What do you do to get ready for the season?
 

One of the local rec leagues in Beaverton starts play this coming weekend. The ref and game schedules will be posted on the facilities website on Thursday evening. I expect to get two or three games on Saturday and the same on Sunday (maybe even four each day).

I've started my usual preparation for the beginning of the season. I've refilled all my meds, soaked my feet in ice water and am practicing calling T's on the neighbors. I actually called a flagrant on one guy and tossed him out of the neighborhood for not cleaning up after his dog.

Is there anything specific you guys do that you'd like to share?

I cut down on my running schedule. Now you'll all realize that I'm as crazy as Mark (no offense Mark). I run marathons in my "free-time" and I cut back my weekly mileage during basketball season so I'm not as susceptible to injuries. Friday was my last long run until Feb/March, I ran 20 miles and felt pretty good about it. Now I'll cut down to about three-quarters of the miles per week.

Other than that, I start to watch some tapes from last spring and this summer's camps to set goals for myself. Of course, brushing up on the rules is in there as well.

-Josh

I work out all year long, 5-6 days a week. I will cut back once scrimmages start. And no pick-up basketball once the season starts.

What a coincidence! I watch "Law And Order" marathons on cable in my "free time"! :)

Great minds think alike Mark, great minds think alike :p

-Josh

Pray... :)

Great stuff guys! In addition to those gems, I make it a point to start using HS mechanics/signals right about Oct. no matter what level I'm working.
I go year round so after March I'm tossing the ol' stop the clock & point on OOB calls. Why can't we just point :(
Gotta get rid of the hit to the head, the forearm chuck, loose ball & all of those great signals as well.

It must be a challenge to go back & forth on a nightly basis for you NCAA officials... as far as coverages, floor mechanics & signals go. Thoughts are highly encouraged.

And I definitely cut back! I just successfully completed 8 games today (mix of varsity - 8th b&g) & 4 youth fball games yesterday. I say successfully because it seems as though every year I get less & less pushback when I do the off-season ball, particularly youth. A few years ago there was no way I'm doing 8 bball games in a day without being approached by a fanatic AFTER the game that poor Johnny lost by 57 &/or having to sit multiple coaches down for the day. 1 T on a player today & it called itself...
I don't know if it's their familiarity with me or my court presence (due to camps & opportunities to work a higher level of ball in the summer) but I LIKE IT! I used to judge my improvement soley upon me getting picked up or not, but by stepping down in skill level, I can honestly see a change in my game... well at least the GM part of the game. Had a pretty decent & experienced partner, you've met him, mostly wreck/youth stuff, no varsity, no camps, no desire to excel or advance, just a check collector, but I just focused on consistently being strong & vocal on my stuff and having the attitude of what I do speaks so loud that I cannot hear YOU. Not a bad weekend :D


Note: YOU meaning fans, coaches, parent/table assitants NOT my partner.

Panic. Starting yesterday.

It may not seem like a lot, but a guy's gotta have a regular ritual to properly and consistently prepare year after year. ;)

And oh yeah, I cut back on the alcohol consumption. Try to limit it to Sunday afternoon NFL viewing in a sports bar every other week and the occasional night out with my lady.

The first thing I do is run my class that starts to night for newer officials.

The second thing is we have a group meeting of individuals to go over the test. I am usually the person that finds all the references and gives the explanations for the rules (before) during this meeting.

Then several of our associations start meetings in the next week or so. I am the President of one of those organizations so I have to run the meetings.

This year I am looking for a personal trainer to get me do some extra basketball conditioning stuff. I work out already, but I am looking to take this to another level. I have several trainers in my church and I am waiting for the right time to meet with at least one of them to get this started. I am already in good shape with football that I have been doing for the last 5 weeks (but I was doing stuff several weeks before the season started there too).

Peace

I like to check all my uniforms to make sure they all fit and are serviceable. When the season gets here, it's too late to decide the pants don't fit too well or the sneakers are about to go........ :eek:

Ooh, good reminder. I think I'll go do that now.

And while you're at it, don't forget to panic that some of the supply places might already be out of your size...

Just trying to help. :D

I basically start getting back into the Basketball mode. I start light conditioning during the week and watch film. I also go over last years tests and prepare for the upcoming test.

I basically start getting back into the Basketball mode. I start light conditioning during the week and watch film. I also go over last years tests and prepare for the upcoming test.

So do I.

So do I.

Gotta love this one!

But yea, I've actually picked up my running a little bit before the season, until the scrimmages start. Then once they start, cut down a little. That way I know I will have the endurance to work fast-pace games.

