Tips for starting sharp?

[stripes]

I had a JUCO game a number of years ago and missed an obvious foul on a play to the basket off of the opening tip. Coach got into me for not being ready to referee and he was right. I guess I tried to ease into the game instead of being ready from the start.

That was all the wake up call I needed. I have mentally prepared in my personal pregame to be ready right from the toss. You never know hwen you'll have to get right into it.

Good luck.

[Back In The Saddle]

I'm kinda like stripes (well, in a very limited way). My wake up call came from missing a backcourt violation right off the tip a year or two back. My pre-game now includes watching for this, and I specifically call it out as a way of demonstrating that we are in the game from the opening tip.

BTW, I believe any time you can find something concrete to watch for or do during a situation, it works better than the more passive "don't miss anything" approach.

[Adam]

My wake-up came last year in a lower level game, actually. Held ball on the opening tip, prior to team control being established by either team. We had the original jumpers re-jump (afterwards, we both knew we'd screwed up).

Couple years ago, had a jumper steal the tip and I missed it. Had the same team the next game, he did it again. I didn't miss it twice.

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by kbilla

Fri night, BV, 3-whistle game. R throws the jump and I end up C. We transition once, and then back and on this transition A1 goes up on a break for a layup and B1 blocks it "off the glass". Nothing like the first whistle of the night being a bang-bang BI call. It took me a second but I got the call, wasn't too delayed and obviously the correct call. My question is this. It always seems like the first few times up and down I am in a bit of a fog, just settling in to the game, etc. Any tips for what you do to get a "mental warm-up", so when these relatively unusual things happen right at the start you are prepared for them?

Great thread....... In bigger games, it sometimes takes me a transition or two to feel it. Had a game last week and I was U2 and grabbed a shooting foul as lead 6-7 seconds into game.........fairly easy call and it was good to get the first one out.

By the way, B1 is obviously the defender, don't know why a few were lost.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by fullor30

By the way, B1 is obviously the defender, don't know why a few were lost.

Had nothing to do with it. What threw me off was the reference to the glass, as if the backboard had anything to do with the call.

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Had nothing to do with it. What threw me off was the reference to the glass, as if the backboard had anything to do with the call.

Like the start of a game, I'm a little foggy on the start of this thread, reread and you're right.

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by Ch1town

kbilla, I believe the difference is with goaltending the ball is touched...

I assure you that some vet(s) will be by to correct me if I'm wrong.

It is possible to touch the ball and commit basket interference:

4-6-1, 4-6-2, and 4-6-3

[Kostja]

Originally Posted by kbilla

Any tips for what you do to get a "mental warm-up", so when these relatively unusual things happen right at the start you are prepared for them?

What's your typical pre-game routine?

Here is what we do:

• 90 minutes before tip-off - meet partners, change into referee uniform, small talk
• 80 minutes before tip-off - pre-game conference, at the end each crew member mentions 3 points of emphasis to remind everybody of them, e.g. goaltending, 3 seconds, travelling ...
• 50 minutes before tip-off - physical warm-up, stretching
• 25 minutes before tip-off - meditation, mental preparation - first relax (control breath, think about something positive), then use imagery to prepare for clutch calls, e.g. block-charge, goal-tending, violations during or right after tipp-off ...
• 15 minutes before tip-off - enter gym, say hello to coaches, assistants, and everybody at the scorers table
• 12 minutes before tip-off - stand opposite table, continue mental preparation - maybe I will stretch some more; I always imagine myself standing on the spot, where I will be standing during the opening tip, and all the situations that might occur during or right after the jump (game going either way, violations during or after the tip, e.g. backcourt, tipping the ball on its way up, and so on); during players introduction I will close my eyes and soak in the atmosphere in the gym, that gets me energized and ready to go!
• 3 minutes before tip-off - activation - before taking off our jackets 1:30 before tipp-off and going to work I might run 2 or 3 sprints along the sideline or do some ankle jumps and then a short series of tuck jumps (it always looks good )
• 1:30 before tipp-off - sending teams back to their bench areas, walking over to the table, taking off our jackets
• 1 minute before tip-off - teams are in the huddle before entering the court, and so are we. crew chief (referee) sums up what we were talking about during pre-game and says something like "let's go out, be ready for everything and have fun".

