Rookie Schedule

[The_Rookie]

What number of games assigned are considered good for a Rookie?

How do you stay sharp if there is a 2-3 week span between your assignments?

[Scuba_ref]

It seems to me that 2-3 weeks between assignments is a long time, even for a rookie. Go to as many games as you can, watch the officials, and ask if you can attend their pre-game, half-time and post-game discussions.

[SWMOzebra]

Originally Posted by Scuba_ref

Go to as many games as you can, watch the officials, and ask if you can attend their pre-game, half-time and post-game discussions.

Sound advice. If you sit in with the crew during their pre-game and half-time discussions, I would suggest listening more and talking less. Save your questions for the post-game pow-wow.

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by Scuba_ref

..

I never realized there was competitive scuba diving that required referees!!

[Scuba_ref]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

I never realized there was competitive scuba diving that required referees!!

We are more judges than officials when compared to bball refs. We sit on a panel of three judges and then evaluate the following:

YouTube - Doug & Dax's Underwater Dance Extravaganza

Not the most glamorous position but you do get all the bottled air you want.

[Back In The Saddle]

Have a chat with your assigner. Ask what is realistic for a first year official. Exhibit an attitude of gratitude for the games you are getting, and express your willingness to pick up any turn backs that may come. In my part of the world, a new official will often get most of his or her games that way.

There are things you can do to improve your chances of picking up turn backs. Assigners are just regular people. When a problem arises, they want to solve it quickly and painlessly. Every assigner has a small list of guys who will take assignments on short notice, travel, take care of problem partners, etc.. These are the guys he calls first. You want to be on that list. So...

• Have wide open availability
• Keep your block/availability calendar up to date
• Keep your bag packed and in your vehicle
• Find out how your assigner prefers to be contacted (phone, email, IM, etc.)
• Maintain regular contact. If you know that Tuesdays are his biggest day, then maybe shoot him an email on Monday or call him Tuesday mid-morning, and ask him if he needs any help.

Keep in mind one reason assigners hesitate to assign new officials is they are an unknown quantity. So work every game the best you can. You want word to get back to your assigner that you always work hard, exhibit a professional demeanor, have the stones for the job, can fix problems, work well with partners, are reliable, and most of all...you don't generate negative phone calls.

Good luck!

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by The_Rookie

What number of games assigned are considered good for a Rookie?

Totally depends on the area.

Look for games from different assigners (perhaps at different levels) to keep working.

[JRutledge]

I cannot tell you. I worked almost every day of the week including Sunday for several weeks. And in most cases there was more than one game a week. But that was a long time ago and in a different area that I work. Some people will not work for a couple of weeks like you in my current area, because when they get their licenses, it will take some time to get known or games have already been assigned. The best those people can do is to fill in when games come available. Like Bob J said, this really is an area thing. And I would also follow S_ref says here and go watch guys work. Ask to tag along with friends or meet guys at game (preferably varsity night contests). You will learn a lot by watching the best official in your area and seeing what they do. At least you can think basketball and see rules and judgment being applied.

Peace

[jTheUmp]

Totally depends on the area... 2-3 weeks does seem like a long time, but it may be unavoidable due to team's schedules, your availablity, etc.

See if you can find some rec league work... yes, it's wreck ball, but any experience is good experience. (and there's no better way to learn to apply "advantage/disadvantage" then to try to officiate 12U girls basketball).

[bainsey]

It's a simple case of supply and demand.

If officials are in demand, less experienced ones are more likely to work games. If they have plenty of vets, the newer guys will get fewer games.

[JFlores]

Originally Posted by bainsey

It's a simple case of supply and demand.

If officials are in demand, less experienced ones are more likely to work games. If they have plenty of vets, the newer guys will get fewer games.

Unless your in Houston. I guess with the economy there has not been a high turnover rate on fellow refs. Usually every year you would have anywhere from 50-65% of guys that dont return.

This year, the sub vars assignor are mainly concentrating on guys with 0-3 years of experience. Everyone else is SOL or getting whats left over especially if they dont have vars games.

[dsqrddgd909]

Originally Posted by The_Rookie

What number of games assigned are considered good for a Rookie?

How do you stay sharp if there is a 2-3 week span between your assignments?

My rookie year of '09-'10 I got ~15 HS games mostly freshman and JV. In addition, I reffed at whatever levels I could find EXCEPT ADULT REC LEAGUE. I reffed Jr. High, Youth, CYO and a pretty good HS Rec league.

Try to learn or work on one thing at every game at every level. Yesterday's game (Girls 9th grade), I worked on stepping towards the play on a shot instead of bailing out too early.

Let your assignors know that your stuff is packed and in the car at all times and no game is too far or too low a level.

[Terrapins Fan]

My rookie year I worked 6 nights a week for about 10 weeks. Most were doubles.

The more work, the better your chances of improving by screwing up night after night and learning from your mistakes.

Hopefully you'll work with some good officials.

I always tell rookies, that you'll never be as bad as I was my first year. Terrible would have been 2 steps up for me.

But I stuck with it and now and I am 1 step above terrible, but some coaches would argue that.

[The_Rookie]

[QUOTE=Terrapins Fan;705174]My rookie year I worked 6 nights a week for about 10 weeks. Most were doubles.

The more work, the better your chances of improving by screwing up night after night and learning from your mistakes.


I have gaps of weeks in my schedule..Like you said, I need to be on the court often to develop a pattern and have a chance to kick lots of calls so that I learn to become a good official.

Maybe the Vets can explain to me why an assignor would allow gaps of weeks in a Rookie schedule instead of running us out there very often.

I know Lighten up Francis

[rlarry]

Originally Posted by The_Rookie

[I have gaps of weeks in my schedule..Like you said, I need to be on the court often to develop a pattern and have a chance to kick lots of calls so that I learn to become a good official.

Maybe the Vets can explain to me why an assignor would allow gaps of weeks in a Rookie schedule instead of running us out there very often.

I know Lighten up Francis

Around here, the assignors work for the schools. They have to assign the best qualified officials to fill their games. Our assignors only assign high school, it is up to the rookies to fill out their own schedule with middle school, cyo, competitive 5th grade games etc...