Pre-game habits, rituals, etc.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by truerookie

I usually arrive early.

Get dressed except my shoes.

Look over pregame notes.

Look over notes in my journal.

Pre-game with partner(s)

Stretch

Tell a joke and smile just before we enter the court

Uhm, why do you ref without shoes? Is this a regional thing?

[truerookie]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Uhm, why do you ref without shoes? Is this a regional thing?

yes, I just wear black socks.

[Back In The Saddle]

Let me guess...you learned this at camp from a D1 referee? Did he offer to take you snipe hunting as well?

[JRutledge]

If I am the Referee, I have a way I bounce and spin the basketball (towards me) and I must slap the ball twice after each spin. I go with the left arm first, then the right arm. I really have not any rhyme or reason for this. Just something that has become a habit and I do it every time.

Peace

[Back In The Saddle]

Hmmm, my rituals are not quite as colorful, but they begin the night before. I always pack my bag the same way every time, and the clothes are put in so that I can take them out in the order I put them on. On the way to the game site I either listen to my Art McDonald pre-game CD or the sound track to A Knight's Tale, just depends on whether I feel a greater need to get focused or get pumped up. At the site I dress, always in the same order. I briefly consider what an idiot I am for not stretching. And then I turn to my partner and start our pregame by say, "All right, Chief. How are we gonna do this tonight?"

[Kingsman1288]

I really should look doing my shadowboxing on the court right before the jump. A little fear never hurt anyone right?

[Juulie Downs]

Originally Posted by Kingsman1288

I really should look doing my shadowboxing on the court right before the jump. A little fear never hurt anyone right?

Probably not a good idea if you're tossing. That circle isn't very big. It would end up being not-shadow boxing, and might even include a lawsuit!.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

I briefly consider what an idiot I am for not stretching. And then I turn to my partner and start our pregame by say, "All right, Chief. How are we gonna do this tonight?"

You stole mine....

Not fair!

BTW, my post-game ritual includes my wife telling me what an idiot I am for not stretching. I like symmetry.

[Huntin' Ref]

I don't know why, but I have to count the stars and stripes of the flag during the anthem. First the stars, then the red stipes, then the white stripes (and yes it always equals 13). It drives me nutz if I'm at an angle I can't see all the stars for counting..........

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

BTW, my post-game ritual includes my wife telling me what an idiot I am .......

Snaqs, for me you can leave the rest of the sentence off!

[Ignats75]

I try to get in the locker room first so I can have a quiet moment to get focused. I always say a prayer asking for patience and wisdom in adjudicating the game and to protect the officials and players from injury. Then put on the under armour. Then stretch. Then finish getting dressed, make sure the fly is up.... do the pregame...recheck the fly and make sure I have a whistle plus one in my pocket with a needle. Then go have fun.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by Ignats75

I always say a prayer asking for patience and wisdom in adjudicating the game and to protect the officials and players from injury.

I always say a prayer that my partner actually arrives more than 15 minutes before game time.

(Sarcastic? A bit. But unfortunately, not so much.)