And there we go ...

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

I'm kinda like stripes (well, in a very limited way). My wake up call came from missing a backcourt violation right off the tip a year or two back. My pre-game now includes watching for this, and I specifically call it out as a way of demonstrating that we are in the game from the opening tip.

BTW, I believe any time you can find something concrete to watch for or do during a situation, it works better than the more passive "don't miss anything" approach.

Mine came a few seasons ago. Tip, long pass, foul under the bucket. I was the U in 2-person and barely had gotten half way to the baseline and had a lousy view on the contact and passed. I learned to go and if the ball shoots the other way, my partner will adjust and become the lead.

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by Kostja

What's your typical pre-game routine?

Here is what we do:

• 90 minutes before tip-off - meet partners, change into referee uniform, small talk
• 80 minutes before tip-off - pre-game conference, at the end each crew member mentions 3 points of emphasis to remind everybody of them, e.g. goaltending, 3 seconds, travelling ...
• 50 minutes before tip-off - physical warm-up, stretching
• 25 minutes before tip-off - meditation, mental preparation - first relax (control breath, think about something positive), then use imagery to prepare for clutch calls, e.g. block-charge, goal-tending, violations during or right after tipp-off ...
• 15 minutes before tip-off - enter gym, say hello to coaches, assistants, and everybody at the scorers table
• 12 minutes before tip-off - stand opposite table, continue mental preparation - maybe I will stretch some more; I always imagine myself standing on the spot, where I will be standing during the opening tip, and all the situations that might occur during or right after the jump (game going either way, violations during or after the tip, e.g. backcourt, tipping the ball on its way up, and so on); during players introduction I will close my eyes and soak in the atmosphere in the gym, that gets me energized and ready to go!
• 3 minutes before tip-off - activation - before taking off our jackets 1:30 before tipp-off and going to work I might run 2 or 3 sprints along the sideline or do some ankle jumps and then a short series of tuck jumps (it always looks good )
• 1:30 before tipp-off - sending teams back to their bench areas, walking over to the table, taking off our jackets
• 1 minute before tip-off - teams are in the huddle before entering the court, and so are we. crew chief (referee) sums up what we were talking about during pre-game and says something like "let's go out, be ready for everything and have fun".

And there we go ...

All this for a 4th grade park district game?

Seriously..........College?

Our state frowns on any stretching/excercising once we've entered the court, which I agree on.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by Kostja

What's your typical pre-game routine?

Here is what we do:

• 90 minutes before tip-off - meet partners, change into referee uniform, small talk
• 80 minutes before tip-off - pre-game conference, at the end each crew member mentions 3 points of emphasis to remind everybody of them, e.g. goaltending, 3 seconds, travelling ...
• 50 minutes before tip-off - physical warm-up, stretching
• 25 minutes before tip-off - meditation, mental preparation - first relax (control breath, think about something positive), then use imagery to prepare for clutch calls, e.g. block-charge, goal-tending, violations during or right after tipp-off ...
• 15 minutes before tip-off - enter gym, say hello to coaches, assistants, and everybody at the scorers table
• 12 minutes before tip-off - stand opposite table, continue mental preparation - maybe I will stretch some more; I always imagine myself standing on the spot, where I will be standing during the opening tip, and all the situations that might occur during or right after the jump (game going either way, violations during or after the tip, e.g. backcourt, tipping the ball on its way up, and so on); during players introduction I will close my eyes and soak in the atmosphere in the gym, that gets me energized and ready to go!
• 3 minutes before tip-off - activation - before taking off our jackets 1:30 before tipp-off and going to work I might run 2 or 3 sprints along the sideline or do some ankle jumps and then a short series of tuck jumps (it always looks good )
• 1:30 before tipp-off - sending teams back to their bench areas, walking over to the table, taking off our jackets
• 1 minute before tip-off - teams are in the huddle before entering the court, and so are we. crew chief (referee) sums up what we were talking about during pre-game and says something like "let's go out, be ready for everything and have fun".

And there we go ...

Is this a joke? Meditation? Activation? All this precision?
I would hate to see what would happen in case of a schedule change - you would be thrown off your schedule. I'm of the opinion that every game is an individual event. I have to check on my mind, body and the comfort of the crew to decide on what I will do.

