How "good" is your short term memory?
 

I can't hardly remember anything about a game that happened the night before let alone last year. The other night on the way to a B/GV doubleheader my dad was telling me not to worry about another game coming up because the away coaches acted up last time yadda yadda...I couldnt remember a darned thing about that game. Really wanted to tell him to stop because I had nothing to relate too.

Course some guys I work with can remember everything about a game that happened ten years ago. Only time I remember something about a game is something memorable happens or I really couldnt stand a player or coach.

We want everyone to have a clean slate, so your STM is just fine.:)

I'm glad you posted this question. I have what I feel is a very interesting answer. It's.......wait, what was the question again? :o

I'm kind of the same way. I'll only remember a play if I want to.

I had a girls H.S. varsity basketball game at the beginning of the 1983-84 season where I had a ...... What was I talking about :confused:

MTD, Sr.

I hope you have the ability to recall plays during a game. An official needs to be able to see a play that occurs, judge the contact, recall the same/similar play that occurred earlier in the game, and then officiate it with the same/similar result.

The reason why officials are told: "the more plays you see, the better you'll get" is because that is how you develop experience. You need to be able to recall situations & plays from previous games and be prepared to handle it when the same play occurs.

I have been trained somewhat like this. I am use to looking at the clock and glancing at what time it is every transition. My mentor did this so then I can recall a play and have a general idea of when it was so we don't spend the entire time trying to remember what play we should be talking about. And for the potential of being use to seeing a shot clock when I move to college ball.

When I get ready for the next game I use this to think of potential ways to improve in the next game. When I get on the court my focus is now on this game. While I probably cannot recall an entire game I remember plays that are learning potentials.

This works great while my mentor is on the road and can watch my game online. After the game I call him on my ride back and have a second postgame. Either way remember plays is a great way to learn individually and as a crew.

This.

Or to learn from a situation so it does not happen again.

Peace

My guess is your dad remembers that coach because HE "really couldnt stand the coach." :)

Imagine if you were like Marilu Henner and others who have superior autobiographical memory. They can remember the vast majority of personal experiences that have occurred throughout their life. Creepy!

You don't need to remember a play in the first half in order to call it the same way in the second half.



You gain experience and LEARN:

• What is a foul and what isn't a foul.
• What constitutes an advantage or disadvantage
• What rule governs the play I'm officiating
• Be consistent in your application of the rules

IOW, you don't need to "remember" if you call the same play consistently.

Only games I can clearly remember are the ones where something BAD happened and it became a learning experience. (Shooter got blown up when I followed the ball flight, Multiple T's, Late (one time)).

Keeping a game log helps.

I remember plays and situations. I can't even remember which players played the best by the time we hit the showers. I've had partners say "man, #32 was killing them" and I'll be like "oh, was he?" I've officiated the children of fellow officials and didn't it realize their kids were playing.

I do remember a-hole coaches and always get a kick out of giving them a firm handshake before the game and saying "Bad News Ref" as if I've never met them before.

I'm actually really glad to see that. I'll notice a particular player if he's being a trouble maker or if he's in a match up that I've been watching for a while but I guess I'm not good at picking up which players are really playing well. My partners will talk about sometimes how so and so player really did well or had a good jump shot or whatever and I find myself wondering if I'm not paying enough attention.

I just figured I was still learning how to keep track of everything important in a game that I didn't have time to track player performance also. Nice to hear a veteran say the same thing.

I have noticed this season that I've gotten better about knowing the AP arrow (except in those 9th grade girls B games, forget it) and the players with four fouls.


Yup, that makes me grin too.

I'm working this season on paying attention to what successful plays teams are running so I can anticipate what might happen in a last minute shot situation.