Do you remember the first game you officiated?
 

Not counting the ones I worked with Dr. Naismith, here's mine. ;)

The park district in the Chicago suburb in which I lived decided to start a rec program for Jr. HS boys. They asked those of us who had umpired park district baseball the previous year if we "knew how to referee basketball". I had worked baseball for all of two years and I told them "Sure, I can work basketball." All I knew about the game was what I had seen on television and in watching my HS games. This was January of my junior year in HS.

My first game was between two 7th grade teams. I was partnered up with another HS kid. The games were played in a gym at city hall, which originally was the old high school building. I remember I had a blue whistle I bought at Woolworth's. The park district gave us some striped shirts and we wore blue Levis and white high top gym shoes. We did the best we could and there really weren't many complaints at all. I do remember calling a shooting foul on a missed shot right before the end of the game when the game was tied and the kid made one of the free throws. Hey - NO OVERTIMES - even then.

BTW - this was 1964.

Yep, November 2001. Intramural game at Langley AFB, VA. Off the opening tip A1 gets a break-away lay-up. After ball is clearly through the basket B1 slaps the backboard. I whistle a T. My vet partner overrules me and waves off the T.

After the game, a buddy of mine who had been officiating about 2-3 years (and is now a D1 official) told me I had made the right call and the vet shouldn't have waved off my T.

Sure Do
 

My first game was a Jr High Game for my hopd high school but I wasn't a certified official at the time and it was just a scrimmage. My first real action was a varsity boys scrimmage followed by a jr high girls game. I remember my first call in that game was GREEN. No signal I just blew the whistle and yelled the color. I settled in after that. 8 years later, I have learned a lot since that first game, finished this year off with a District Championship and a couple state playoff games. I have grown a lot since that first experience. Much to do with great officials like many of you that like to help young bucks like me along. It is very much appreciated.

October 1987. I had graduated high school in June. They played Junior High ball in the fall and I worked with some people who, as it turned out, didn't know what they were doing, either.

I don't remember a lot of the details, but I do remember getting lost on my way to a lot of the rural schools I had to go to. Then I worked JV and Freshman ball in the winter. My first varsity game was in 1990.

Yup. I was 17. There was some political crap going on in my local and as a result, I received zero training. Bottom line: I sucked, and big time. I quit, and didn't try again until years later. Coincidentally enough, when I re-started, there was political stuff going on, and way way deeper too.

Mark, what suburb did you live in?

Chicago Heights. Home of Jerry Colangelo, Bret Saberhagen and Jim Bouton. Oh yeah, and me.

Gotcha. Ever do a game at Rolling Meadows High School?

No way. That's way up on the north side. Probably all Cubs fans. :mad:

Indeed:)

Do I remember??

You never forget your first...

Other than the fact that I was completely and totally awful, the funny thing was my 18 month old son. He was sitting right at the division line with my husband. He'd see me run toward him, and light up with glee, and then as I'd run past he'd start to cry. And then we'd go back the other way and do it all again! Poor kid, he'll probably need counselling for life!

December 1999. I was coaching girls athletics (Basketball and Track) at the High School in a small central Texas town. Another coach (JV Boys BB) came in and said, "hey the officials did not show up for the JH boys game at the JH and they need us to go officiate the 2 games." Off we went in our coaching shorts and t-shirts with our "thunderer" whistles. I was beyond horrible . . . in fact, horrible was in the stands and kept yelling, "YOU SUCK!" :D

I called that one time that year, didn't call again until the next season, but I was hooked. That was 10 years and about 2200 games ago. :eek:

Can't imagine not doing it now. It becomes a part of you . . .

June 2007 was the first time I was on the court. It was a clinic/camp for our association, and it was 3-whistle. I was so clueless it's hilarious now. Had a metal whistle with the pea in it with a white lanyard that I tied to the loop on my shirt to make it look like a Smitty lanyard. I don't remember what I called or didn't call, but I'm sure I looked terrible.

First real game was a JH girls game in Septemer of that year. I wasn't much better than in June. I thought I really improved throughout the season though and was leaps and bounds above where I was at the start of the year. Now after my second year it feels like June of 2007 was forever ago.

