotten started a long time ago!

I've already seen how intense the competition is, and I've decided not to focus on getting to the next level, or what everyone else is doing/getting.

Instead, my goal for each time I get on the court: learn something, and improve. I had a mentor (non-officating) when I was in high school who would always ask me how things went anytime he knew I had been involved in a competition. My knee-jerk reaction was to tell him how I did and whether we won or lost.

No matter what I said, he would always ask, "But did you learn anything?" He always said no matter if I won or lost, if I didn't learn something to make me better next time, it was a waste of time.

Another thought- see if you can find a younger rookie that wants to learn, and help them. If you take advantage of opportunites to teach, I bet you will improve your game!!

Keep it fun and have a great season!

[Ref_ Fred]

CLh,

Don't worry, You have time to still make it. What I didn't hear you say in any of your posts is that you are having fun doing this. I'm not saying this is your problem but maybe have a smile. Look like you are enjoying your refereeing. I started 7 years ago and I'm 50 now. I had some looks this year and as soon as they hear my age. They give me that you should be doing some college ball. I can sympathizes with your frusttration, but It will happen one day. Rainmaker made a comment that you are still young. by 25 you will be a made man in the world of officiating. hang in and good luck.. Keep the faith..