new offical

[RGVOfficial]

Will be trying basketball officiating this year and i am nervous. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[Mark Padgett]

One word - meds.

[Adam]

1. Welcome to the club.
2. Padgett is best read with medication already ingested.
3. Tuck your whistle when using the facilities.
4. Work as many games as you can handle.
5. Ask questions in here, participate in discussions, and offer your opinion with the understanding that you'll get corrected if you're wrong.

If you relocate to SoCal three years from today you will be looking over a DI schedule. j/k

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Ch1town

If you relocate to SoCal three years from today you will be looking over a DI schedule. j/k

Yeah, but he'd have to travel to the, wait for it, SEC.

[BillyMac]

Study, and learn, the rules.
Study the casebook, it's just as important as the rulebook.
Study the manual.
Join an association, or a board.
Get a mentor.
Work as many games as possible, no matter what the level.
When you're not working a game, go to games and observe veteran officials.
Ask your partners, or other officials who have observed you, for constructive criticism.
Attend clinics, and camps.
Continue to participate in forums like this, and others.

[vbzebra]

Breathe

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Yeah, but he'd have to travel to the, wait for it, SEC.

Been a while. Glad you dusted that off.

[Mark Padgett]

Lots of times, a coach will ask you before a game, "How you doing?" or "How are you tonight?" My answer is usually, "I'm cranky". It really works. Try it.

[dsturdy5]

1. Work, work, work. Do not say no to an assignor unless it is absolutely necessary. If you do, sound greatful for the opportunity and leave the door open for future games.

2. Talk to as many experienced officials as you can. Take in everything they say. Over time you will be able to discriminate between the usefull and useless advice.

3. Practice your mechanics in front of a mirror.

4. Study and after you are comfortable with "everything" then let your friends and family who know the game ask you questions, "What if..." They will come up with some doozies and most of them will be in the case book. It will help you to realize what you need to focus on...also what a weird game this can be!

5. If you can, video tape yourself working. Watch it to see what you did well and what you need to improve on.

6. Pick one thing per game/assignment to work on. Do not try to perfect everything all at once. It will be too overwhelming.

[MikeK27]

Last season was my first year and this forum was a very valuable resource. You can learn a lot and get a good dose of humor here too. The forum search button is also a good place to check for answers too.

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by MikeK27

Last season was my first year and this forum was a very valuable resource. You can learn a lot and get a good dose of humor here too. The forum search button is also a good place to check for answers too.

Same for me...last year was my first. The guys and gals on this board were an invaluable help to my development.
Never be afraid to ask these experienced officials a question (no matter how dumb or nieve it might seem to you)....you'll find your answers here. You've already received some great advice to the question you asked in your post.
You'll learn just from reading other posts and the replies.
Two things I can tell you with certainty...(1) you'll never get "flammed" or embarassed by any of the long time veteran posters on this board. (2) you'll be a better official by the end of your first season spending time here and learning from a great group of officials and following their advice.
KJump

[dsqrddgd909]

Welcome fellow newbie.

This place is great. Lots of good advice. There are a number of threads on advice/tips/hints that can be found using search.

1. Work as many games as you can. Pick one or two things to work on. Any more than that and it's a muddle.
2. Get your hand up every time you blow the whistle. It's surprising how hard it is to remember that.
3. Know and practice your signals.
4. Find a good assignor/mentor/evaluator. Invaluable. I was horrible to start. Now I'm just bad (lots of improvement in two months.)
5. Get in the right places on the floor and call the obvious.
6. Make eye contact with your partner at every dead ball. Come together during time outs at the ends of games.
7. Hustle.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by dsqrddgd909

7. Hustle.

Don't tell him that. It sets a bad example!

[mutantducky]

if you move your arms fast it will look like you are running fast when you can actually just stroll down the court shooting the breeze with the colorful set of characters known as fans. Remember it is all about the illusion. Some of those 90 year old refs in the NBA have been dead for years but they still get the job done.