A New City, a New Sport

[Welpe]

Looks like I'm in good company, then. I failed to mention in my post but I've been umpiring baseball and softball for about 12 years and football for 2. I'm starting to better grasp the idea of advantage/disadvantage so fortunately that won't be a foreign concept to me.

My first training clinic went well last night...except for the fact it turns out they've been doing this for a few weeks already. Ah the joys of moving! Fortunately the training staff was very accomodating and I pretty much jumped right into practicing calling fouls and violations.

The mechanics of rotating, closing down, PCAs and transitions are pretty foreign to me and I'm going to be playing some catch up there. I have an NFHS official's manual on the way but in the mean time, does anybody know of a website that has a crash course on the basics of these things? I'd really appreciate it.

All in all, I think I'm going to really enjoy doing this once I put the time in to learn. Now I need to go order up some uniforms and shoes. I'm thinking Smitty shirts and pants (much to my wife's glee).

It's fun to be the rookie again.

[FrankHtown]

Welcome to Houston! You'll find there is some very good play here, both girls and boys.

What part of town are you living in? Email me, and I can get you pointed in the right direction.

[zm1283]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Looks like I'm in good company, then. I failed to mention in my post but I've been umpiring baseball and softball for about 12 years and football for 2. I'm starting to better grasp the idea of advantage/disadvantage so fortunately that won't be a foreign concept to me.

My first training clinic went well last night...except for the fact it turns out they've been doing this for a few weeks already. Ah the joys of moving! Fortunately the training staff was very accomodating and I pretty much jumped right into practicing calling fouls and violations.

The mechanics of rotating, closing down, PCAs and transitions are pretty foreign to me and I'm going to be playing some catch up there. I have an NFHS official's manual on the way but in the mean time, does anybody know of a website that has a crash course on the basics of these things? I'd really appreciate it.

All in all, I think I'm going to really enjoy doing this once I put the time in to learn. Now I need to go order up some uniforms and shoes. I'm thinking Smitty shirts and pants (much to my wife's glee).

It's fun to be the rookie again.

Smitty shirts and Sansabelt pants.

Rex at Between the Lines sells both I believe. Great guy and good prices.

This is my third year doing basketball, and the spring will be my second year doing baseball. I definitely picked baseball up more quickly, and I know for a fact that basketball helped with game management in baseball.

Basketball is a tougher game overall to officiate for me, but I enjoy both a lot. I love the crowd getting into the game in basketball, something that doesn't happen a whole lot in high school baseball.

Oh and I started doing a little softball this fall. The games are quick, but they are sure boring.

[JRutledge]

I know you are a football official. Basketball officiating will make your judgment better in football and your rules knowledge in football will make you a better rules person in basketball. Basketball is basically a judgment sport from an officiating standpoint. We have very few complicated rules situations in basketball that you see on a regular basis, unlike football. You will benefit from being a multi-sport official and basketball in my opinion is the hardest out of them all.

Peace

[Rich]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I know you are a football official. Basketball officiating will make your judgment better in football and your rules knowledge in football will make you a better rules person in basketball. Basketball is basically a judgment sport from an officiating standpoint. We have very few complicated rules situations in basketball that you see on a regular basis, unlike football. You will benefit from being a multi-sport official and basketball in my opinion is the hardest out of them all.

Peace

I agree, but the best thing about basketball is all you gotta do is put the ball back in play and the complaining stops.

[Welpe]

Question for you Houston guys, how often do you wear the side panel stripes and/or grey shirts as opposed to the regular stripes? We've been told all three are approved as long as you match your partners.

[FrankHtown]

Sticky question. Grey was not used for High School, but I've heard this year it may be optional. Good question for the meeting on the 26th.

[JFlores]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Question for you Houston guys, how often do you wear the side panel stripes and/or grey shirts as opposed to the regular stripes? We've been told all three are approved as long as you match your partners.

If its subvarsity don't really think it would matter as long as you match. Like Frank said its a good question for the upcoming meetings.

Does anyone know if the vendors will be at the upcoming meeting?

[JFlores]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Looks like I'm in good company, then. I failed to mention in my post but I've been umpiring baseball and softball for about 12 years and football for 2. I'm starting to better grasp the idea of advantage/disadvantage so fortunately that won't be a foreign concept to me.

My first training clinic went well last night...except for the fact it turns out they've been doing this for a few weeks already. Ah the joys of moving! Fortunately the training staff was very accomodating and I pretty much jumped right into practicing calling fouls and violations.

The mechanics of rotating, closing down, PCAs and transitions are pretty foreign to me and I'm going to be playing some catch up there. I have an NFHS official's manual on the way but in the mean time, does anybody know of a website that has a crash course on the basics of these things? I'd really appreciate it.

All in all, I think I'm going to really enjoy doing this once I put the time in to learn. Now I need to go order up some uniforms and shoes. I'm thinking Smitty shirts and pants (much to my wife's glee).

It's fun to be the rookie again.

Welcome aboard to the Houston Chapter. Lots of good basketball and some real ugly ones. Let me know what part of town you will work, maybe we can work a few. You can pick up on what not to do from looking at me.

[Welpe]

JFlores, based upon where I live and work, I'll primarily be working for Bart and whomever assigns the HISD schools. It sounds like there are a ton of games to go around.

[JFlores]

Originally Posted by Welpe

JFlores, based upon where I live and work, I'll primarily be working for Bart and whomever assigns the HISD schools. It sounds like there are a ton of games to go around.

Barts good, he does mostly FBISD and KISD. As for HISD schools, I would avoid some of those if you can.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by JFlores

As for HISD schools, I would avoid some of those if you can.

Any particular reason? They are close to work for me.

I'll see what they say about the shirts at the meeting. I went with the basic stripes for now