Mid season slump

[Freddy]

Something else that seems to help with focus for a game: the only time I wear contacts is when I officiate. Seems that when I pop those babies in before the game, the whole world takes on a more vivid perspective. That really helps when game time rolls around. Can't read the scorebook without cheaters, but everything else is real crisp and clear.

Not sure if this would apply to others, but it works for me.

(BTW, my aim was to have at least 100 posts by the time my holiday hiatus ends with my next game this Friday night. One more to go. I'm averaging only .275 posts per day since I've joined. By comparison, JugglingReferee averages out to about 2.046 per day since he joined, BillyMac about 2.831. Then again, they have much more to offer than I ever would hope to pass along!)

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Freddy

Something else that seems to help with focus for a game: the only time I wear contacts is when I officiate. Seems that when I pop those babies in before the game, the whole world takes on a more vivid perspective.

I like to throw away my white cane. It reminds me to focus in on using my other senses, the sound of what is probably a player control foul, the smell of a player probably spending too much time in the lane, the taste of my sweat dripping down as I hustle to guess at the correct call, and the touch of the ball as someone hands it to me after I guess correctly on calling an out of bounds violation. Contacts? I don't need no stinkin' contacts.

Best line from friendly, but funny, parent in a game during a time out:
Parent: Do you want me to walk your dog?
BillyMac: What dog?
Parent: Your seeing eye dog that you left in your car.

[refnrev]

I think everyone goes through a midseason slump of some kind. Mine ususally hits towards the end of January. Enjoy the holiday time off and rest up. Get ready to hit the courts with focus and purpose in your first game after the first of the year. I'm in the opposite situation... I was in a groove when the break came up and I didn't pick up any tourneys this year. I have really enjoyed watching from the stands and listening the the stupid comments coming from the people around me. Watching a few games always helps me out!

As for your boundary situation, unlike what Billy Mac said, and our lovely young thing with the raspy voice pointed out, I'm probably not seeing that violation the first time. If it keeps happening, call it, but don't lose sleep over something like that one.

Originally Posted by refnrev

I'm in the opposite situation... I was in a groove when the break came up and I didn't pick up any tourneys this year.

Same here and without working tourney games, the break seems like a huge interupter.

Originally Posted by refnrev

I have really enjoyed watching from the stands and listening the the stupid comments coming from the people around me. Watching a few games always helps me out!

I learn so much by watching, but this is where we differ. Give me a spot on the endline wall. I can't sit that close to those people
Some of the things they say...

[refnrev]

Originally Posted by Ch1town

Same here and without working tourney games, the break seems like a huge interupter.



I learn so much by watching, but this is where we differ. Give me a spot on the endline wall. I can't sit that close to those people
Some of the things they say...

I usually have an overwhelming ability to listen without saying anything or laughing out loud. Saturday I was sitting with some church members. The sister of one of them asked if I didn't referee high school basketball. I replied that I did. She asked how I liked the comments from the people around me. I simply replied, "Well, I've heard a lot, but so far none of them have been right." She didn't ask me anything else the rest of the game.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by refnrev

I usually have an overwhelming ability to listen without saying anything or laughing out loud. Saturday I was sitting with some church members. The sister of one of them asked if I didn't referee high school basketball. I replied that I did. She asked how I liked the comments from the people around me. I simply replied, "Well, I've heard a lot, but so far none of them have been right." She didn't ask me anything else the rest of the game.

This, Reverend, is just beautiful. Truly inspired by the Holy Spirit.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by Ch1town

I learn so much by watching, but this is where we differ. Give me a spot on the endline wall. I can't sit that close to those people Some of the things they say...

I don't go to the endline, but I do remove myself from the general "fan population"! I had to bite my tongue not to engage one parent in conversation last week....it would have been a no win situation.....yeah, like we could have an intelligent conversation about the rules?!

"No ma'am that's not a block. Really, he can move." "No, ma'am, he can really move during a spot throw in." "Yes, ma'am the asst coach can get a technical foul." "Yes ma'am, that is the correct procedure for an intentional foul." Pointless.

[summdawg76]

I had two bad games tonight. (V) Neither game had any flow to them. The girls game was a blowout. THe boys game had multiple blarge's. The fans were riding us. I felt like we made good calls. I guess only 50% of the fans will be happy either way.
How do you guys pick yourself up after a bad game when you have more the next day? I am mentally drained right now. I guess even good officials have games they wish they could do over.

Originally Posted by summdawg76

I had two bad games tonight. The fans were riding us. I felt like we made good calls. I guess only 50% of the fans will be happy either way.

You said you felt like the crew made good calls, so how was it two bd games?
Because of the fans? Who cares!
Because of the play? You can't control the caliber of play.
So it couldn't have been that bad, plus you feel like you made good calls.

Originally Posted by summdawg76

How do you guys pick yourself up after a bad game when you have more the next day?

I treat it the same as when I played ball, get right back out there & shake it off. Looks as though you answered your own question.

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by Ch1town

I can't sit that close to those people
Some of the things they say...

I find the things they say interesting sometimes. You have rule misconceptions, which may be explained in detail, by one "knowledgeable" fan to another less fortunate. You have hopeless tunnel vision. You here the smack of skin and can see the hand print while shouts of "All ball!" echo from the rafters. You have disdain for any authority figure. A free throw shooter is clearly standing on the line, and you hear "I hate it when they call that!" And my personal favorite. After a foul is called on the home team, you hear: "It's about time they called something on them!" Meanwhile, the foul count is prominently displayed on the board for all to see. HOME 7 VISITOR 2

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by refnrev

I think everyone goes through a midseason slump of some kind. Mine usually hits toward the end of January.

Mine is a late season slump, mid to late February, not a good time with teams trying to win conferences, or to get the minimum wins necessary (eight) to make the state tournament. I would think that at my age the slump would be a physical one, my body breaking down after doing three, or four, games a week, since early December, but it's not, it's a mental slump, me losing focus. I thought that this would stop after I retired from coaching middle school basketball, and could just concentrate on officiating, but it hasn't. I guess that I will need to just concentrate more. Any advice, or hints?

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by refnrev

I'm probably not seeing that violation the first time. If it keeps happening, call it.

Are you not seeing it because, without defensive pressure, your not paying close attention to the boundary line, or because you are choosing to ignore the violation? Two different animals.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Freddy

BillyMac about 2.831.

I hope that this is just a random example of a post average, and not an example of a high post average. One of my assigners already tells me that I have way too much time on my hands.

I have to log off now. I don't want to be late for my weekly date with Calleigh Duquesne (Emily Procter) on CSI: Miami.