Here's a hint: any posts by "Mark Padgett" will be lacking in humor.

Welcome!! I remember when I first got started it seemed like yesterday. :)

I would suggest you get a notebook and identify things you would like to work on.

Do an AAR (After Action Review). What I mean by this is identify:

a. three things you did well
b. three things you did not do well on
c. three things you would like to work on in the future

Again welcome.

Welcome to the game...I'm new to this board but have been calling games for 7 years...Best advice I was given was SLOW DOWN....Don't be in a hurry when reporting...the game is fast enough when you first start out...take your time on reporting....breathe deep and hang on for the ride! :D

Don't be afraid to blow the whistle late. You see a travel. You hesitate. A coach or fan yells, "Traveling!" This makes you freeze. You think it's too late. It's not. Make the call. Get it right. This sequence did not take as long as it seemed.

A friend one described her own efforts at officiating: "It's like I'm deer hunting. I'm aiming the gun. I'm aiming the gun. I'm aiming the gun. By the time I figure out what I wanted to shoot at, the deer is already gone."

I love that description... LOL

Thanks for all the advice. I'll post again after my first game. :D

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Dan_ref.
Dan_ref who?
Exactly my point.

I'm not sure, but I think you also just made Dan_ref's point.

Yeah, losing to the Cyclones seems to have put the Hawks into a tailspin of sorts. That's understandable, though, given the bigger picture.

Didn't Mac get 1 win in his first year, too?

You have already received a wealth of good advice. I would add:

1. Stand in front of a mirror and go through your mechanic signals. Without having yourself on video tape, this will you see what you actually look like out on the floor.

2. Read this forum. You will gain more basketball knowledge here than almost any other place. Sometimes wrong answers are posted so make sure you reference all situations and answers with the rule and case book.

3. Be confident but not cocky.

4. Study you positioning and make sure you can see what is going on in your area. Move if you are in a "straight-lined" position.

5. Communicate with your partner before, during and after games. Sometimes "pregames" are not done at lower level games. As a newbie, make sure you get a couple in so you and your partner(s) are clear on roles and responsibilities. When you call fouls or violations (fouls especially), make your initial mechanics are clean and crisp so your partner knows what is going on while you report to the table. After the game be willing to accept some constructive criticism. Prepare yourself to receive some comments that might be negative. Sort through what is truth in those comments and try to make yourself a better ref.

6. Choose one thing to improve upon each game.

7. Be patient. Most times we think we are better than we really are. We think we are ready to move up when we really are not ready to move up. Opportunities will arise as you are ready for them.

8. When in a public environment, NEVER criticize another ref. Even if you feel you are among friends, do not comment on the work of another ref. Sitting in the stands you do not have the same angle as the ref on the floor. You are farther away. If asked to comment, decline. Tell others you do not have the same angle as the ref on the floor.

9. When reffing, never tell a coach "That is not my call." If you saw it and it was obvious, call it. However, if you make a call out of your area, be 100% sure. Never make up calls. Make sure you see what you call.

10. Keep a back up of clothing and whistles.

With all that said ... Good Luck.