1/2 a second behind.

[Indianaref]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

Finding the right timing for calls is something that develops. When you watch the best officials in your area work, notice when they make certain calls. Too early and the decision could turn out to be poor, too late and there will certainly be grief or lack of credibility.

Getting it just right is one element that separates the excellent officials from the good.

Last year was my first year and one of the best suggestions I received was to go and watch as many games from "seasoned officials" as you possibly can. Watch their mechanics, calls, and also exercise your concentration. This year I am doing a lot of games and I will stay around and watch the varsity games. This has taught me that some of the best calls are "no calls". Best of luck.

[Splute]

From a newbie perspective, it is true, we are either fast on the whistle or slow. It has been my experience that most are slow or non existent and we have to learn to blow the whistle. I have 13 games under my belt now and things are finally slowing down for me. I have found a comfortable timing with my whistle, but I still miss some or my reaction is too slow and the play is gone. However, beyond the whistle, the biggest snafu, imo, has been an off ball foul called, reported and then the table says... they are in the bonus... rut ro... who got fouled? who shoots? That is my current goal now to always know what my partner has and BOTH players involved and for me to communicate the same to him.

Sounds like you are coming along well Bearfanmike20!!

Splute, that's a good thing to pregame with your partner. It is sometimes hard to pick out the shooter when you're concentrating on the fouler. I had a JV game last night where we talked about this very thing. The non-calling official would get a bead on who the shooter was just in case the other missed it.
It really helped us keep track as we had just discussed it.

[jkumpire]

Very good point!

I can count on one finger the amount of times I have seen a JV ref hang around for the Varsity game the last two seasons.

In the olden days, back say in the 1980's, JV refs always hung around, to watch the game, to listen to half time and post games, and would even be rewarded with legal beverages with the Varsity crew. Now, most young officials are on the road before the Varsity game starts. It's a bad thing to do.

Originally Posted by jkumpire

Very good point!

I can count on one finger the amount of times I have seen a JV ref hang around for the Varsity game the last two seasons.

In the olden days, back say in the 1980's, JV refs always hung around, to watch the game, to listen to half time and post games, and would even be rewarded with legal beverages with the Varsity crew. Now, most young officials are on the road before the Varsity game starts. It's a bad thing to do.

Our board requires the JV officials stay for at least the first half of the V game afterwards. They also require the V officials to get there early to watch at least half the JV game since they are expected to rate the JV officials.

[Junker]

A little slow is better than too quick (notice I said a LITTLE slow). Too quick can mean you're anticipating. Sounds like you're off to a good start.

[JRutledge]

You almost never want to be too quick.

Peace