Worse Night and some!

[PIAA REF]

THis past Friday I was scheduled for what was to be one of the best boys games in the district. Gym was packed. Teams are a rival and almost tied in the league. I am on my way to the gym early. THeir was a Girls Varsity prior to my game because they had to make the game up from bad weather so No JV games. About 5 Minutes from the gym ( drive was shade under a hour). I start feeling sick to my stomach thought it was nerves, stop got some tums. Get to the game I get worse but still ok. I get through the first Quarter, Game is great, Crowd is great. Second quarter... I am getting worse. I make it a few minutes in and BAM! I start to go hazy. During a dead ball I go over to one of my partners tell him I need to go get some help. I do, I try to come back but same thing. I end up with flu like symptoms. Have to go to ER for fluids. They finish with 2. What a disappointment. I then have to give back a game the following night (65-64 final) and another big game this week. Sorry to vent but hopefully I am fine tonight. HS tonight, tomorrow, college Saturday. Healthy, hopefully the rest of the season.

[slow whistle]

Yish good luck that really sucks!! Never had to leave the floor before, although I have done the halftime sprint to the locker room for "personal reasons".

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by PIAA REF

.....start feeling sick to my stomach thought it was nerves...

I actually get this a lot for my "bigger games" too. I take the Tums or maybe Pepto, and just don't eat a lot on game day. Hopefully, the nerves will lesson with experience and I can get past this.

[Loudwhistle]

Originally Posted by PIAA REF View Post
.....start feeling sick to my stomach thought it was nerves...
I actually get this a lot for my "bigger games" too. I take the Tums or maybe Pepto, and just don't eat a lot on game day. Hopefully, the nerves will lesson with experience and I can get past this.

I wonder if everyone gets this way on the bigger games, I still feel thankful in close games during the last seconds when the ball goes to someone else's area! I doubt these butterfiles will ever leave me, I still get excited when a big buck is coming my way, an elk bugles, my wife says...

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by Loudwhistle

I wonder if everyone gets this way on the bigger games, I still feel thankful in close games during the last seconds when the ball goes to someone else's area!

This quote happened to catch my eye.

Loudwhistle, it seems to me I saw in a previous thread you're relatively new to officiating? If so, I can understand the nervousness. However, if you continue to feel this way, you might want to consider finding another hobby.

Ok, maybe that sounded harsh, but if you were my partner, I would absolutely want you to ready to make that last-second call, if needed. It's no different than the player who wants the ball in their hands in the closing moments - they have the confidence in their ability, (some might say even a little "cockiness") in knowing they can handle that last-second situation. I've got that feeling in (most of) my games, and I want the same from my partners. I like being the one to make the decision the shot was released or the foul occured before the horn.

If you're feeling nervous about wanting that responsibility, than how do I know, as your partner, that you will make the correct call during crunch-time? Now I'm worried you might disappear and swallow your whistle, so should I now have to extend my area? I hope not.

Maybe it will come as your confidence in your abilities grow. If it doesn't, than maybe you should figure out why. Just something to think about.

[Scuba_ref]

Originally Posted by Loudwhistle

Originally Posted by PIAA REF View Post

I wonder if everyone gets this way on the bigger games, I still feel thankful in close games during the last seconds when the ball goes to someone else's area!

I find it easier to officiate on-ball than off-ball in these situations and so prefer otherwise. Having said that, I am a little nervous before every game Varsity (especially) or below. But I interpret that as a good sign, I hope I never get to the point where I don't feel anything before a game.

[Loudwhistle]

Originally Posted by M&M Guy

This quote happened to catch my eye.

Loudwhistle, it seems to me I saw in a previous thread you're relatively new to officiating? If so, I can understand the nervousness. However, if you continue to feel this way, you might want to consider finding another hobby.
Uhh, yeah, thanks for the advice. I am new to officiating compared to some of the guys posting on here. Just this year I 've tried posting more than in other years trying to contribute in some way that might help someone in the way I've been helped by this forum, read it ever day during the season with my morning coffee and spend at least an hour a day reading case plays and rules. I have heard other reffs say the same thing you quoted from me, so I know its not uncommon. I can honestly say that I've become less nervous overall in the last five years that I have been officiating. I hope I always stay on edge a little during games otherwise I may space off some very important call or rule.
Ok, maybe that sounded harsh, but if you were my partner, I would absolutely want you to ready to make that last-second call, if needed. It's no different than the player who wants the ball in their hands in the closing moments - they have the confidence in their ability, (some might say even a little "cockiness") in knowing they can handle that last-second situation. I've got that feeling in (most of) my games, and I want the same from my partners. I like being the one to make the decision the shot was released or the foul occured before the horn.
I never said I wasn't ready to make the last second call if needed. I'm confident in my abilities and I have had to make the last second calls in many games, doesn't mean I have to like it. I don't like giving administrative T's either, but I do and know its part of the game.
If you're feeling nervous about wanting that responsibility, than how do I know, as your partner, that you will make the correct call during crunch-time? Now I'm worried you might disappear and swallow your whistle, so should I now have to extend my area? I hope not. Been there done that too, extended my area lots with some of the volunteers and younger reffs I've worked with, its a pain, but needs to done at times, don't like that part either.

