Your very best advice for a new ref

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by Coltdoggs

8+ years and I mainly stay at the Jr High level...it's where my heart and interest lies. I've done some summer HS ball but nothing official on Friday nights.

I don't want to hijack the thread, but I don't understand what this has to do with the question. It is almost as if you are trying to justify why you don't do a higher level - something I don't think you need to do. The only thing I would question is this: does your area need you at a higher level? Your contribution to the game might be better served at the HS level. Either way, I'm curious as to why you would include that in your answer.

Back to the topic.

Thank you for stepping out and doing something the game of basketball needs but many will not do. There are so many things that will make up your experience as an official: your drive, your natural ability, opportunity, mentors, etc. I don't care if it is rec ball or not, you need to see plays. You can get on the fast track to almost every aspect of officiating except seeing and calling plays.

[referee99]

I'm assuming you are relatively new to this site as well.

If true, explore the 'search' function. It is fantastic!

No matter what situation you encounter on the court, it has been discussed, disected, and broken down to the nth degree many times in the past.

Its a treasure trove for new officials (and old)!!

[refnrev]

My best advice, in no particular order:
1. Have fun.
2. Learn from everyone you work with.... good and bad.
3. Don't take yourself too seriously... especially when you and everyone else in the gym knows you just kicked it.
4. Develop very bad but very selective hearing.
5. Buy good shoes.
6. Ask a lot of questions when you're with good refs.
7. Say thank you when you get bad advice from bad refs and let it go.
8. Remember that it takes about 3 years to really start getting pretty good.
9. Use a FOX 40... preferablly a CMG.
10. Know the rules. All of those goofy things you know will never happen in one of your games.... they'll happen.
11. If you look and act professional, people will treat you that way, and vice versa.

[Freddy]

POSSIBLE HOW TO's . . .
1. Apply now to attend a summer officiating camp where you can get immersed intensely in 3 man mechanics over the course of a weekend. Then work on what you will have learned there in the subsequent season. Then go again the next year.
2. Volunteer your participation for as many pre-season frosh, jv, and varsity scrimmages as your area offers where they might be workshopping 3 man mechanics in preparation for the season to come. Even if there's no pay, the value you derive may be worth it.
3. Don't watch NCAA or NBA on television with the intent of picking up tips on 3 man mechanics. The differences between those and the Fed mechanics are enough to really screw you up. Especially NBA. Plus the partial glimpse of only one or two officials on the tube doesn't really contribute to an awareness and appreciation of the flow of all three together. Rather. . .
4. Go to games on your off nights and observe 3 man crews in action. Have your NFHS Officials' Manual with you. Take actual notes and review them at home. Ask your assignor where some really good officials are scheduled and learn from them.

Just some misc. ideas. I'm confident others will have more valuable suggestions for you.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by refnrev

My best advice, in no particular order:
9. Use a FOX 40... preferablly a CMG.

I love the list but this. I cannot stand those damn whistles.

Peace

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I love the list but this. I cannot stand those damn whistles.

Peace

You don't like Fox40s?

[cubsfanllw]

know the rules and understand them as well as you can and how to apply them. knowing why you called something and the proper terminology (i.e. legal guarding position) is often the best way to defuse a volatile situation.

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by MelbRef

What's your best advice for a rookie ref at this level?

Same advice for any level: control what you can control, and don't worry about the rest.

Applied to your level, what can you control?

1) Your appearance. Get the correct equipment. Good shoes, beltless pants, Fox40 whistle, V-neck shirt. Press the pants, shine the shoes. Look good. Stand straight. Don't wear jewelry (except a wedding band, which is acceptable almost everywhere). Get rid of a funky hairstyle, if you have one. (Facial hair too, depending on the expectations of your assignor(s) ). First impressions are important; make a good one when you step on the court.

2) Your rules knowledge. You control how much you study the rule and case books. Know them inside and out. When you have questions, this is a great place to come and get them answered (or at least, argued about ). When a coach complains, it's great to be able to start your answer with, "Coach, by rule. . ."

3) Your mechanics. Look over the signal chart in your rule book. Practice them -- in front of a mirror. Watch yourself to see if your arm is straight. Put your signals out in front of you and at least chest high; mine are actually pretty much even with my face-level.

Once you have these things, you can see lots of plays and file them away for later. (But again, you don't have control over that.) Good luck, have a great season.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I love the list but this. I cannot stand those damn whistles.

Peace

I think we should switch to air horns. Can you imagine how cool that would be!

[jeffpea]

1) blow the whistle! blow it LOUD (too many new guys seem to think it's a lollipop) and blow if often (99.9% of HS games don't have enough fouls called - usually because the officials want to get the game over with quickly).

2) watch & listen. it's the only way to learn how to get better.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by 26 Year Gap

You don't like Fox40s?

No, he just uses no whistle...two fingers between the teeth...never forgets it.

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by jeffpea

(99.9% of HS games don't have enough fouls called - usually because the officials want to get the game over with quickly).

I'm torn between a sarcastic "I'd like to see the research on that one "

and the more straight-forward:

"Screw you and the high horse you rode in on."

[WestfordRef]

Much good advice here. I would add 2 things I was told my first year to work on, that is 1) learn to referee the defense, and 2) move to improve.

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by WestfordRef

1) learn to referee the defense, and 2) move to improve.

These are great pieces of advice, if explained. Most of the time, in my experience, they're thrown out as if you should immediately understand what it means.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by jeffpea

1) 99.9% of HS games don't have enough fouls called - usually because the officials want to get the game over with quickly

So...what team do you coach?