What the Voices Tell Me

[rainmaker]

I am becoming aware of a little voice in my head that is constantly chattering through a game -- tonight it was continually finding reasons not to blow the whistle. "Coach, the defender touched the ball.." "The pivot foot is dragging" "Looks pretty vertical to me" and so on and so on. It was a messy game with very, very unskilled players. I felt kind of sorry for the one tall girl on the floor, who kept getting rebounds on the nose -- I'm not quite sure what her hands were doing but it wasn't related to the ball. No way we could have blown everything, so we tried to stick to advantage/disadvantage, and the obvious.

Okay, I remember reading that at first you look for things to call, and then you look for things not to call. I guess my little voices are getting better, I no-called a lot, and everyone said I did a great job (everyone being my very experienced partner, and the Var refs who were waiting for their game). If the little voices are right, does that make them okay?!?!

[crew]

rainmaker,
you are onto something good here. the voices actually get better. the start telling you, "where is the ball?, that looked like foul....was it in my my primary? yes/no" if no "where is my partner?/trust my partner." ref the d on this matchup. "rebounding foul?/locate the ball. its on a shot - no call." this voice starts to evolve and becomes more diverse the better you get. you are actually on to something very good here. but dont give the voice in your head all the credit, it is actually your experience, play calling exp. and knowledge of the game. give this "voice" few seasons and it will help you grow tremendously. things will become so natural that the voice will quit saying things and they will become automatic. then your voice can focus on something else to benefit you. i like to call it concentration! its what keeps you in those 30 or 40 point games. take care.

[williebfree]

I keep hearing a voice, "T" that howler monkey!

[Dan_ref]

Originally posted by rainmaker
I am becoming aware of a little voice in my head that is constantly chattering through a game -- tonight it was continually finding reasons not to blow the whistle...

...If the little voices are right, does that make them okay?!?!

Sounds like the voices are giving you great advice,
whether you are working an ugly game or a gem. In an
ugly game you just want it to end, no reason to prolong the
suffering. In a gem you want to maintain flow. So keep
listening to those voices, at least until they tell you
you need to burn the coach's house down on the way
home!

[Tim Roden]

Early in my career those voices sounded a lot like the rookie instructor. Today they take on a variety of voices. Keep listening. It means your learning the game.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally posted by williebfree
I keep hearing a voice, "T" that howler monkey!

Willie - that's my voice.