10 Things I Teach New Officials

[iref21]

Commenting on the aspects of play calling and technical fouls. As young officials we have to be taught to blow the whistle. If you are getting started, blow and blow and blow. It is much easier to tone someone down then it is to try an get them to simply blow the whistle.

Being a young official we sometimes have the tendancy to over analyze plays and not blow the whistle. This doesn't show anyone anything at all. As a beginning official blow if it's a violation, blow it if it is a foul. You learn more from the mistakes you make rather than the ones you don't even take a chance at.

As for technical fouls, if a player is deserving of a technical foul then give it to them. Same for the coaches and so on.... As a young official we are trying to gain respect and there are times that we need to "unleash the beast." It is not a matter of arrogance but rather a matter of gaining creditability. Sometimes it takes a "T" to get them back to ground zero. Remember these threes steps when calling a "T"

1) Does it fit the situation?
2) Is it going to be effective?
3) Can the league commissioner or assignor defend it?