How to do your best with new/sub-par officials?

[rainmaker]

The best way to look good is to make your crew look good. That goes for any position on the pecking order. If you think you shine, and your partner looks like a dork, you don't necessarily shine to anyone but yourself.

One thing I've done as I've improved is to practice a few sentences that can help the partner look better. One is to the partner before the game: How would you like us to work together? Which can lead to your knowing whether or not he or she wants suggestions, comments from you.

Another is to an unhappy coacn: He had a good look, coach. I had my attention on (anything away from what the coach is complaining about). These sentences tell the better coaches that you're not going to throw your partner under the bus, no matter what kind of mistakes they make.

Never override your partner. Never. It's okay to hustle in with some sort of suggestion, but only that person can change their own call.

Always remember that although it's importnat to do your best, and every game is importnat to those players, in the larger scheme of things, these little errors aren't really earthshaking. No matter how bad it gets, this too will pass.

[just another ref]

The following line often goes through my head during a game, particularly when I have a partner who does not call much: "If he can't call that a foul from there, there's no way I can call it a foul from here." IOW, don't try to compensate for what you perceive to be a marginal partner by making marginal calls yourself.

Find a compliment anywhere that you can. Often if your partner is really that weak, the coaches and fans won't even bother complaining to him, but instead will direct it all to you. "C'mon, ref, you're gonna have to help us with that one."
etc. etc.

[Junker]

How often do you talk to partners during the game and at half-time? What do you talk about. In my games, I try to get the crew together at the spot of the throw in quickly at the first time out. We talk about what we are seeing and how we are feeling. If there has been a goofy play and we have time to discuss it quickly as far as what we saw, we do. At the half, ask questions. If you are having to get out of your primary to make a call, ask them why they passed and what they saw. Don't as in an accusing fashion, just go fishing for information. I can't believe no-one has mentioned it, but pregame...pregame...pregame.

[jdw3018]

Originally Posted by Junker

How often do you talk to partners during the game and at half-time?

Whenever needed, and a lot more than some. Love to get on the same page as much as possible.

Originally Posted by Junker

pregame...pregame...pregame.

Unfortunately, the "standard practice" in this area is to arrive sometime within 5 minutes of tip at all scrimmages and JV games. Ugh...

I appreciate all the posts on this subject. I love the opportunity to help younger/new officials, and definitely did all I could last night to ask lots of questions. The new official I was working with wants to do well, learn, and I think has the potential to be very good, so I'm hopeful he'll keep working at it, and I offered to help all I could.

I'm kinda caught in that middle ground right now - I'm still young/new enough that I've got to be more careful than some in offering unsolicited advice, but experienced enough that I think I can really help. I'm also having to "prove" myself to the folks around here since I'm new, so it's an added challenge.

All-in-all, I'm loving being back on the court again. I kind of forget how much fun it is during the summer when I'm not doing any officiating. I've got another scrimmage tonight and the same crew is going, so I'll have more of the same - we've got a ride tonight so hopefully we can pregame!

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by jdw3018

Whenever needed, and a lot more than some. Love to get on the same page as much as possible.
Unfortunately, the "standard practice" in this area is to arrive sometime within 5 minutes of tip at all scrimmages and JV games. Ugh...

I appreciate all the posts on this subject. I love the opportunity to help younger/new officials, and definitely did all I could last night to ask lots of questions. The new official I was working with wants to do well, learn, and I think has the potential to be very good, so I'm hopeful he'll keep working at it, and I offered to help all I could.

I'm kinda caught in that middle ground right now - I'm still young/new enough that I've got to be more careful than some in offering unsolicited advice, but experienced enough that I think I can really help. I'm also having to "prove" myself to the folks around here since I'm new, so it's an added challenge.

All-in-all, I'm loving being back on the court again. I kind of forget how much fun it is during the summer when I'm not doing any officiating. I've got another scrimmage tonight and the same crew is going, so I'll have more of the same - we've got a ride tonight so hopefully we can pregame!

I emailed a Fly Boy ahead of my first game with him last season. Told him I wanted him there a half hour before the game to pre-game and that we would go out to courtside at 15 minutes, do the conference at 12 & then do the book. I was pleasantly surprised when the guy was there and dressed when I got there 40 minutes before tipoff. You never know....

[icallfouls]

Originally Posted by jdw3018

Whenever needed, and a lot more than some. Love to get on the same page as much as possible.
Unfortunately, the "standard practice" in this area is to arrive sometime within 5 minutes of tip at all scrimmages and JV games. Ugh...

I remember a few years ago when I was starting to get games when I was expected to be the crew chief with officials that are the "top guns" and then getting games when I was supposed to be the lead official.

The mix of officials that I worked with was wide ranging. But for that year and the following, I would tell my partners that I would like to meet them no later than 45 minutes before tipoff for any varsity game and 30 minutes for everything else. I explained to them that in order for me to officiate my best I needed to start the game with a pre-game.

It was a great technique that got my partners to arrive early and I never had someone say no and most were very receptive to my request.

