Practical Advice

[Brad]

Originally Posted by BLS

Have a needle with you for pregame in case you need to let air out of the game ball.

I have never done this in 13 years and have never felt the need to.

Originally Posted by BLS

Tuck your whistle in your shirt when not on the court - keeps people from grabbing you by the lanyard, and ensures that your whistle doesn't get splatter when standing at the urinal.

No one is going to grab you by your lanyard. Maybe on the urinal thing, but I have my whistle in my pocket at that point.

Originally Posted by BLS

Wear black compression shorts under your pants in so it won't be so obvious if your pants rip.

OK - this is a good one.

Originally Posted by BLS

What are some other "good to keep in mind" things?

- Listen more than you talk

- Realize that you are not as good as you think you are

- KNOW the rules

- Go with your first instinct and you'll probably be right -- blow the whistle!

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Brad

I have never done this in 13 years and have never felt the need to.

No one is going to grab you by your lanyard. Maybe on the urinal thing, but I have my whistle in my pocket at that point.

Regarding the needle, I do carry one in my jacket pocket and have used it.

Agreed on the lanyard.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Regarding the needle, I do carry one in my jacket pocket and have used it.

Agreed on the lanyard.

My partner for years has given me grief for not carrying a needle. If we need air out of the game ball, I just throw it across the court to him while I continue with the book, scorers, timer, etc.

If I'm working with someone else, I just get a different basketball.

[bob jenkins]

Put an extra uniform in your car / bag. Someday you (or your partner) will forget something and be glad you have the back-up.

Carry a small first aid kit and a sewing kit

Even if you don't need to, pee before the game and at half-time.

Say "please" and "thank-you" to the event staff and table.

Know more than one way to get to the game site. Be early enough so that if you're late, you're on time.

Pick three things to work on. Work on them in every game. When you've got one (or more) down, remove it from the list and add another. You can't fix everything at once.

Just because you see a varsity official "doing something wrong" doesn't mean that you shouldn't try to "do it correctly."

[chartrusepengui]

when wear and tear begin to creep up on you, or days with multiple games, or you have a bad knee, ankle ..... it's always nice to have some ibuprofen in the bag. I have a bad knee and find that if I take an ibuprofen before going out on the court that I have far less problems then if I take it after the game or have to wait until I get home.

[JS 20]

Carry your rulebook and casebook with you. If something odd happens you're not sure about, you can look it up at halftime or after the game.

If you think there's a chance someone's going to grab your lanyard when you leave the court, take it off and put it in your pocket. If you tuck it in your shirt, someone could still grab it.

Definitely carry two of everything as someone else said, including whistles and lanyards.

I always make sure I have my partner(s)' cell number in my phone when I go to the game in case they're running late and I need to find out where they are.

Keep things like shampoo, shoe polish, etc in a diff part of your bag where it can't get on your uni if the bottle explodes.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

If I'm working with someone else, I just get a different basketball.

THIS. Seriously.

[Illini_Ref]

Get the cell numbers of the ADs of the schools you will be working. If you have a problem enroute you usually will never get an answer on the school phone. Having that cell number can be vitally important to let the school know you are going to be late or a no-show.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by Brad

I have never done this in 13 years and have never felt the need to.


No one is going to grab you by your lanyard. Maybe on the urinal thing, but I have my whistle in my pocket at that point.


OK - this is a good one.


- Listen more than you talk

- Realize that you are not as good as you think you are

- KNOW the rules

- Go with your first instinct and you'll probably be right -- blow the whistle!

This is the same thing I was thinking.