Maybe it will come as your confidence in your abilities grow. If it doesn't, than maybe you should figure out why. Just something to think about.

I don't feel that I've "arrived" there yet and don't believe I ever will, I try to work on at least something every game, (I keep a list of things I want to improve on and ask my assignor what he wants me to work on as well)
He keeps giving me varsity games so I must be doing something right.
Your words are a little harsh, but I do believe you have good intentions and there is some wisdom in what you said. I don't want to come off as a pompous *** and not listen to a senior reff such as yourself. You may have interpreted my comment to mean I wasn't confident, I am and others believe it too. At this point in my life, officiating HS ball is the highlight of my life. I look forward to my games all week and by the time they start, I'm very wound up. If weather cancels a game, I'm totally bummed. Does that sound like someone who is in the wrong hobby? Yeah I know, you can be interested in something and not be worth a dang at it too.

[Hugh Refner]

Originally Posted by Loudwhistle

At this point in my life, officiating HS ball is the highlight of my life.

Wow.

[utahkarakita]

Originally Posted by Loudwhistle

I wonder if everyone gets this way on the bigger games

I believe when the day comes that those butterflies are gone, it may very well be time to check out.

Nothing wrong with some exciting anticipation, and maybe even a little anxiousness before a big game, IMO.

Of course what was a "big game" in year one or two, is not a "big game" that will give me butterflies now.

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by Loudwhistle

I don't feel that I've "arrived" there yet and don't believe I ever will, I try to work on at least something every game, (I keep a list of things I want to improve on and ask my assignor what he wants me to work on as well)
He keeps giving me varsity games so I must be doing something right.
Your words are a little harsh, but I do believe you have good intentions and there is some wisdom in what you said. I don't want to come off as a pompous *** and not listen to a senior reff such as yourself. You may have interpreted my comment to mean I wasn't confident, I am and others believe it too. At this point in my life, officiating HS ball is the highlight of my life. I look forward to my games all week and by the time they start, I'm very wound up. If weather cancels a game, I'm totally bummed. Does that sound like someone who is in the wrong hobby? Yeah I know, you can be interested in something and not be worth a dang at it too.

Look, I was simply reacting to that one particular comment. Maybe it was telling, or maybe it was simply a throwaway line written in jest. I was simply looking at it from my experiences. When I first started out, I felt exactly that same way - at the end of the close games I wanted the spotlight off me so I wouldn't have to make those tough calls where people might yell at me. As I've grown with experience, I now know I can make those tough calls, and (for the most part) I really don't care if they like it or not, I just know I'm getting it right. That attitude comes with experience and knowledge. If that's what you're doing, learning the rules and working more games, then more power to you. But my point was to be aware of that feeling of wanting the tough play to be outside your area - if it continues, then perhaps you aren't learning enough, or perhaps you just don't have the personality to be a great official. That's alright, not everyone is cut out to be a great official. But if you find yourself slowly wanting to make those tough calls, then maybe you'll see yourself grow as an official.

Just something to think about.

[tomegun]

I will agree with M&M. That statement caught my eye and the points made were valid. It would make me wonder, as a partner, if your calls for the first 31 minutes were legit or not.

[Loudwhistle]

Look, I was simply reacting to that one particular comment. Maybe it was telling, or maybe it was simply a throwaway line written in jest. I was simply looking at it from my experiences. When I first started out, I felt exactly that same way - at the end of the close games I wanted the spotlight off me so I wouldn't have to make those tough calls where people might yell at me. As I've grown with experience, I now know I can make those tough calls, and (for the most part) I really don't care if they like it or not, I just know I'm getting it right. That attitude comes with experience and knowledge. If that's what you're doing, learning the rules and working more games, then more power to you. But my point was to be aware of that feeling of wanting the tough play to be outside your area - if it continues, then perhaps you aren't learning enough, or perhaps you just don't have the personality to be a great official. That's alright, not everyone is cut out to be a great official. But if you find yourself slowly wanting to make those tough calls, then maybe you'll see yourself grow as an official.
This is kind of how I interpreted your first comments, I tried to think, what is he really trying to say? I took them to mean that experience and knowledge will help lessen the nervousness during the last seconds of big games. I'm glad to hear that you mentioned that is how you felt when you were first starting out, that was nice to hear and other reffs have confirmed that as well. Once I get my first 1,000 varsity games in I'll probably feel different.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by utahkarakita

I believe when the day comes that those butterflies are gone, it may very well be time to check out.

Nothing wrong with some exciting anticipation, and maybe even a little anxiousness before a big game, IMO.

Of course what was a "big game" in year one or two, is not a "big game" that will give me butterflies now.

I stopped having what I consider as "butterflies" a long time ago. Not to say that I do not get excited, but those nerves of anticipation are gone. And I have worked what I call the "big game" multiple times. Now this took time to get that way, but I have noticed that I hardly think of the situation anymore and I just go out and work the game. I treat most games like a challenge and try to be focused. Because if I am nervous, I do not perform very well. One of the things that help me is I have been too many places I have never officiated at or had teams I have never had. So I tend to stay focused on the job at hand and not get caught up in what it means or the bigger picture.

Peace

[Adam]

I get nervous for my first game at each level, but not much after that. I don't get nervous doing things I'm competent at, even public speaking. That's just me, though.