Your very best advice for a new ref
 

OK, here's your chance to influence a rookie official.

I'm a 1st year basketball official, doing 9th grade and JV games (boys and girls). Longtime youth basketball coach, so I understand the game pretty well. Have officiated some rec games in the past.

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

Fire away...

Best advice I can give for someone who is just starting out, is try to do your best at all times. When a Varsity official offers some pointers take them and see if you can use them in your game. When ever you get the possibility to watch a varsity game after you finish your JV game try to. You will get to see them work the games and see how they do it. My final two peices of advices I can give you is try to find a mentor some chapters offer a chance for veteran officials to work with younger or officials who are just breaking into the game, and finally,if possible during the summer try to go to a camp. Those are great oppurtunities to get to have people see how you work a game and will allow you to get great instructions.

I hope this information was vital to you; it has helped ever since I started working basketball 5 years ago.

First and foremost.... HAVE FUN!

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.

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. :D Good luck.

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.

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".

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.

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.

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'.

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

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

I'd find out when some of the highhly regarded referees in your association are calling and go watch them from the table. Watch how they work the game and communicate. There are lots of things not in the rule books you can pick up that will help your game get better.

I'd find out when some of the highhly regarded referees in your association are calling and go watch them from the table. Watch how they work the game and communicate. There are lots of things not in the rule books you can pick up that will help your game get better.
__________________
If it's a foul on that end, IT'S GOTTA BE A FOUL ON THIS END!!!!!

"It will be in the 2nd half, coach."

Welcome to the game!

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.

Know your nerves are a good thing...it means you care about doing a good job.

Talk to yourself on the court, give yourself a play by play as you are watching...this can help you a great deal. As you cross halfcourt, remind yourself "White this way or blue this way"...

Focus on one thing to improve on each game...be it getting your arm up straight on calls, perfeciting your 5 and 10 second chop to actually be 5 and 10 seconds.

Have fun...it's just a game...

Having yourself videoed is also a valuable tool for improving. U can see yourself in all your glory or just the opposite. Take in all the pointers u can, even though it may not come accros in the best way. Never let others take away the enjoyment u get from calling the game. I'm all about having a good time while doing the best job I can. Good luck

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.

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)!!

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.

3 Man Mechanics at Camp
 

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.

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

Peace

You don't like Fox40s? ;)

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

and the more straight-forward:

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

Best Advice...
 

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.

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.

So...what team do you coach? :mad:

So what do you like?

I don':confused:t think my smitty would hold it, though!

5 things
 

1. Work on 1 (maybe 2) aspects of the game, every game; try to get better at these.
2. Lose your ego; be willing to learn from those better or more experienced than you.
3. Go to as many camps as you can.
4. If you can't work, then watch.
5. Come to this site, ask questions, read and learn.

IMHO

The regular Fox 40. ;)

Peace

If you dont know, don't blow.....if you can see the ball dont make the call. Work hard in your primary and know the rules and how to properly ajudicate them!!!! As others have said, watch plenty of tape and go to camp.

Those are very good. Got a bunch of those.... but not nearly as many as Tjones1!;)

I think it's the opposite. It's easy to call contact. It's harder to make the right decision on whether or not we had a foul.

90% of the JV games I watch before my varsity game have too many fouls, sometimes by a third or half over what I think should be called.

But are they called both ways? :rolleyes: