I am off to my first basketball officiating expierience

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by Lawman

I am off to my first basketball officiating expierience

Let us know when you are off to your first spelling experience.

Hey - just teasing.

[RCBSports]

These are great tips. I am attending the John Holt camp in WV here soon and I shall make sure I have everything on the list with me. I too also found another solution to help me out.

I had a few of my friends who are already high school/college officials come and watch some of my games that I referee, and had them write down notes, things to work on, critiques, etc. Then during half time or between games (since I mostly do tournaments) I would look at the list and work on a few of the items on the list.

For example, I use to go and report my foul shots very quickly. Was kinda hard for someone to catch what I was saying if they weren't paying full attention. So one of my friends noticed that, wrote it down, and the next game I worked on that detail and now, I fixed that issue. Others like court positioning, three-man rotation, etc. So I just work on a few things during each game and BAM!, I am learning and becoming a better official each game that I do.

Another thing though, I take critiques very well. So if someone says you suck at reporting fouls, don't put your head down. I just look at it like 'Damn, now I know thats one way not to report a foul'. Then I would try something new until I get it right. So, don't take it to heart what someone says something; just look at it as a way not to do something!!!

Good luck and I hope to hear from ya.

-Lucas

[DonInKansas]

Originally Posted by RCBSports

Another thing though, I take critiques very well. So if someone says you suck at reporting fouls, don't put your head down.

If someone tells me "I suck at reporting fouls," I'm shutting off the volume. Constructive criticism this is not....

I'm the first to accept advice and criticism, if it's offered properly.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by DonInKansas

If someone tells me "I suck at reporting fouls," I'm shutting off the volume. Constructive criticism this is not....

I'm the first to accept advice and criticism, if it's offered properly.

And if not proper but correct, it is not worth listening to?

[Lawman]

Wow. The camp was well worth it. I learned a ton and officiated 12 games total this weekend which was mostly varsity teams and a few JV teams.

The first day a D1 official was with me the whole time to teach me the basics. The first game I was totally lost. I was more frustrated than I have been in a long time after that game. The next 3 games each got a little better.

Saturday got a little better also until the last game. It was my 4th game that day and physically I was fine but mentally I was done for so it wasn't that good of a game for me.

Sunday we had a close game that came down to the buzzer between 2 good varsity teams. In the last minute I was the trail official and called an offensive foul as the ball handler gave the defender a slight shove with his forearm that displaced the defender. The coach was right behind me when I made the call and from what I hear started raising hell. I was so tuned in to the game that I didn't hear a thing which totally surprised the clinician over the game. The clinician was another D1 official told me he was pleasantly surprised considering that I just started with the calls I made down the stretch in the last 2 minutes of the game that could have been deciding by the officiating. Instead the correct calls were made and the players decided the game which by the way was a last second shot.

This is not going to come as a surprise but I really have to work on my mechanics a lot and reporting. That means a ton of mirror time for me.

The really bad news is that I can't even watch a game at any level now. When I try I find myself locked on one of the officials and their rotations, coverage, call etc.

Originally Posted by Lawman

The really bad news is that I can't even watch a game at any level now. When I try I find myself locked on one of the officials and their rotations, coverage, call etc.

That's great news! Sounds as if you are transitioning from a "fan" to a "student" of the game. In addition to mirror time, try videotaping your games to assist in improving your mechanics.

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

And if not proper but correct, it is not worth listening to?

Exactly my thoughts. Whatever the delivery, consider the information. I've gotten very valuable feedback from guys with the personality of a badger with hemorrhoids. And I've gotten polished and well presented feedback, that was completely worthless. To truly learn from others, you have to learn to divorce the information from the delivery, and sometimes even the source, and examine it on its own merits.

[Lawman]

Oh and I forgot to add this incident. I did exchange words with a coach and although I didn't T him I warned him and he got the clue. After the game we passed in one of the gyms and he stopped me to speak. We exchanged smart *** comments to each other about the incident in a joking way. Anyways come to find out his assistant is a Trooper in GA. I ended up making some calls for the team so they can scrimmage some teams from SC that I have contacts with from my coaching days. Strange how things work.

Also I am going to stop by the Winthrop team camp Friday just to watch the officiating and I am someone is going to bring me some game tapes of some last years games for me to study also.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Lawman

Oh and I forgot to add this incident. I did exchange words with a coach and although I didn't T him I warned him and he got the clue. After the game we passed in one of the gyms and he stopped me to speak. We exchanged smart *** comments to each other about the incident in a joking way. Anyways come to find out his assistant is a Trooper in GA. I ended up making some calls for the team so they can scrimmage some teams from SC that I have contacts with from my coaching days. Strange how things work.

Also I am going to stop by the Winthrop team camp Friday just to watch the officiating and I am someone is going to bring me some game tapes of some last years games for me to study also.

See how coming over to the good side away from the dark side has already enriched your life?