[Back In The Saddle]

I think the biggest problem/challenge/opportunity, that comes from being a good official is that you are frequently partnered with weaker officials. This is something you're going to have to learn to do, and do well. Here's what I've learned so far:

• Communicate, communicate, communicate
• Take care of everything in your area. Obviously not normally a problem, or you wouldn't be where you're at. But we have to do our own work first.
• Expand your area some, to help out when you can, and when it's appropriate
• Call your game, and let your partner adjust. How else will they learn if not by your example?
• Let your partner make mistakes. It's how you and I learned. It'll work for him/her too.
• Free your partner to focus on the game. You take care of the coaches, table, everything that isn't directly related to refereeing the action between the lines.
• Be aware for the whole crew. Know foul counts, arrow, time out situation. Communicate this to your partner. Get the shooters. Know where you'll restart after timeouts.
• If the game is tanking, step it up.
• Realize that you're almost always be better off with a any partner than no partner. So keep him/her in the game.
• If everything else truly fails, you may have to take over the game entirely. This is not a good experience for your partner, but your loyalty is to the game first.
• Be positive, instructive, supportive. But also be honest. Never send a partner who wants to learn home with a, "You did fine. Just keep it up." And never send a partner who doesn't want to learn home with false praise.

As always, just my $0.02

[Junker]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

I think the biggest problem/challenge/opportunity, that comes from being a good official is that you are frequently partnered with weaker officials. This is something you're going to have to learn to do, and do well. Here's what I've learned so far:

• Communicate, communicate, communicate
• Take care of everything in your area. Obviously not normally a problem, or you wouldn't be where you're at. But we have to do our own work first.
• Expand your area some, to help out when you can, and when it's appropriate
• Call your game, and let your partner adjust. How else will they learn if not by your example?
• Let your partner make mistakes. It's how you and I learned. It'll work for him/her too.
• Free your partner to focus on the game. You take care of the coaches, table, everything that isn't directly related to refereeing the action between the lines.
• Be aware for the whole crew. Know foul counts, arrow, time out situation. Communicate this to your partner. Get the shooters. Know where you'll restart after timeouts.
• If the game is tanking, step it up.
• Realize that you're almost always be better off with a any partner than no partner. So keep him/her in the game.
• If everything else truly fails, you may have to take over the game entirely. This is not a good experience for your partner, but your loyalty is to the game first.
• Be positive, instructive, supportive. But also be honest. Never send a partner who wants to learn home with a, "You did fine. Just keep it up." And never send a partner who doesn't want to learn home with false praise.

As always, just my $0.02

That is a great list. Well said.

[jdw3018]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

I think the biggest problem/challenge/opportunity, that comes from being a good official is that you are frequently partnered with weaker officials. This is something you're going to have to learn to do, and do well. Here's what I've learned so far:

• Communicate, communicate, communicate
• Take care of everything in your area. Obviously not normally a problem, or you wouldn't be where you're at. But we have to do our own work first.
• Expand your area some, to help out when you can, and when it's appropriate
• Call your game, and let your partner adjust. How else will they learn if not by your example?
• Let your partner make mistakes. It's how you and I learned. It'll work for him/her too.
• Free your partner to focus on the game. You take care of the coaches, table, everything that isn't directly related to refereeing the action between the lines.
• Be aware for the whole crew. Know foul counts, arrow, time out situation. Communicate this to your partner. Get the shooters. Know where you'll restart after timeouts.
• If the game is tanking, step it up.
• Realize that you're almost always be better off with a any partner than no partner. So keep him/her in the game.
• If everything else truly fails, you may have to take over the game entirely. This is not a good experience for your partner, but your loyalty is to the game first.
• Be positive, instructive, supportive. But also be honest. Never send a partner who wants to learn home with a, "You did fine. Just keep it up." And never send a partner who doesn't want to learn home with false praise.

As always, just my $0.02

Great list, thanks. Great for me to review prior to heading to the scrimmage tonight!

If everything else truly fails, you may have to take over the game entirely. This is not a good experience for your partner, but your loyalty is to the game first.

My question on this is where do you draw the line in calling out of your area. I'm sure we've all worked with different officials that we may have felt were subpar at times (I'm sure I've been that official at times myself).
I tend to believe that those that are rating you will clearly see where the weaknesses are in situations like this. At what point does the assignor start seeing you as taking over the game and calling out of your area?
There have been numerous times before on this board where posters have gotten flamed for ball watching and calling out of their area. "Who's paying attention to the other players while you were looking there?"
I think you need to go out every game and do your very best. Obviously, there are times where you might easily be in position to see something in your partner's area, but I would be careful to not overstep your bounds. That could backfire with your partners and assignor.
In addition, there's always the possibility your not as sharp as you think.
JMO

[jdw3018]

Originally Posted by PYRef

My question on this is where do you draw the line in calling out of your area.

This is the challenge for sure. My attempt last night was to focus on my primary, but not be afraid to get something if, as I was looking "through" my primary I saw something obvious.

Originally Posted by PYRef

In addition, there's always the possibility your not as sharp as you think.

What?!?!?!

[SeanFitzRef]

Good points, PY.

Most assignors would rather a 'newbie' live or die with their calls or non calls in their own primary, rather than have you call the game for your partner. Only way the newbie gains experience.

Had a partner once that gave the impression during our 'pregame' that he was well in control of the situation and knew what he was doing, as he was an older gentleman than myself, and proceeded to come out and call all over the gym during the first quarter. He even made a few (incorrect) calls in the freshman game being played in a different gym. Had to give him a clinic at halftime, going over things like primary area of responsibility, etc.

Just because someone can pass a test doesn't mean they know the material....

[Adam]

Originally Posted by SeanFitzRef

Had to give him a clinic at halftime, going over things like primary area of responsibility, etc.

How did that go?

[Junker]

I make an effort to not extend my primary when working with newbies (luckily it doesn't happen often). The need to learn to call their area and if they blow something, they need to learn how to deal with the coach as well.