I worked a 5th and 6th grade girls game in September of 1996. I was so bad it was not funny. I could not get my hand up. I just blew my whistle for no real reason. I did not know how to report fouls. It was just awful. But it was a lot of fun and that is why I am here today. ;)

Peace

Fond memories
 

I sure do. August 1986, just after my 12th birthday. Did a 2 hour referees course with my Dad. He and I did our first game together that week, an Under 19s boys game. One player gave me a bit of a hard time, mainly based on my age (and I was skinny and wore glasses). He picked up two Ts, both from me, got ejected and then copped crap from his team mates and the opposition about being booted by a kid :D I immediately got a rep as a bit of a hardarse that wouldn't take any rubbish

I know that my old man really loved refereeing with me, at the time I didn't see what the big deal was - but it sure is something I miss now!

Jan, 2004. 9/10 yr old boys Rec League. After calling the second time out of the half, my partner asked me, "Why do you keep T'ing up the coach?" Me = :confused:

He then explained the proper hand and arm signals to me....duh!

I remember my second game too as it was on that same morning, same league, and the coach came in reeking of booze. I could barely stand near him it was so pungent. I reported him to the league! Jerk!!

PS - I reffed that former coaches son this yr and the former coach always comes up to me and shakes my hand. I don't know if he remembers me or knows I reported him, but I remember him. Once this yr, middle of the afternoon, after making a scene in the gym and storming out of the game preceding mine, he came up to talk to me......and smelled like booze. Sad for his kid(s) and the community. Jerk! (oh, I already said that).

Oh I remember. It was a rec game, forget the level, on Sunday afternoon, and my partner didn't want to be there. Both teams were there early and my partner wanted to get going right now. One of the coaches insisted on a warm up, so my partner left!

So there I was, panicked about the prospect of working my first game by myself. Fortunately, the venue had another gym, and one of the refs scheduled to work down there came over and worked with me.

First game...2nd & 3rd grade girls City Rec League game. (1989)

First HS game (1990)...JV Girls (BCC @ Racine Lutheran) game...the other official who had been working forever (and is still working) told me that my main job was to make sure the varstiy game started on time...Var start at 730pm. He goes out and calls 63 fouls by himself...I called 17 (80 Total Fouls) the announcer was keeping track. The game goes overtime and Var game started at 845pm, the varsity officials were not happy. I remember one of the varsity officials had a belt buckle about the size of a coffee cup saucer...funny stuff.

No.

First game ever was a parks & rec game with 8-9 year olds that my wife talked me into doing with her. I remember that I wore black sweat pants, a collared striped shirt, and big metal framed glasses. My wife laughs at me to this day, saying that she doesn't remember me blowing the whistle at all. I just remember being very nervous - trying not to make a mistake and prove to everyone I didn't have a clue (which I didn't).

I continued to do games at that level for the rest of the season, giving my first technical foul to a coach who's son got a foul call for using his arm to push off his defender while he was dribbling the ball. He told his son I didn't know what I was talking about, and to just keep doing it.

My first high school game was a jv girls game at a school very close to my house. I was just as nervous as the first game mentioned above, but had a little more rules knowledge. I don't remember much about the game except the play seemed extremely fast and I struggled to keep up with it.

My first partner at that game was great! He always smiled and very gently guided me in the right direction. I'm sure he covered quit a few of my mistakes. I will always be appreciative for that and vowed to remember to treat new officials the same way he did me.:)

Mark:

To be completely honest, I do not remember my first game except that it was a boys' Jr. H.S. doubleheader during the 1971-72 season at the H.S. from which I graduated in 1969.

MTD, Sr.

P.S. But I do remember Mark, Jr.'s first games because I officiated the games with him: Thursday, December 13, 2007. It was a girls' 7th grade/8th grade doubleheader in the Midland Athletic League at North Baltimore (Ohio) Jr. H.S. (the home team) vs. Bascom (Ohio) Hopewell-Loudon Jr. H.S. He had to carry me in these two games and he has been carrying his old man ever since, :D.

Mark (snr and jnr) I hope you both realize how lucky you are. Basketball was a huge part of my father's life and being able to referee together really brought us a lot closer. Enjoy every game together, I hope there are many, many more!

My first ever game was January 1984. I was a freshman at Indiana University and was working intramural basketball there. At that time, I believe intramural officials were paid $5.00/hour (minimum wage was $3.35 then). Each game lasted about 50 minutes and we worked 3 game sets per night.

I don't remember alot about the game other than it was between two residence hall teams. The thing that ranjo did make me think of was the uniform. We wore a striped shirt with a collar and blue jeans!

Of course I remember my first game. 1998, girls jv game. I worked with my Dad, I had no clue what to do. I am just glad my Dad pulled us through. I learned a lot that first year. Really took a while to get the signals and mechanics down. It's hard telling what I called, or didn't call. I just remember knowing after the game that it was a huge difference from watching a game in the crowd and actually being out there calling the game. From that 1st year I have grown to really enjoy officiating and that is why I still love to work games.

