What Do You Know Now That You Wish You Had Known When You First Started?

[tomegun]

I wish I knew better to handle some things before getting on the court:

1. Rules - know the rules, how to apply the rules and don't just be a rulebook official
2. Make sure the uniform is good to go. Chances are something will have to be tailored - get it tailored. You may not want your shoes to have a high gloss shine, but don't have them looking dull and dark grey either.
3. Sticking around will accelerate your growth. Watch games you are not working.
4. They say a trained dog is a happier dog. A trained ref is a happier ref. No matter what level you think you "only" want to do now try to be good enough to do one level higher. IMO, this mindset will allow any official to be a happier official.

[Texas Aggie]

Hmmm. Quite a few things. I'll try to scratch the surface. Some of these things I did fairly well from the start, either because of excellent teaching or luck. The rest came with years of experience and screwing up.

1. Learn your signal mechanics and work them by the book and stick to the ones in the book. Don't get lazy and don't pick up bad habits. Just because someone with experience is doing something doesn't mean it is correct. The better your mechanics are from the start, the better you will be perceived as an official by coaches and your peers. It will take game experience to learn floor mechanics and positioning, but you can start work on your signals NOW.

2. WATCH THE PLAYERS. During a dead ball, freeze your eyes on the players. It isn't your job to chase the ball -- get the players to do that. In boys games, they almost always do it. In girls games below JV (and in some cases, Varsity), you have to tell them. Either way, unless you've got business to attend to -- e.g. foul reporting -- freeze your eyes on the players.

3. Until you become experienced dealing with coaches, do NOT respond to comments by the coaches unless you are taking action by rule (i.e., technical foul). Respond to questions, but not comments, at least not verbally. Later on, you can pick and choose your spots, but even now, I still don't respond much at all. The two best letters in your vocabulary are "OK." Say "OK" when a coach tells you something -- but wait until he's through. You've told him or her that you are listening, but haven't committed yourself to anything else.

4. Ignore the fans. Always. Don't respond, engage, or anything else. If there's a problem, get a game admin to handle it.

5. When you warn, don't issue an ultimatum. Don't say, "coach, the next time you say something, it will be a ..." Instead, say (e.g.), "OK, coach, that's your warning about being out of the box." Then, blow your whistle (assuming dead ball or soonest one) and say, "coach/bench has been warned about being out of the box" loud enough for your partner(s) to hear it.

6. Don't tolerate any abuse or bad behavior by players.

7. After a game, take your whistle off and and get off the court. Even if you have another game following. There's no reason to stick around and doing so asks for trouble. Make sure there's no problems at the table, but after that, leave.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

5. When you warn, don't issue an ultimatum. Don't say, "coach, the next time you say something, it will be a ..." Instead, say (e.g.), "OK, coach, that's your warning about being out of the box." Then, blow your whistle (assuming dead ball or soonest one) and say, "coach/bench has been warned about being out of the box" loud enough for your partner(s) to hear it.

Only do this if the more senior officials in your area are doing it, and if it's expected by the assigners you're working for. It's not an "approved" mechanic, and it's not done in all areas. I can say it's not done that way where I am, and if I did it the other officials would look at me crooked.

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

7. After a game, take your whistle off and and get off the court.

I never take it off on the court; I just tuck it into my shirt. Other than that, you're right. Get off the court. No reason to give the knuckleheads extra time to be knuckleheads.

[JRutledge]

Sometimes you have to know how to fall on your face so you can get up again. I would not change a single thing. I learned many things by making mistakes and if I did not make those mistakes, I might take those situations for granted today if I knew those things already.

Peace

[Nevadaref]

That controlling the game is the most important thing in officiating.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

That controlling the game is the most important thing in officiating.

Actually, try thinking of it this way:

"Be in control of the game without controlling the game."

Learned that a long time ago and it's served me well.

[26 Year Gap]

I'm very glad that Mark posted about fishnets and not that he learned about the first rule in officiating the hard way.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I never take it off on the court; I just tuck it into my shirt. Other than that, you're right. Get off the court. No reason to give the knuckleheads extra time to be knuckleheads.

I take mine off while walking (not running) off the court. I wrap it around my hand and take a direct route off the court without making direct eye contact. I don't make direct eye contact because people will either say things to you straight up or suck you in by thinking they are about to say good game and then let you have it.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by tomegun

I take mine off while walking (not running) off the court. I wrap it around my hand and take a direct route off the court without making direct eye contact. I don't make direct eye contact because people will either say things to you straight up or suck you in by thinking they are about to say good game and then let you have it.

Interesting. I was taught to tuck and go. Some take it the whistle off.

Agreed on the eye contact. I make eye contact with my partner(s), and we get off the court. I keep forgetting to pregame this with the newer guys, though, and sometimes find myself having to use some less discreet communication to get them off the court.

[tjones1]

I'll echo what's already been said. Get into the books earlier. Also, if you can, read here everyday. I can't tell you how much this place has helped me. There's lot of good information and people here.

Also, make sure you zip your fly before you leave the locker room.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by tomegun

I take mine off while walking (not running) off the court. I wrap it around my hand and take a direct route off the court without making direct eye contact. I don't make direct eye contact because people will either say things to you straight up or suck you in by thinking they are about to say good game and then let you have it.

That's exactly what I was taught in my first year of officiating too. I still sub-consciously do it.

Back in the early 60's, I watched Earl Strom and Mendy Rudolph take their belts off and wrap them around their hands(buckle out) before they left the floor.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Mendy Rudolph?

Wow, that's going back! Met him once at Sixers vs Knicks game - good ole days! Good guy.