New to Board/Officiating

[SAK]

You have to be an odd type of person to be a referee. You have to understand what it means to be loved and hated at the same time sometimes by the same person. (I actually find it to be a very strange feeling.) Understand that you are an integral part of the game, however it is best to not be noticed. Evaluate what occurs and apply the rules.

Playing experience will help you if you are able to anticipate the play. However, you don't want to anticipate the foul; we have all done that.

A successful referee can mean different things to different people. To some it may mean the ability to go out and have fun on a constant basis and use the game to stay connected as well as in shape. Others don't feel that they are successful until they get a full varsity schedule, and still others may not feel successful even at the higher levels of college basketball as they have their eyes set on professional ball. So I hope that you are successful but take it one step at a time.

As officials we spend a considerable amount of time and money working on our craft. It would be nice if we could make it a full time job but for the vast majority of us this will not happen. Different officials come to the game from different walks of life.

Having said all this, hopefully you will enjoy the class but remember that learning the art of officiating cannot be done in a classroom. While you maybe given tools the art and craft is done on the court with 10 players. Take it one step at a time and good luck.