Tips for starting sharp?

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by Kostja

90 minutes before tip-off - meet partners, change into referee uniform, small talk

You put on your uniform 90 minutes before game time? I'm assuming this list is for a college game. First of all, for a high school game, I get to the gym 60 minutes before tip. 90 is overkill unless you're there to observe the JV guys (which you don't do, because it's not on your list).

Second, even for a college game, I'm not getting dressed 90 minutes before game time. Who wants to sit around in polyester for an hour an a half? Especially with all the stretching that you've got built in there. You want to do all your stretching while you're in uniform?

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 )

I'm sorry if this is too blunt, but it NEVER looks good to do that crap on the court. I work with a few guys who do it and frankly, I think it looks really bush league. I realize that we're standing out there for a half hour (NCAAM) or 15 minutes (NFHS) and you might tighten up a little. So do a couple inconspicuous stretches at the table. But don't run around and jump up and down like a freakin' rabbit.