Awful Partner

[Back In The Saddle]

My $0.02, from a guy who has been there...

In my experience, when you reach a point where your assigner recognizes that you're a strong, competent official, you'll be "blessed" with opportunities to work with weaker partners. It can certainly be difficult and unpleasant at times. But, it is also a tremendous opportunity for you to step up your game and learn how to control a game, single-handedly when necessary.

No two situations are the same; you need to be prepared to adapt. Some things that I have found helpful are:

• Maintain perspective: no matter how much pain he causes, remember you are better off with him than without him. Your objective then is not to call the game around him. Your objective is to make the crew better by getting the best you can get out of him.
• Have a thorough, basic pre-game. Focus on coverage areas and responsibilities. Discuss how to handle common situations. Even if he is nodding and "yeah, yeah-ing," cover it all anyway.
• You handle everything outside the lines: coaches, table, protocol, introductions, captains meeting, etc.
• Let your partner call his own area. He needs to learn. When you come get something for him, it lets him off the hook.
• Get any elephants he misses (We do this even with a strong partner, but you'll likely have more elephants in this game).
• If the game gets rough, you clean it up, by calling it tighter in your primary and secondary. Get the off-ball stuff especially.
• If needed, tell the coaches that they will deal with only you. Be responsive. Be prepared to take some heat. Don't throw your partner a bus, but do show empathy. You can't promise that your partner will do better, but you can assure the coach you'll work as hard as you can.
• Be aware of inconsistencies in how you and your partner call the game. Switch frequently to even them out (again, we do this even with strong partners)
• Be supportive. The situation is providing plenty of stick, you focus on providing the carrots. Give frequent feedback on things he is doing right. Praise any improvement, no matter how small.
• Remember what your first game was like. What appears to you to be a really slow-moving game is often a blur to a new official. Help him adjust by giving him a very few, specific things to focus on. Being told to watch my two closest matchups was a huge help to me in slowing the game down and seeing what matters.
• Be prepared to help: know who his shooter is, know who his fouler was, know who tipped to ball OOB, at the end of a time out remind him whose possession and where the throw-in is, etc.
• Communicate, communicate, communicate.

I came to a point where I realized the next step in my growth was to become a strong enough official that I could carry a weak partner. That was a great step for me. Then, I realized the next step was to become a strong enough partner that I could make a weak partner better. That was an even better step for me.

Good luck!