Nerves Question
 

WHat do you guys do to calm your nerves before a game? I am doing my first AYBT tounament this weekend and already find myself a little nervous. This will also be my first "real" game. I have done a lot of scrimiges and YMCA ball but nothing like this. Any other advise would be helpful! Thanks a lot!

Warm up your mind, warm up your body, warm up your attitude.

A little pre-game chat with your partner, some stretching, the pre-game things that need doing like checking to be sure the table people have a clue, that the ball is in good shape, that there's no jewelry or casts or splints, other pre-game things like that.

DEvelop your pregame ritual over time, and then stick to it. It helps a lot.

As Juulie said - pregame. Then pregame some more. (And not the kind involving a six-pack!)

If you're comfortable with it, mental rehearsal might help. Visualize yourself going out there, making a few calls, getting things right. Ignore the visions of your pants splitting in front of the cheerleaders. :p

Since it's your first "real" game, try to settle into a comfortable rhythm early. Don't be afraid to call the first foul/violation that you do see. At the same time, don't get nervous if you go a few minutes without calling anything - it simply might not be there!

I haven't done it in a while, but I found that listening to some nice calming music before a game can help, too. Just don't stick in your iPod while your partner is talking during the pregame! :D

Best of luck and let us know how it went.

I forgot this part, and it's the most important part of all. Don't think about us too much during the game, but do remember that we've all been there, and we're all behind you 100%. You'll find that helpful and encouraging as long as you don't let yourself think about those of us you don't like (not making any suggestions who that might be...).

You're joinging a motley crew, and although you probably won't be as good as the best of us was, you almost certainly can't be as bad as the worst of us!

And as Mark says, be sure and let us know how it goes!

Other than getting to the game on time I honestly do absolutely nothing special. At this point I just try to get to games an hour early for a real game and during the summer maybe a half hour. I watch games in front of me if there are any and just relax so I do not feel rushed. During the real season I will have an extensive pre-game and stretch, but that is so routine it is nothing special. Summer ball has even less preparation and hardly a pre-game at all because the goal is a lot different. We are not using real mechanics and we are not applying real rules. We are just trying to keep the game going and not have a major incident.

I have also worked AYBT in the past. These are by far not "real games." These games are worked by officials that range from the guys that are working for the money only, to the newer official like yourself and the official that is. So from an official's standpoint these games are going to be rather laid back and you will not be working regular mechanics or applying all the regular rules. You likely will be working in a place where courts are right next to each other and games will be designed to move. I would just tell you to not get so excited over these games as if you will have a similar experience when the season starts in the fall and in the winter. The only thing that will be similar to the real season is the fact the kids will be playing basketball, but most of the rules and even situations will be very different.

Peace

Well since I had no idea what kind of ball it was before JRut spoke about it, I will add this and it is especially important for upcoming officials to remember:

Don't overanalyze things (i.e. contact plays). When you overanalyze you tend to forget the obvious.

Good luck and have fun.

As my high school coach used to say, "if you aren't nervous, you aren't ready." Once you go up and down a couple times, you'll settle into a comfort zone.

Since there will probably be other games going on beside you, make sure you hit your whistle loud. Your the only one there who knows this is your first game of that type so doing worry about it. Sssllllloooowwwww down.

It's been almost 15 years since my first game. (That's so depressing.) But I have done a "first game" at a couple of different levels, moving from sub-varsity to varsity to college ball. Each level brings new butterflies, that's for sure.

At this point, the thing that helps the most for me is arriving at the game site EARLY. This gives me the chance to do several things. I can read my case book or talk to my partner(s) to put me in a basketball frame of mind. If my partners aren't there yet, I can close my eyes and just try to rest a bit (this is nice in the middle of those 10-games-in-11-nights stretches). If there's a JV or women's game before mine, I can watch that game. (That doesn't always help with the basketball frame of mind, though. :) ) Or I can listen to a recorded pre-game that I have; which I usually listen to in the car on the way to the game.

The worst thing in the world for me is to be late to the game site. I am rushed; I'm worried about getting there; I don't have the chance to think about the upcoming game.

Best of luck!

Why is that depressing?:confused:

Mourning your lost youth, Skippy?

Nope. Mourning the arrival of all this gray hair.

Same thing, actually: gray hair = old.

That's why Dan's always happy - he may never get old.

DO be careful if M&M is behind you during a summer camp, though! :eek:

I won't name names . . .

Oooooooo.......

If anybody ever explains that one to Dan, you'll be in deep trouble, Mister.......

Hey!

I would've replied sooner, but I'm trying to work out this stiffness.

Are you saying things might get a little hairy around here?

Or not?

I don't get it.

Clever response. And just to save you some trouble, I've already received the appropriate smilie.

Do I really need to answer this? :rolleyes:

10 games on saturday and 8 on sunday. No major problems. I gave a few T's for swearing. Coaches we decent but as usual I had 3 or 4 that we complete jerks. Thanks for all of your help!! One thing is that me knees are so sore from running up and down the court. Is this because I am out of shape or because idid 18 games in 36 hours? What can I use to lower impact on my knees???

Thanks!

The latter.

Cut back to no more than 6 games in 48 hours. 18 is just way too many, both physically and mentally. I know there's money in it, but I can't imagine it's good for you or your development as an official.

Get a rule book and a case book. Spend 5 min before your games reading them. Over time, you will learn alot.

You did a season's worth of games in one weekend. Of course your knees hurt. That's like two marathons.

BTW, I find it interesting that AYBT hires an unproven official and has him work 18 games. Nothing against you, but if I were a coach considering which tournament to enter, that would be a major red flag.

just because I am new and have only worked YMCA ball and a few local high school scrimiges makes me unproven? Only me, my partner and the league director knew I was a newer official, so it was not a big deal.

If they have not seen you before, you are unproven in their mind. Also many people can tell if you have been at this awhile. Usually experienced officials have a certain presence about themselves and officials that seen you work can tell pretty quickly if you have been at this. It is really hard to explain, but if you do this for awhile you will see what I am talking about.

Peace

Sorry, this is the phrase that led me to say "unproven". Maybe there's a better way of saying it, but that's what popped into my head as a non-derogatory way of saying rookie. No offense against you intended.

Just surprised that AYBT operates that way. I haven't run into any of their tournaments up my way. Most tournaments in the NYC area only hire people they've had the year before or Varsity officials they've seen during regular season games.

I hope you did well and hope whatever moments of nervousness you had were fleeting.

AYBT is really the same as AAU but with a different name. The people that run the tournaments are usually coaches, officials or some guy that runs the tournament. They want to fill games, not hire the best officials available. Now they might have wishes to work the best officials around, but it is not like everyone is around to work the games if you want them to. Also this is summer basketball, one of the last things people worry about are the officials. You should know that already.

Peace