How approachable should we be?

[JRutledge]

This means different things to different people. I think with experience you learn when to talk to coaches and when not to. Most of this comes with confidence of your abilities and the situations you are dealing with. No one size fits all here as many times we need to answer a lot of questions and other times we need to move on. This is why I always suggest that younger officials go and watch veterans as this is part of the game you can learn by observing. This also has a lot to do with body language as the way you answer questions can be just as important as or more important than what you say.

Peace

[Adam]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

This means different things to different people. I think with experience you learn when to talk to coaches and when not to. Most of this comes with confidence of your abilities and the situations you are dealing with. No one size fits all here as many times we need to answer a lot of questions and other times we need to move on. This is why I always suggest that younger officials go and watch veterans as this is part of the game you can learn by observing. This also has a lot to do with body language as the way you answer questions can be just as important as or more important than what you say.

Peace

Agreed.

I would add that I think newer officials should just focus on the calls, dealing with coaches only when necessary and learning along the way. Watching veterans can teach you a lot in this area; both what to do and what not to do. Dealing with coaches is an important part of moving up.

Be able to explain every call you make. Eventually, be able to explain your no-calls as well. I'm not saying you should be willing to explain every call or no-call; only that you should be able to.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Agreed.

I would add that I think newer officials should just focus on the calls, dealing with coaches only when necessary and learning along the way. Watching veterans can teach you a lot in this area; both what to do and what not to do. Dealing with coaches is an important part of moving up.

In a perfect world they should only deal with calls, but the coaches they see will not allow this to happen as everything they call is going to get an over-the-top reaction most of the time at the lower levels. It actually gets easier once you get to the higher levels becasue most coaches are not going to complain about every call.

Peace

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

This means different things to different people. I think with experience you learn when to talk to coaches and when not to. Most of this comes with confidence of your abilities and the situations you are dealing with. No one size fits all here as many times we need to answer a lot of questions and other times we need to move on. This is why I always suggest that younger officials go and watch veterans as this is part of the game you can learn by observing. This also has a lot to do with body language as the way you answer questions can be just as important as or more important than what you say.

Peace

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Agreed.

I would add that I think newer officials should just focus on the calls, dealing with coaches only when necessary and learning along the way. Watching veterans can teach you a lot in this area; both what to do and what not to do. Dealing with coaches is an important part of moving up.

Be able to explain every call you make. Eventually, be able to explain your no-calls as well. I'm not saying you should be willing to explain every call or no-call; only that you should be able to.

I agree with you both.