Do you remember the first game you officiated?

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by just another ref

I'm drawing a blank. What were the differences?

Every time a team scored, a disco ball would descend from the ceiling. The players were required to dress like John Travolta. The band had to play "Stayin' Alive" after every dunk. All games were played on Saturday nights.

Oh wait - that was the 70s.

[refguy]

College intramurals to start - we even did some 3-person cluelessly.
1st games certified were at a Freshmen Boys Tourney and I did 6 games in a row. Had a lot of help from a couple of veterans who I worked with that day.

[IowaMike]

First game was a 6th grade boys Saturday league doubleheader. I still see the guy I worked with quite a bit, he also does baseball and has done many of my three older sons high school varsity baseball games. I was nervous and clearly remember only being able to see what was going on in about a three square foot area. Being clueless about equipment, I had purchased a whistle with a pea in it. At the end of the two games, my partner told me that I had done a good job, but I needed to throw my whistle away and buy a Fox 40. Went out and purchased a new whistle the next day.

I worked my first varsity game three years later, a boys game which was a complete bloodbath; I think we called about 45 fouls total. It was at that game that I realized that fans and coaches don't respect varsity officials anymore than they respect junior high officials. We all suck in their minds.