I remember mine. I was a junior in high school, and my history teacher who was also the basketball coach asked what I was doing after school. I said, dunno. He said, no, you're reffing a basketball game. I had to look at him like he was an ucking fidiot. He hands me this long sleeved striped shirt he keeps in his locker, and a whistle, and said to go over to the parochial school K-8 in my hometown (just 700 people and they all know me!) and help a senior boy from my HS with a boy-girl JH doubleheader. Coach said I would get $20 for all my troubles.

I thought well, can't be that bad. I get there. The school is a Lutheran school, and they were scheduled to play a Catholic school from another town. The thing I remember about the games, the first was the girls game, and I T'd up the coach from the visiting team after she said "where the hell did they get you? You suck!" You couldn't imagine how many people were giggling (most of them were my newspaper customers) when I T'd her up and she had this look on her face like she couldn't believe I just did that.

Add one more giggler here, as I think that's funny. :)

I remember both my first scrimmage and my first actual game. My first scrimmage was a BV involving 2 pretty good teams. 2 other guys started the scrimmage and then the supervising official sent me and another guy in after a few minutes. We had gone up and down the court a few times and I was petrified but hadn't made any calls. Then, I was lead and this Dallas South Oak Cliff player drives the lane and runs right over his opponent. I blew my whistle, hand in the air, then pointed at the offensive player (now on the ground) and put my hand behind my head for a PC. Not the smoothest mechanics ever but it was technically correct. Anyway, I'm reporting the foul and the coach of SOC steps out and says, "Young man, you can't be making calls like that!" I said, "coach, he ran right over him" and then went on. After I "subbed" out, the supervising official asked me about that call. Now worried that I had made a mistake, I stood my ground: "I thought it was the right call." He said, "so did I! But don't wait too long expecting the SOC coach to agree with you."

My first game went over pretty much without incident. My partner kept telling me to blow my whistle louder so the next day, I went and bought a Fox 40.

to remember that far back I would need some of Marks meds.:rolleyes:

I forgot to mention that I received $1.25 for working the game. That was good money for a kid back then, since my part time job working at a local hamburger joint paid $1.00 an hour. I had a friend who worked as an usher at a local theater and he got 85 cents an hour.

I think that after they took taxes out, I was left with something like $1.15. In those days, that bought 23 candy bars.

November, 1989. Men's rec league. The HS assignor was a contractor who sponsored one of the teams that was playing. I was working with a long-time vet who told me "Don't take any sh!t from any of these guys". OK...called my first T 4 minutes into the game on a player who punted the ball to the other end of the court. Called my second T about two seconds later when the same player told me that the first T was "bullsh!t". My partner called the third T during the first free throw as the same player was standing at the door screaming at us...game over. My first game went about 4 and-a-half minutes!

The HS assignor came down out of the stands and walked up to me and told me to be sure to answer my phone when he called later that night! When he called, he gave me 4 JV boys games for the following week!:o

I was a sophomore in high school, me and one of my friends signed up to do 3rd grade YMCA games. We had no clue what we were doing, all we knew is we had watched & played tons of basketball so we figured it couldn't be that hard to ref (I had been umpiring baseball for 3 years by this time.)

It was pretty much a disaster, I don't know how many double whistles we had. I would call a foul and he would think it was a clean black or vice versa. We had no clue who was supposed to be looking where. I think we both just watched the ball the entire game.

Later in the year we actually had to break up a fight...in the stands. One dad started choking another dad yelling, "your kid is killing my kid!!!" Needless to say they were both removed from the gym.

I didn't referee basketball again until 1997 or 1998 and have done so ever since.

South O-Cliff? That is/was a pretty rough part of Dallas. Isn't that where Dennis Rodman grew up?

Bob...you are still a young man...is your memory going already?

Mark, how was Dr. Naismith as a coach? Was he hard you guys back then?

I didn't play for him. I was his assistant coach. I came up with the idea of naming all set plays after successful basketball programs. Unfortunately, all our plays had the same name, "Springfield Y".

Holy cow, a new joke? So the world ends tomorrow....?

I don't know about where he grew up, but he went to school there. The scrimmage wasn't at SOC. They were the visiting team. I've never actually been to SOC, though I've probably been to just about every other Dallas HS.

Yup. :eek:



http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m4FI1xplsa...20/Pigs%2BFly.

