Purposeful movement

[btaylor64]

Originally Posted by cmathews

He may be referring to the way in which you move when moving up or down a coupld steps, or working the arc. Not the actual reason you are moving. When you do make these moves make the sharp crisp and quick, don't "wander" down a couple steps. Make the movements very deliberate and sharp looking??? Maybe that is what he is talking about...jmho

There are a couple of different thoughts here. Some ppl like quick sharp movements and some like smooth movement. It also depends on how you look. When I was first getting started I was moving all over the place. I was moving really sharply and quickly which exuded that I was trying to be very active but it also looked like I was trying to work my butt off just to get plays right. Smooth movements make it look like you've been there before and like you have done this time and time again, but at the same time if you come more near the low end of smooth movement you start to look lazy. So if you can just find that happy medium between knowing when you need to move quickly and sharply and when you can just smoothly transition then I think you will be better off. Good luck

Nevada,

Would you take a referee who could do both? Why settle for mediocrity? I want a guy who gets his plays right as well but if the coaches aren't buying what he's selling then you have problems as well. I know you say "who cares what the coaches think?" Well in college it means alot. If a supervisor wants a guy on a particular game and both coaches don't want the guy cause they aren't buying what he's selling, even though he is your best play caller, then the supervisor 9.9 times out of 10 will not put the ref on the game.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by btaylor64

Nevada,

Would you take a referee who could do both? Why settle for mediocrity? I want a guy who gets his plays right as well but if the coaches aren't buying what he's selling then you have problems as well. I know you say "who cares what the coaches think?" Well in college it means alot. If a supervisor wants a guy on a particular game and both coaches don't want the guy cause they aren't buying what he's selling, even though he is your best play caller, then the supervisor 9.9 times out of 10 will not put the ref on the game.

I'm not interested in "both" because I would never look for "both" in an official. That's because I believe that one matters and one doesn't. Take Joey Crawford as an example. Do you think that he moves smoothly or crisply? How is his play calling?

I also believe that coaches respect officials based upon the decisions that they make, not on how they look or run. As long as the official is hustling, getting into position, and making decisions that are reasonable no college coach is going to have a huge problem. A coach gets upset when he believes that an official is missing calls due to being out of position or just making a poor decision against his team.

When I think about D1 refs who coaches seem to like, but that move oddly a few come to mind: Steve Welmer, Jim Burr, Ed Hightower, Dave Hall, and Mike Kitts. They seem to be scheduled on quite a few TV games.

You seem to be talking about that first look that a coach gets at an official with whom he doesn't have prior experience. The initial presentation can certainly lead to a bit of credibility, but after a few games the coaches get to know what the person calls and that becomes the focus. Coaches and supervisors don't care about how a ten-year veteran moves (unless he can't). What you are saying pertains to the first and second year folks trying to move up within a conference or someone at a camp trying to make an impression and get hired. It really has nothing to do with the quality of officiating. It is merely a way of getting a foot in the door.

[btaylor64]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

I'm not interested in "both" because I would never look for "both" in an official. That's because I believe that one matters and one doesn't. Take Joey Crawford as an example. Do you think that he moves smoothly or crisply? How is his play calling?

I also believe that coaches respect officials based upon the decisions that they make, not on how they look or run. As long as the official is hustling, getting into position, and making decisions that are reasonable no college coach is going to have a huge problem. A coach gets upset when he believes that an official is missing calls due to being out of position or just making a poor decision against his team.

When I think about D1 refs who coaches seem to like, but that move oddly a few come to mind: Steve Welmer, Jim Burr, Ed Hightower, Dave Hall, and Mike Kitts. They seem to be scheduled on quite a few TV games.

You seem to be talking about that first look that a coach gets at an official with whom he doesn't have prior experience. The initial presentation can certainly lead to a bit of credibility, but after a few games the coaches get to know what the person calls and that becomes the focus. Coaches and supervisors don't care about how a ten-year veteran moves (unless he can't). What you are saying pertains to the first and second year folks trying to move up within a conference or someone at a camp trying to make an impression and get hired. It really has nothing to do with the quality of officiating. It is merely a way of getting a foot in the door.

First, Joey Crawford moves exactly as i stated earlier... with a purpose. He smoothly transitions to positions when he can and makes quick sharp movements when he has to get somewhere quick.

the reason why three of those D1 referees you mentioned get games night in and night out, imo, is that they are very good communicators, but also in my imo they are not good play callers what so ever.

I think you are underestimating the presence and look of an official, but then again that's jmo. I think having a referee who has the whole package is very important and looks are a part of that package.


I disagree with you that coaches want a guy who is in position to make the right call. They just want A call in their favor. coaches don't know what the "right position" is. 9 out of 10 coaches get pissed when a play goes to the hoop from T's primary and he makes the call at the basket when the defender is on the offensive player's inside hip and to US we know that the play is the T's play and that the L will not have such a good look at it, but they don't care they just think you are too far from the play to call that and that the guy closest to the play should make the call!

[Tio]

I think we need to make a distinction that what works for Joey Crawford doesn't necessarily work for us. Joe has earned the respect of coaches, players, and assignments. Honestly, I find all his hopping on the court annoying and if any of us transitioned like that we'd get called out on it. Crawford has earned the right to do it like that. He has nothing to prove to assignors or coaches as he is at the peak of the sport and his career.

With the speed of the players, we need to be anticipating the next play and move athletically and efficiently to call the play. Moving too much or too quickly reduces believability and attracts unnecessary attention to the crew.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by btaylor64

Would you take a referee who could do both? Why settle for mediocrity? I want a guy who gets his plays right as well but if the coaches aren't buying what he's selling then you have problems as well. I know you say "who cares what the coaches think?" Well in college it means alot. If a supervisor wants a guy on a particular game and both coaches don't want the guy cause they aren't buying what he's selling, even though he is your best play caller, then the supervisor 9.9 times out of 10 will not put the ref on the game.

Disagree completely. College coaches could care less how officials get into position. All they care about is whether that official actually was in position when a call was needed to be made.

Until something on the court happens that they think requires a call, college coaches are watching the play, not the officials.

So I spoke with said official last night about his definition of purposeful movement & how it pertains to me.
It was a little bit of everything you all had stated in this thread (mainly sharp/crisp rotations & hustling to my new position after reporting fouls).

He said I did a much better job last night. I guess asking him exactly what he wanted from me was a good thing. I'll be attending some camps that he has already been to, so he's just trying to prepare me for what those camp directors are looking for in particular.

It's really inspiring when officials who have arrived reach back to assist those who are attempting to follow their path! Dude even provided me with CCA manuals to learn the rules/mechanics. When preparation meets opportunity one just might get lucky. I couldn't be more appreciative