Put me out of my misery...

[NM_Ref]

I agree with that completely. I should note that a lot of those T's are delay of game tech's and administrative technicals. Coaches forgetting to enter names in books, etc. I tend to get a lot of lower level games both in playing ability and coaching. I know it's because I'm new. I have no problem with that.

I did try and talk the coach back to his bench...his reply was the "stop sign" with his hand. I do agree with you however, that they were trying to help. The tact was horrible...but the intent was there. I realize that now that I've had time to think about it.

37 games is nothing to base a career on...but it is something to come to a realization...and that realization is what you just told me in your post. It's almost as if I'm starting over

It's one thing to read the rules and know them well, but it's another to go out there and use them. That comes with time...thats the realization I'm getting.

[blindzebra]

Numbers of T's vs games worked doesn't matter.

Your vets probably don't remember what it's like at the lower levels, varsity coaches don't behave on a whole the way the lower level coaches do...you aren't that experienced and neither are they.

You unlike the coach is required to deal with unsporting behavior.

If the T's you are giving are all reacting to behavior than don't sweat it...now if you are initiating communications, giving ultimatums, that sort of things that can be an issue.

My guess is with vets mentoring as you described, you may be dealing with the back lash of nobody else taking care of business and coaches running amuck.

There have been very few T's I've given out where I questioned myself for giving them. The times I've lost sleep over not giving one is far more common.

My rule of thumb is this:

Did it make the game better?

I tossed a youth coach last Saturday. His team went on an 8-2 run right after and ended up winning a 1 point game, with no problems the rest of the way.

[SMEngmann]

I can understand this situation from both sides. There's a really good litmus test to use when evaluating your response's appropriateness objectively which is:

- Did the response fit the game/situation?
- Did the response help the game?
- Can your assignor/supervisor defend the response?

I think that this is a really good learning experience for you that I wish I had so early in my career. Games do not happen in a vaccum, and the schools are essentially "clients" of the assignor. More often than not, any game where Ts are thrown, the assignor will get a phone call from the coach where essentially your punitive action will be "put on trial." In this case, with the assignor there, it all happened at the gym and you saw the process. Clearly your responses failed the litmus test, so the best you can do is learn from the situation.

Did the assignor or the other varsity refs act appropriately? Not necessarily. I don't really think ripping a young ref at halftime about Ts is necessarily the best response, nor did it put you in a situation to learn from what happened. That part of it seemed rather self-serving to me, especially the other V ref throwing in his two cents about you "glorifying" yourself. I bet you had trouble moving on to the 2nd half of that game confidently.

My suggestion is to let the smoke clear a little bit and in the next couple of days, put in a phone call to the assignor, in a less emotional state, and ask him what he saw, and what he would've done in your shoes. If a tape is available, ask to maybe buy him a beer and watch the game tape with him so that you can learn from the game, and bottom line, listen to what he has to say, no arguing or defending. At the very least, try to get a copy of the tape yourself so that you can determine what led to this and what you can do better next time. It is from these type of events that we find out the most about ourselves and we can gain the most amount of improvement. Between now and then, think about what you could have done to handle the 1st T better, keeping in mind the litmus test and the idea that we shouldn't seek closure or the last word.

[MadCityRef]

Originally Posted by NM_Ref

I agree with that completely. I should note that a lot of those T's are delay of game tech's and administrative technicals. Coaches forgetting to enter names in books, etc. I tend to get a lot of lower level games both in playing ability and coaching. I know it's because I'm new. I have no problem with that.

37 games is nothing to base a career on...but it is something to come to a realization...and that realization is what you just told me in your post. It's almost as if I'm starting over

It's one thing to read the rules and know them well, but it's another to go out there and use them. That comes with time...thats the realization I'm getting.

It is true some people just aren't built for officiating. But 37 games is IMO too soon to hang 'em up. I had the advantage of working 100+ games in each of my 1st four seasons. And man did I suck in the beginning! Hell, I sucked in December too, but I got out there again and fixed my mistakes.

From your blog I see you want to improve - even at that you're ahead of many guys out there. Patience (with yourself, and your assignors.)