On top of that, I review the rules once a week. Week 1 - Rule 1; Week 2 - Rule 2; and so one...I also attempt to answer the NHFS questions that I found on here as well as past tests to see how I do.

I work on my mechanics daily in front of the mirror; going over foul calling, the visible count, etc.

Actually eating right...eating a pretty balanced meal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Going to the local board meetings; meeting the new officials, asking questions, picking up games, etc.

So yea, I think that covers about what I do.

-Lucas

RCBSports if your play-calling is as great as your preparation, it sounds like you have a bright future ahead of yourself!

Getting a young start, with experience & probably more groomed than the participants will be expecting. That's a good thing :)

You've already been to camp as well?

Best wishes to you!!

Preparing for the season
 

Doing this for about 6 years now and my preparation has changed each year due to picking up different things that have worked for me. This year I have gone back to a routine I had when I started out when I was 18, I started to work out and run. I tried to run at least three days a week for about a mile to a mile and half.

Also I read up on the rule book go over the new changes for this upcoming year espcially the new college rule changes, since this is my first year doing college. Another thing I do to prepare is review tape and try to get together with some of my fellow officials and just talk about things that have occurred in the past along with just rule interpretation.

Another thing I do is make sure I start getting regular sleep, trust in the past it hurt and caught up with me.:)

Just some things I do to get prepared along with spending a lot of time with my girlfriend because she knows come November I have a busy schedule.

JB

I don't get ready for the season.

The season gets ready for me.

You sir, are no Chuck Norris.

Maybe he's Jack Bauer! :D

They tried to make a Chuck Norris toilet paper, but it wouldn't take sh!t from anybody.

Go to google. Type in "Find Chuck Norris". Then click "I'm Feeling Lucky"

Thanks Camron I needed a laugh......even the computer geeks have a sense of humor (and I can call em that because I R one - nuf sed).

I've seen that. I couldn't think of a good way to post it as a response to Snaq.

Great Link ...
 

Chuck Norris - Google Search

Does Google have any other humorous search results?

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gsv2g8BdRCo&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gsv2g8BdRCo&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

I thought he was channeling Yakov Smirnoff.

Thanks ...
 

mbyron: Thanks. Your post more than answered my question.

That was kewl. I'm going to set my 15 yo's default search engine to Google Pig Latin. She'll think that's great. :)

This will be my first season...but I've been conditioning and swimming as well. Also lifting weights, especially leg exercises. Hip flexor stuff, leg press, calf raises.

Hopefully that helps me not pull anything.

When do you guys stretch before a game? In the dressing room or on the floor?

Stretch? I'm confused.

Depends on whether or not there's a good looking female coach in the game. :p

Typically in the dressing room, though, as it's been discussed here before, there's usually not a lot of space to do it and you also might get loose but then have the chance to stiffen up while observing and doing pre-game duties.

Anybody found anything especially good on how to get and stay stretched -- ready not to pull anything if the opening tip starts a fastbreak?

How much personal stretching do you do on the floor during pre-game observation? Specifically, what would be considered unprofessional or overdoing it?

None for me. Although I do see it quite often (sprinting up & down the sidelines & side-stepping across the court) I heard it's not an accepted practice.

I hear you. I understand everything about appearances, duties, etc. but there's supposed to be running up and down the court, busting butt, etc. and everybody thinks the YOUNG guys and girls are the the only ones who need the warm-up for it?! How unrealistic is that? It's always bugged me.

I start getting ready for bball season by coming to this board. Instead of clicking on Football, I click on Basketball.....

Apparently, this year I will begin my regiment by playing with Google. LOL.

Maybe I'll start getting ready tomorrow.....ROFLMAO.

Did you step in the poo or not. That could be intentional or even flagrant.

I don't have a particular workout plan. I'm the kind of guy that loves all aspects of basketball (fan, player, referee), so I still play in leagues and pickup year round. That helps keep me in shape. In addition, for variety, I play badminton and workout at the gym.

I officiate year round (youth, adult and high school) so that keeps me relatively sharp. I don't officiate "EVERY" week though. I like breaks in between. I might have a stretch of games for consecutive days but not have anything for a few weeks after and I like it that way.

Yale - I googled you and found out you graduated HS in a south suburb of Chicago. Just curious - which one? Thanks.

what i did to get ready
 

get my hip joint replaced. Titanium doesnt wear out.

Do they make titanium brains? That's what usually wears out first for me... :eek:

More importantly, do they have a titanium "T gesture joint" replacement. My doctor just informed me that, "The x-ray confirms you've done too many mens rec games. It's a classic overuse injury."