Tough Game

[CMHCoachNRef]

Originally Posted by garn05

Newbie here. I had a girls jv game this morning (my 4th "official game" of the season, not counting middle school and rec games). My partner is a 4 year official. The game was pretty ugly; it started with a crash under the board and it was pretty much like that the whole way. I am the first one to admit that I need to have a better understanding of the switches on time-outs and be more attentive when subs need to come in. Anyway, halftime came and my partner told me that he thought I would be better than I was. He said I needed to use my ovaries to blow more powerfully into the whistle, and especially since I was a woman, that I needed to show those girls who is in control out there. He went on to comment on pretty much every aspect of my referee skills (or lack thereof). Second half, I did try to work on the things that seemed to bother him the most (I could tell by his frustrating looks what those were), but I am certain I wasn't doing a whole lot better than the first half. It was the worst game I have worked yet. I am trying to take the positives, while not dwelling how awful the game was. I am upset that i didn't do a better job (maybe call everything which would have meant a stoppage every 35 seconds or so) or what?? The few games I have worked prior to this were also girls jv games and I thought (based on my evaluation by varsity refs & my partners) that I was "progressing" alright. I don't know what I want to ask you all except do I just chalk this up to a learning experience? It just made me feel like I just want to throw away my whistle. Sorry to vent.....

1. Ignore this situation and hope to never see this partner again.

2. Find yourself more middle school and younger games to do. My own personal feeling is that new officials are much better off spending their entire first year doing 4th to 6th grade games. These games provide an excellent opportunity to work on mechanics and foul/violation recognition in a slow moving enviroment. MS games should be considered upper level games.

3. I would avoid HS games to the extent possible in your first year. Unless you have officiated other sports or have officiated basketball where you did not need a license, you quite probably are in over your head doing HS games.

4. Try to find yourself a mentor who is willing to work these lower youth games with you. He/She can help you improve your mechanics, improve on your positioning, improve on your foul/violation recognition in a positive way.

5. Please do not take these statements in a negative way, at all as they are meant to help a typical young/new official to progress in a controlled way. This path will allow you to grow as an official with less pressure -- and a slower game. There is plenty of time to move up.

Good luck!!!

[garn05]

First, thank you so much for your advice and support by telling me to hang in there. I appreciate it more that you know.

I totally agree about first year refs (at least in my case) working mainly middle school and rec center games. I have immensely enjoyed those games and feel that I learned a lot. The refs I worked with were tremendously helpful and maybe due to the fact that it was those types of games, it allowed them to feel less pressured (and me too!!) to get every call right. I have a few more JV games this season, but after that, I will be working at the YMCA to ref where I intend to work on all my skills as well as reviewing my books. I do care deeply about what I am doing and have a lot of personal pride. I want to do good; I want the kids to be able to see me at a game and look forward to being on the court with me. Is that naive? (no one has to answer that...). Thanks again for having this forum to be able to gage my thoughts and actions.

[Adam]

Frankly, I think it's a bunch of crap.
1. Your partner was a moron. I've had bosses like that, and their results were just as bad as this guy's. I sure hope he feels better about his own lack of skills now, because that's the only reason he could have treated you that way.

2. I disagree that first year officials should only work ms games. No one here knows how good you are yet, so that sort of advice on this type of board is bogus, IMO. Is it perhaps better to have most of your games be ms? Sure, but I wouldn't listen to anyone but your assigner when they tell you what level you should or shouldn't be working.

3. Consider this whole thing a lesson in growing thick skin, and in how to treat newer officials when you gain experience.

4. I would have asked him how long his first marriage lasted.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

4. I would have asked him how long his first marriage lasted.

Heh!

[rockyroad]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

4. I would have asked him how long his first marriage lasted.

You're giving him a lot of credit there, don't you think?