Carrying a weak partner
 

I attended a church-sponsored officiating camp this week to help out with training church league referees. The mix of experience and abilities was very wide ranging. Some folks we encouraged to sign up for high school ball this year. Others...well I shudder at the mere thought of them stepping on any court anywhere. And I got to work with some of both.

As I have moved up the ranks, I find more often than not that I'm paired with weaker partners. So I have had ample opportunity to work on my "lead official" skills and learn to carry a weaker partner. Generally it goes pretty well. But this weekend was a very mixed bag. Frankly I was surprised at how badly a couple of my games went. Apparently I don't have all the tools in my bag that I need.

Which has me thinking: What do you think it takes to successfully carry a significantly weaker partner, especially in an ugly game?

I'm sure you realize there's no stock answer to your question. Some "weaker" partners can be very resentful of anything you try to do to help. Conversely, some are grateful for any help. I guess you just try to test them out at the beginning of the game the first time they don't perform up to par by diplomatically asking them about a call. Try not to "lecture" them, but try to phrase your help in the form of questions without being confrontational. Nod and say things like "I see" when they answer. Reply with suggestions in a friendly manner. Unless they're a real jerk (which, unfortunately, sometimes is the case) they probably will become more responsive as the game goes on. You know you've gotten through to them when they start to come to you for advice, however, if they tell you they don't want any, just accept that and do the best you can on your own.

Hope that helps at least a little. Just be patient and accept that you can't turn everyone around.

Just ask Daryl Long how he handles having to carry a weak partner for game after game, year after year. :D

MTD, Sr.

Mark,

I think that was one of the best answers I have ever heard from you. No sarcasm and just plain dope about the topic. I am impressed my man, very impressed. :D

BITS,

Mark gave the best answer by far (I would not do any justice to add anything).

Peace

usually a weaker partner is just trying to "survive" the game by trying to get the calls right. he/she can't focus on all the "other stuff" (i.e. game management). that's where you have to step in and handle most, if not all, of those duties. take the pressure off of him or her by talking to/dealing with players, coaches, problem situations, etc. they are too busy officiating to notice lopsided foul counts, players who are becoming a problem, and controlling the benches.

you can't make every call for them (although you may have to "reach" a little now and then).

Whatever you do, don't govonging.

That would be bad.

Especially if your neighbors found out.......:eek:

You can only do what you can do; offer help as far as coverage; philosophy; and management during a pre-game or at dead ball periods of the game.
Pretty early on you should find out if there is something to work with or if you just are going to tough it out. Then the best you can do is find some middle ground of trying to not let the game get out of hand and completely taking over the game. When it is ugly well it is ugly and all you can do is manage it.

Having been through a couple of camps already I have seen this several times this summer. I try to offer the "R" mentality with my partners and maintain both my composure and my primaries. I protect my partners integrity and use my communication and managment skills to try not to let it get out of hand.

In one particularly ugly contentset when it was clear that one of my partners where out of his league our observer told me afterward that he gave up on that ref and was watching what the other two did to manage the game with this weak partner. While we did have to whack both a player and a coach because of this guys calls we were able to cover a lot of what he did through managment and talking with both players and coaches.
Because of those "T's" almost all of the reaming when his way at the end of the game.
I think the only thing you can do is work on your managment skills in these sithuations.

What do you mean by this? :confused:

Thanks, Rut. I guess the meds must finally be kicking in. ;)

All you can do is do everything the right way, be a great partner, communicate well at every opportunity, and pay close attention to all the game management issues.

When all that fails, extend as much as you can to keep the players safe, and get in, get done, get out.

I do not like the term weak partner. It seems harsh. I view those individuals whom may not have fully developed their officiating as a working progress. We all were once viewed into this WEAK PARTNER manner when we first started.

Rook-- I respectfully disagree. I would define someone who is just starting out as a "rookie" or a "beginner" or "in over his head". A "weak partner" is someone who probably should be able to handle this game, but just isn't making it, somehow.

There are plenty of those who are working hard and trying to get better, but they're just not there yet. They make plenty of mistakes, but it's a different kind of mistakes from the person who's been reffing for 5 or 6 years and still can't handle a 7th grade girls' game.

The rookie can be instructed and can be managed, he's coachable. The stronger partner can work with him, and help them both work together better. That weak partner is the one who inspired the phrase, "Get in, get done, get out".

Btw, I get the feeling you're a rookie, and not a weaker partner. But of course, I've never worked with you.

Rainmaker, I respectfully, respectfully do not wholeheartly agree with you.:) I am not trying to defend anyone I'm just stating that the term "weak partner" is too harsh of a term. In our own personal opinions, anyone could be classified as a "weak partner if they do not meet our expectations as officials. This is my point.

The rookie can be instructed and can be managed, he's coachable. The stronger partner can work with him, and help them both work together better. That weak partner is the one who inspired the phrase, "Get in, get done, get out".

I understand from your aformentioned statement that consistency is optimum when working with someone who needs more seasoning as an official. However, what about those officials whom been calling five or six years and all it's been is Rec Ball. How do we categorize them?

a) rookie
b) beginner
c) in over their head
d) weak partner

Finally, I like the parting shot you took. You have in your own personal opinion just categorize me as a rookie. Why do we have to put people in categories we do not know personally?:confused:

Btw, I get the feeling you're a rookie, and not a weaker partner. But of course, I've never worked with you.[/QUOTE]

This is so true. Also, communicate with players and coaches. Ask them to help you out because each official on the court has a different level of experience. You can't do this in the middle of the season, but try it at camp.