First time (for me, at least)

[fiasco]

I was worried about getting out the door at work on time to get to my game yesterday as my boss saddled me with a time-sensitive project at the end of the day. Then, I get in my car and realize I have to travel about 40 miles and am almost at the E end of the gas gauge. Grrr. So I stop for gas, get on the freeway and put the pedal to the metal, all the while having a nagging feeling I was forgetting something, but couldn't put my finger on it.

I make it to the site about two minutes early, luckily, thanks to good roads. I walk to the locker room and something doesn't seem quite right. It's more quiet than it usually is and my partner isn't there yet. I've worked with him before and he always beats me to the game site, and, come to think of it, he didn't call me earlier in the day to confirm the game.

Oh well. I shrug it off and start pulling stuff out of my bag when the assistant AD comes in and asks if I'm sure there's a game tonight.

Not the words I want to hear.

I tell him yes, I'm almost certain there is a game tonight, I had checked my schedule earlier in the day. He gets on the phone to the AD while I get on the phone with my wife to check Arbiter.

While I'm waiting for her to log on, he tells me "It's an away game."

Crap. The away site is over a half hour away and it's now a half hour to game time. Did my assignor put the game in wrong? My wife is on the phone telling me my assignment definitely told me it was at the site where I now am. But the team isn't there. And they are definitely playing tonight.

Then the AAD pipes up...."But we do have a home game on Thursday." At the same time, my wife on the phone says "Oooohhhhh....your game's on Thursday, not today."


Weeeelllll......I feel sheepish....

So, I skulk out the door with a red face and head home for a night off.

Lesson learned. Double and triple and quadruple check your schedule before you leave for the game site.

Turns out it was right in Arbiter and I had it right in my Entourage schedule, but for some reason I had in my mind that it was last night. Go figure.

[jdmara]

I hate the feeling that you "forgot something". Last night I worked with two guys that I have never worked with before. We had great communication the month preceding the game so I knew all the details of everything. But I got nervous when I got the the game site that I had forgot some piece of apparel. Turns out I didn't forget anything.

-Josh

[grunewar]

I was moved gyms once during a V fall league..... Arrived customarily early only to have evaluator/trainer tell me to go to another gym. I made it right at the tipoff. Man I hate that!

[bas2456]

Last night I was at my site at 5:00 for what I thought was a 5:30 game. Turns out it was a 6:00 game. Better early than late I guess

[Adam]

Originally Posted by bas2456

Last night I was at my site at 5:00 for what I thought was a 5:30 game. Turns out it was a 6:00 game. Better early than late I guess

Last year my partners and I arrived at 3:30 for a 4:00 game (customary for early JV games), only to find out all the games had been moved back 90 minutes. Didn't start til 5:30, so one partner had to bail. One of the Varsity guys (who had showed up in time for their 5:30 schedule) worked two.

[Rich]

For this reason (thinking I forgot something), I carry extra socks and whistles and an extra needle and such in a special compartment of my bag I never open. I know I will always have socks, even if I forget them.

Now, if I forget my shoes, I'm out of luck.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Now, if I forget my shoes, I'm out of luck.

I've got two pairs of them in my bag too just in case.

My wife thinks I'm absolutely crazy - two pants, shirts, shoes, socks, whistles, underarmor shirts, etc. Unfortuantely my roller-bag is big and heavy....but, I'm prepared for most eventualities!

[fiasco]

Originally Posted by grunewar

I'm prepared for most eventualities!

What if you forget your bag?

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by fiasco

What if you forget your bag?

He probably has a second bag that is always in his trunk.

I'm forever paranoid about forgetting my shoes for some reason. I just know it is going to happen to me one day.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by fiasco

What if you forget your bag?

Like I mentioned yesterday, I have a spare bag that never leaves my trunk. Contains whistle, socks, black t-shirt, old shirt, old pants, and the first pair of shoes I bought for officiating.

[Amesman]

Originally Posted by fiasco

What if you forget your bag?

He has another in his extra car at work.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

Like I mentioned yesterday, I have a spare bag that never leaves my trunk. Contains whistle, socks, black t-shirt, old shirt, old pants, and the first pair of shoes I bought for officiating.

Wow, I was just joking...

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Amesman

He has another in his extra car at work.

Wait til Tanner hears about this helpful hint.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Wow, I was just joking...

I forgot my shoes twice early in my career. The first time I was about 10-15 minutes from my house and could have went home but my partner was a no-show. So I didn't want to chance leaving not getting back in time (turns out partner was involved in a traffic accident some 25-30 minutes away during rush hour). So I wore my Bates combat boots (black w/black rubber soles) while doing a half of BJV by myself.

The 2nd time was after I retired from the Air Force. The game was 40 miles from my house. I was working the GV after the GJV. Neither of the JV officials could stick around to work my game. My partner was in the military so I wore his size 11 1/2 Bates combat boots--I wear a 13/14


Thus, I now have spare bag with all the essentials. And that bag does not leave my trunk.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by fiasco

What if you forget your bag?

Then I just keep driving....right past the gym and call my partner(s) and tell them there was a terrible accident and I won't be at the game!