[chartrusepengui]

Here is what we do:
90 minutes before tip-off - meet partners, change into referee uniform, small talk
80 minutes before tip-off - pre-game conference, at the end each crew member mentions 3 points of emphasis to remind everybody of them, e.g. goaltending, 3 seconds, travelling ...
50 minutes before tip-off - physical warm-up, stretching
25 minutes before tip-off - meditation, mental preparation - first relax (control breath, think about something positive), then use imagery to prepare for clutch calls, e.g. block-charge, goal-tending, violations during or right after tipp-off ...
15 minutes before tip-off - enter gym, say hello to coaches, assistants, and everybody at the scorers table
12 minutes before tip-off - stand opposite table, continue mental preparation - maybe I will stretch some more; I always imagine myself standing on the spot, where I will be standing during the opening tip, and all the situations that might occur during or right after the jump (game going either way, violations during or after the tip, e.g. backcourt, tipping the ball on its way up, and so on); during players introduction I will close my eyes and soak in the atmosphere in the gym, that gets me energized and ready to go!
3 minutes before tip-off - activation - before taking off our jackets 1:30 before tipp-off and going to work I might run 2 or 3 sprints along the sideline or do some ankle jumps and then a short series of tuck jumps (it always looks good )
1:30 before tipp-off - sending teams back to their bench areas, walking over to the table, taking off our jackets
1 minute before tip-off - teams are in the huddle before entering the court, and so are we. crew chief (referee) sums up what we were talking about during pre-game and says something like "let's go out, be ready for everything and have fun".
And there we go ...

Wow glad it works for you - I think just keeping on this schedule would be exhausting and stressful

[stripes]

Originally Posted by tomegun

Is this a joke? Meditation? Activation? All this precision?
I would hate to see what would happen in case of a schedule change - you would be thrown off your schedule. I'm of the opinion that every game is an individual event. I have to check on my mind, body and the comfort of the crew to decide on what I will do.

I don't find this list to be out of the norm. In fact I find it to be a useful tool. It is like most things, if you are not used to it, it is hard to do, but if it is your routine, there is nothing to it. We all have our routines that we do before a game, this is just one you are not used to.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by stripes

I don't find this list to be out of the norm. In fact I find it to be a useful tool. It is like most things, if you are not used to it, it is hard to do, but if it is your routine, there is nothing to it. We all have our routines that we do before a game, this is just one you are not used to.

OK, if that is what you think. I would be interested to watch a crew that went through all that and see how the game went. I would be very interested.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Kostja

What's your typical pre-game routine?

Here is what we do:

• 90 minutes before tip-off - meet partners, change into referee uniform, small talk
• 80 minutes before tip-off - pre-game conference, at the end each crew member mentions 3 points of emphasis to remind everybody of them, e.g. goaltending, 3 seconds, travelling ...
• 50 minutes before tip-off - physical warm-up, stretching
• 25 minutes before tip-off - meditation, mental preparation - first relax (control breath, think about something positive), then use imagery to prepare for clutch calls, e.g. block-charge, goal-tending, violations during or right after tipp-off ...
• 15 minutes before tip-off - enter gym, say hello to coaches, assistants, and everybody at the scorers table
• 12 minutes before tip-off - stand opposite table, continue mental preparation - maybe I will stretch some more; I always imagine myself standing on the spot, where I will be standing during the opening tip, and all the situations that might occur during or right after the jump (game going either way, violations during or after the tip, e.g. backcourt, tipping the ball on its way up, and so on); during players introduction I will close my eyes and soak in the atmosphere in the gym, that gets me energized and ready to go!
• 3 minutes before tip-off - activation - before taking off our jackets 1:30 before tipp-off and going to work I might run 2 or 3 sprints along the sideline or do some ankle jumps and then a short series of tuck jumps (it always looks good )
• 1:30 before tipp-off - sending teams back to their bench areas, walking over to the table, taking off our jackets
• 1 minute before tip-off - teams are in the huddle before entering the court, and so are we. crew chief (referee) sums up what we were talking about during pre-game and says something like "let's go out, be ready for everything and have fun".

And there we go ...

90 minutes? Like I'm going to show up that early to all my high school games.