1973-74 season I don't remember exactly the first game but I remember a series of games at the school where I had previously coached, Elmwood JHS, Cygnet, OH.

Of course I was bad, but I felt that I had the temperament for officiating. I made some mistakes in scheduling early on. In order to get games, a guy and I took an entire freshman schedule at my old HS, Perrysburg, OH. BIG mistake. We saw them so much that we knew who was going to do what violation, etc. They, I am sure got sick of us and we of them.

I got good training. We had to attend 5 rules interp. mtgs. in Toledo each season and there were a lot of good officials there. And they helped a lot when we went out and did JV games and the varsity officials mentored us.

Two years later I got my first varsity game in Lima, OH and after the game I realized that I wasn't ready. Good thing to know.

This past weekend I did 19 games in an adult tournament here and they were all 20 min. halves. I thank the Lord that I still am physically capable of doing this. (Mentally is a different story.) 3-man crew definitely extends a career.

We both had too much to drink that night...............oops wrong thread.

My first patched game was at Bill Murray's old grammar school. 6th grade boys, I was terrible, yet knew how to fake it from watching so many games.

Actually, my first game, many many years earlier was at my grammar school when I was a sophomore in high school. I had no idea what I was doing and got two bucks for the effort. Today, if a school trotted out two unpatched newbies out of uniform, they'd be arrested.

Were the meetings held in MTD's attic?

Can't remember who or where, but my shirt had a collar, my whistle was metal with a rubber mouth guard and a pea and the only call I made was OOB.

I remember going to meetings in Og's cave.

Where well-flamed dinosaur meat was served? I heard of that restaurant chain of caves. ;)

They're still in business. The special is mammoth nuggets. You can only imagine what those are like.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/22/28...6508d3.jpg?v=0

Wait, what?
 

You called a T 5 seconds into your first game?
I couldn't bring myself to call one for about 20 games.
I am impressed!

I had one in probably my third game; middle school boys. Player decided he was frustrated enough to throw the ball against the wall after they gave up a basket.

Yeah, but it didn't count since my partner "over-ruled" me. :rolleyes:

I don't remember when/what/where my first official "T" was in my career.

What do you call two bicycles welded together? Siamese Schwinns.
 

Finally.................I have to wade through a plethora of your bad material for a decent pun. It was worth the wait!

Got a call from an AD at a school 45 minutes from my home. I had no idea how he got my name. The local ADs didn't even know me. He said, "I need someone," and I said, "I have no experience." This was probably a 9/jv girls doubleheader. Got to the school and met my partner for the night. 'How many times have you reffed?' I told him none. So he was good enough to give me some pointers and basics and I was smart enough to listen to him. Girls had enough rule differences back then that it really helped to know your stuff, whereas now the differences are few and far between. Look up the word clueless in the dictionary and you'd find my picture next to it. But we got through it. I didn't mess up my partner too much and almost 20 years later I'm still the most 'clueless' person in the gym, according to the coaches and fans. At least I've been consistent over the years.

Give yourself a pat on the back, because consistency is a very important quality of an official! :D

I don't remember my very first game, but my first high school game was a JV game that I got last minute as a fill-in.

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.

http://entimg.msn.com/i/filmfashion/...er_300x298.jpg

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.

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.:D

One of the high schools, I think it was Witmer.

hmm i guess il contribute... my first time was when i was a freshman in hs, i was refn a 7 and 8th grade rec. league game for my former middle school coach [because at that moment i was a hs kid =)]

i dont remember much after that, but 5 years later im doing Varsity boys and girls 2-whistle games for the local hs association. [hopefully i crack the 3-whistle list this summer]

Wow! Have you seen a doctor? :eek:

Move south a couple hundred miles and you'll be doing D1 ball sooner than you think.

It was about 10 years ago
 

I started officating in a local rec league, for 3 and 4 graders when I was 14 years old. Don't exactly remember the first game, but knew I was really nervous for the fact that I was asked to step in because the one official didn't show up. Went off find, I did it a few more times that year and had fun doing it. You know you find something when your a senior in high school and your job consist of working rec games and have a boss that has confidence in you to allow you to do a league where you are officiating your own peers from high school and other high schools in a rec league. It was a fun time and I learned a lot, and it has lead me to actually running their summer league and being in charge of getting officials and handling situations that come up within the league.

My partner was late for my very first game. Nothing like doing your first game without a partner! I called the guy who suggested I ref and he came to help me out. Fortunately, he lived close to where I was. Since I lived in Glendale AZ at the time I could have been so far away that I would have just had to suffer through it.