New official
 

Hey guys... I'm a new official.... Just starting out.

I got a guy I work with who has been in the games for 30 years.. he's gonna be my mentor...

Any tips you guys have for a newbie??...

Thanks in advance.

Welcom Bearfanmike20.... you came to the right place to further your knowledge of the game. There is no substitute for on the floor learning or camps, but when it comes to the rules; this is the place. :)

Listen.

Ask questions, then listen some more.

Have fun! (I know, sometimes it's hard to remember this part when coaches are screaming at you, but it's important.)

Every time you post an answer to a (rules-related) question, look it up in the rulebook and give a rule reference.

Please note that some of the posts are humorous (or, at least attempts at being so). After a while, you'll catch on when someone is just kidding.

Except, of course, when discussing overtimes. ;)

or tucking in your whistle.

Hit your whistle with authority (as I was taught, like you have a pair), get your hand or fist straight up in the air. Stay in your area. Ask questions at dead ball periods. Hustle. Don't take any crap from the bench or players. Have Fun!!

Btw Adam, I had the mighty CMB Raiders on the gridiron a couple of weeks ago.

This.


Also try to find a non state sanctioned league to start in, typically in the fall or spring. Avoid stepping onto the court for the first time in a state sanctioned game, even if it's just middle school/junior high.

Get in the rule book.

Go watch varsity games that you have no horse in and watch the referees.

Welcome Bearfan.

• Study the heck out of the rule book
• Get in every game you can, even if don't pay.
• Practice and polish your mechanics.
• Listen to experience.
• Always step onto the court with a good attitude
• Come to this site often

Know the ball...don't ball watch, but you always need to know where the ball is at on the court.

Find the defense...you'll hear ref the defense a lot, but I hate that term because it can cause locking on the defender...see LGP and know all defenders in your primary.

Get an open look...move to see through the play. Try to get a look at as many players as you can through your on-ball match-up.

Position adjust...be ready to move for a better look, but don't move for the sake of moving.

Be a good partner...communicate all game situations as they come up.

Be calm and professional...never sink to the level of an irate player or coach. Keep all communications brief and on point.

Never threaten as a warning...don't use phrases like one more word and it's a T.

Warn once...never warn twice, take care of business.

Don't overwhelm yourself...work on one or two things every game.

Get advice and listen, but always check up on it on your own...never take anything as gospel, hit the rule, case and official manual and check up.

I'm not sure what you meant to write, but I'm sure you misspelled it.
How'd they do?

More importantly, how do you like working the American Style Football?

Actually they are fighting it out in for 1st place in their district this season. They won easily the night we were there, but the team they were playing were Hawkeye-esque (not good). I only know 1 kind of football, I know virtually nothing about that other "game". :D

That's good news. I'll have to look into them this year.
Uhm. You misspelled "Cyclone." Beating Illinois has to mean something.

:) Make Sure To Go To Camp!!!!

True. I think the Cyclones may only get one win this year. I wonder who that was against???? CMB is having a good season though. Big game against PCM in a week I think.

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.