Education of Rookies

[BigJoe]

BOSSREF,

I seem to get the pleasure in our association of training in the new guys. Some things I can say really help them:
1. Make sure they have the proper uniform. Give them a site to go and purchase proper attire. I provide the Leather Luster shoe polish for their new shoes. It is amazing what credibility shiny shoes gives a new official with Jr. High coaches!

2. Shadowing works well to a point, but having a veteran official critique their work helps more. I require them to purchase an officials manual. In doing critiques I make a point to list as many things they did right as wrong. I feel that confidence is one of the most important attributes to being a good official especially when starting out.

3. Make sure they are rewarded for hard work by giving them better assignments as warranted. Whenever possible, use veteran officials to work games with rookies from time to time. Sometimes, a rookie wants to do the right thing but is held back by a lackluster partner.

4. Stress off ball coverage early and often. Most of the time rookies want to watch the game and don't learn the proper coverage areas.

It is a thankless job we have training new officials. The way things are going in our area, in 10 years everyone will need a wheelchair to officiate games as there are very few young officials coming into the ranks.