Your very best advice for a new ref

[grunewar]

Congrats on starting out at that high a level. I'm in my 3rd yr and still do mostly 7th, 8th, MS and Freshman games. I am getting some JV and V now though.

Along with what's already been said - relax on the court, have fun and enjoy what your doing, always hustle, be confident, know the proper hand/arm signals - practice them and use them correctly, officiate as many games as possible no matter what level (but, avoid mens rec league ), don't listen/hear the players/coaches/fans whining, trust your partner, concentrate on your primary, never throw your partner under the bus, have a thick skin, lurk and learn on this Forum, and very importantly (from a former player/coach) READ THE RULE BOOKS. As players/coaches you only thought you knew the rules..... I'm sure others will chime in with more.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[summdawg76]

Have fun. Learn the signals. You can be a bad official with good mechanics and a good appearance. If you look good, you can get away with more. Be a sponge. Always listen to other officials. Find your own "groove."

Remember, a foul is only a foul. It is not a felony. Good luck.

[Juulie Downs]

Remember first of all that no matter how many years you coached, you probably don't know the rules as well as you think you do. Be humble when talking to other refs about the rules. Listen. If you're sure they're wrong, go look in the books.

Choose one or two things to focus on in a game, and don't worry about rhe rest. I usually try to pick one rule thing, one or two mechanics things like signals, and a thought process to refine, such as watching off ball, or seeing the defense in the block/charge.

Don't forget that you're there for the kids. You decide ahead of time how you're going to serve the kids (give them a great game, firm boundaries, cheerful pleasant demeanor), and what you're not going to do (yell, talk too much, or whatever).

Keep a journal. At the end of the game, write down five things good that you did, five things that definitely need work. And any other notes, such os to look up a certain rule, or ask your commissioner about a certain aspect of the floor or sportsmanship.

As others have said, have fun! You might be in it for the money, or for the exercise, or for the unbelievable status and standing and hero worship that refs get! But it aint worth any of that if it's not fun.

[LDUB]

Originally Posted by Juulie Downs

Don't forget that you're there for the kids. You decide ahead of time how you're going to serve the kids

I wouldn't go around assuming why other people officiate. I know I have never officiated a game for the kids and I have never even heard of someone thinking about how they will "serve the kids".

[just another ref]

Slow down. See the play through. Then, don't be afraid to blow the whistle if you think it might be too late. It isn't.

[Juulie Downs]

Originally Posted by LDUB

I wouldn't go around assuming why other people officiate. I know I have never officiated a game for the kids and I have never even heard of someone thinking about how they will "serve the kids".

I'm not sure what you mean about assuming why other people officiate. I wasn't suggesting it, and I wasn't doing it. I'm just saying that the game is there for the kids to have a growing experience, a learning experience. When you referee to give them the best game you can give, they have the chance to learn more and to grow more. When you're just reffing to get done and get home, no one wins.

[26 Year Gap]

I have always asked the varsity guys if there was something I could work on. Most of the time, they will give you a pointer or two. Observe them in the varsity game so you can see what they were pointing out. Ask if you can sit in for their halftime chat.

Never be a 'yabut'.

[Mark Padgett]

As many of us know, the first rule of officiating is:

"Tuck your whistle in your shirt before you take a leak."