New Ref looking for tips

[HawkeyeCubP]

Originally Posted by youngzebra

thanks a lot everyone, I live in west michigan but go to school at Albion College until i get out for the summer. This will be my 3rd year officiating IM's and that has helped tremendously. Thanks for the advice from everyone i cannot wait to become part of an association and cut my teeth on some games. Thanks again everyone, greatly appreciated.

Along the "go to camps" line is, since you're working IM's at your school, going to and working NIRSA Regional Tournaments. (http://www.nirsa.org/sports/basketba...8/Default.aspx)
The closest one to you this year is at Oakland University, in Rochester.
(http://www.nirsa.org/sports/basketba...8/Default.aspx)
(http://www4.oakland.edu/?id=5169&sid=90)
I'd suggest asking your IM Coordinator if they could give you any support (gas money, meal per diem for dinners, etc.) in going there and working this spring's regional they're hosting. If you haven't been to anything like this before, it's essentially just like a high school or college camp structure - you work a bunch of games the first two days, get evaluated every game on and after your court time (including video with commentary, usually) - it's also a chance to start/practice/improve three-person mechanics. The main difference is that if you make the cut (the top whatever of whatever), you work the third day - the tournament that follows the pool play - and if not, no big deal - still good experience and valuble feedback. The Officials' Committee is generally made up of current high school and lower-level college officials, who are usually IM Coordinators or graduate assistants at regional schools.

Even if your program can't support you financially in going, it's only about two hours away, and the tournament usually puts up the officials in hotel rooms, and you receive usually $10 per game - not much, but something - and they feed you at least two meals a day, if not more, generally.

Great experience, in my opinion - and a good primer for lower-level college camps, if you're interested in going that direction down the road.

[Mark Padgett]

OK, I've posted it a million times but since you're a newbie, here it is again.

Always remember the first rule of officiating:
"Tuck your whistle in your shirt before you take a leak."

And, don't forget the referee's motto:
"Occasionally wrong but never indecisive."