Rookie-my hat is off to you veterans

[Adam]

Sounds like your partner hung you out to dry in the pregame. He may have had good intentions, but it's none of the coach's business how much experience you have (or how much he has, for that matter). There's no reason to give the coaches your resume before the game.

Now, he's told them that he's slumming and you're green. He set you up without even trying (I'm being charitable here).

Coach screams at you like that, it's worthy of a T. At this point for you, though, you have to decide how much of the griping you can handle. To keep your focus, you probably want to stop it early by telling the coach politely but firmly that you're not going to tolerate the officiating from the bench. If you have to, give him the T and you'll likely have a much quieter game from that point forward.

[swkansasref]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Sounds like your partner hung you out to dry in the pregame.

My thoughts exactly.

This is also my first year certified doing hs ball. I just keep focused on the game and tune out the fans and their comments. If a coach has a question regarding a foul or something, then I will address him/her. However, if he/she is just griping about a call then I brush it off and move on with the game.

Just keep your mind on the game, you're going to miss some things, especially with a two man crew, you're not going to see EVERYTHING. But, just call the games to the best of your ability and you'll be okay. Just remember, one team is always going to be upset with what you call.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by swkansasref

My thoughts exactly.

This is also my first year certified doing hs ball. I just keep focused on the game and tune out the fans and their comments. If a coach has a question regarding a foul or something, then I will address him/her. However, if he/she is just griping about a call then I brush it off and move on with the game.

Just keep your mind on the game, you're going to miss some things, especially with a two man crew, you're not going to see EVERYTHING. But, just call the games to the best of your ability and you'll be okay. Just remember, one team is always going to be upset with what you call.

My thoughts, too. I've worked 2 games this year at the varsity level where it was the first game of one of our crew working 3-person. It does not benefit the crew or the game to hang the "rookie" out to dry. They each did a fine job, BTW.

I started working basketball a month after my 18th birthday, the first season in my area with the 3-pointer. This is season #20, although in my 5th year in Wisconsin I still feel like an outsider in a way.

I couldn't imagine being a new official now, although I recruited 2 experienced officials to my football crew and they are the best 3rd and 4th year football officials I've ever seen. Unless I take up volleyball or something like that, I don't think I'll have to worry about it.

[dan74]

Thanks for your input! It helps a lot.

As Rainmaker mentioned, I do feel like I am getting to the end of my non-T stage. I've had a nagging feeling for a couple of weeks that I've been too tolerant. I understand a certain amount of criticism comes with the stripes, but it's been more than that, especially in the two games when my "partner" introduced me as being "pretty inexperienced."

Although I'll approach each game from this point forward with the realization that I need to let some comments go in one ear and out the other, as it is a competitive environment, I will learn from the things you've mentioned and use some of the things I've picked up from various threads in this forum since finding this site last month:

1) Stop sign-"Coach that's enough"
2) If it continues-"Whack"

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by dan74

Thanks for your input! It helps a lot.

As Rainmaker mentioned, I do feel like I am getting to the end of my non-T stage. I've had a nagging feeling for a couple of weeks that I've been too tolerant. I understand a certain amount of criticism comes with the stripes, but it's been more than that, especially in the two games when my "partner" introduced me as being "pretty inexperienced."

Although I'll approach each game from this point forward with the realization that I need to let some comments go in one ear and out the other, as it is a competitive environment, I will learn from the things you've mentioned and use some of the things I've picked up from various threads in this forum since finding this site last month:

1) Stop sign-"Coach that's enough"
2) If it continues-"Whack"

Skip the stop sign & go right to the T. JV coaches normally have no idea of what the stop sign means, and there are some that say the stop sign should rarely be used at any level. Normally new officials wait too long before giving a stop sign anyway.

When you T, do it as calmly as possible - no emotion, it's just business. Quick tweet, touch the fingers of 1 hand to the palm of the other, get the other team's shooter. Stay calm. As rainmaker said, don't be afraid to become T happy, it won't be long before you figure out you tolerance level and start to apply it without wondering if you've done the right thing. That won't stop your partners from telling coaches your new at this (if that's what they like to do whee you work :rolleyeys: ), but it might get them to add that you will not take even the slightest amount of sh1t from then so beware.

Good luck, this part of the game is pure judgement. You'll learn a lot about yourself if you master this.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Dan_ref

if that's what they like to do whee you work

Reminds me of Muhammed Ali's great poem:

Me
Whee!

-back to the football game.......

[IowaMike]

Your partner selling you out at the pregame was a bad move on his part. I worked with veteran officials who were jerks when I was a newbie too as I am sure we all have. The guy who comes in for your freshman game and lets you know what a big favor he is doing someone by working such a low level game because hey, he has done college games. Then he tells you all about how great he is. I hope to God I never become that guy. I will say that 95% of the officials I have ever worked with were great people who tried to help me when I was less experienced.

I didn't start officiating until I was 39 so stick with it. It does get better and so will you. I don't think I could have done it when I was 18 because I was probably too much of a hothead. The maturity of the additional years is a good thing for me. As you get more comfortable with yourself on the court, the criticism from the coaches will bother you less and you won't take it as personally. You will also become more comfortable dealing with them. Don't be afraid to give out a T, it is just another violation. Don't make it personal, it's just one call out of many you might make during a game. I honestly don't even hear coaches or the fans most of the time anymore. Good luck and hang in there.