JV Games

[RookieDude]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I'm neither on my way up, nor on my way down. I'm a veteran, journeyman official. I chose to work junior varsity games for many reasons. If I were to just work my varsity schedule, I would only be working a few nights a week. By choosing to allow my assignment commissioner to assign me junior varsity games, I can be out working games several nights a week, working either varsity, or junior varsity games. It's better than sitting home watching basketball on television. I help out my assignment commissioner by accepting these games. Junior varsity coaches enjoy seeing a veteran official in their games. I like working with young officials, acting as a teacher, and a mentor. I enjoy the game, the kids, my partners, etc.

I also chose to work Catholic middle school games on the weekends, for many of the same reasons.

One of my goals is to be healthy enough when I retire from my day job, in several years, to make myself available to my assignment commissioner to work 3:30 p.m. middle school games, and 4:00 p.m. high school freshman games. Having a veteran , journeyman official in those games can only be a win, win, situation. Good for the players, good for the coaches, good for young, rookie partners, and good for my assignment commissioner. And, of course, good for me.

...now here is a guy that ANY association would be proud to have!

(not so sure about ANY WIFE though)

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by Toren

. . . observe the JV game . . . I had seen enough. Not sure why I got so frustrated, but I was extremely frustrated at this point.

Would you agree that sublevel officials fall primarily into two categories?
1) those "on their way up and eager", and
2) those "on their way down and out."

Without being unjustifiably judgmental, in which category might you deem the official(s) you mentioned fall?

We had a crew in the JV game before ours last night which included a girl, a recent college graduate, which the assignor asked if I'd go observe if I had the chance. Wow! Talk about "on the way up and eager!" After the game she stepped up and asked her partner and the varsity crew what they saw and if they had any comments and suggestions "to help me get better." What a stark contrast to some of the "Slinkies" that dot the sublevel landscape (cf. tagline of regular poster for definition of a "Slinky")!

Our assignor asks us to make a point of observing the JV action, whatever we can arrange to watch, and report back to him our findings so he can keep his finger on the pulse of those in both categories, aside from the games he's able to personally observe himself. The JV officials know this, thus many of them invite the input between games. Others avoid the subject like the plague--obvious category 2 members.

Did you have an opportunity for a "mentoring moment" after the game? Or was it a category 2 situation where you either knew it wouldn't have done any good or wouldn't have been welcome?

[Toren]

Originally Posted by Freddy

Would you agree that sublevel officials fall primarily into two categories?
1) those "on their way up and eager", and
2) those "on their way down and out."

Without being unjustifiably judgmental, in which category might you deem the official(s) you mentioned fall?


Did you have an opportunity for a "mentoring moment" after the game? Or was it a category 2 situation where you either knew it wouldn't have done any good or wouldn't have been welcome?

One fell in the 1st category and I wanted to discuss some things with him. The other fell under the 2nd category.

There was a brief opportunity to talk to the 1st official, but I didn't know how to approach him. I know him from camp and we've been doing it the same amount of time. I felt I could have said a few helpful things but didn't feel comfortable doing it. I believe I will send him an email though and offer him some suggestions.

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by Toren

I felt I could have said a few helpful things but didn't feel comfortable doing it.

Strategy #1: One place you can feel comfortable and confident is if you're ever the designated R responsible for the pre-game. We've gained a lot -- and took the edge off the sometimes "hard-to-bring-up-the-real-need-for-improvement" hesitation that often besets the post-game period with some people by doing this:

Begin your pregame with a roundtable "Pet Peeves" segment. Here's how I usually phrase it, especially when I'm working with individuals who I know aren't the best at welcoming or inviting constructive critique.

Say, "What are your top two "pet peeves" of officiating? In other words, what things do you see other officials doing which you know aren't good -- and you hope that I'm not "one of those" during our game tonight? Have any pet peeves you'd like to mention?" (Mention, and discussion ensues...)"Those are good ones. Here's one or two I've heard some fellow officials mention.............."

And be sure to tactfully include a thing or two that you have observed that fellow official on your crew doing in the past. Of course, you don't come right out and say that. You're more adroit than that, and s/he, due to character, personality, etc., might not appreciate the sort of direct "Thou art the wo/man" approach that puts up barriers to what s/he really needs to hear.

Strategy #2: If you observe goofy stuff out of JV refs who later will be horning in on your V pregame, be sure to have a "Pet Peeve" session when they get in there and frame the constructive criticism in the context of you two or three talking together--not necessary about what you just saw, even though it is. Kinda a "being shrewd as snakes yet innocent as doves" sort of method that works. You know, like, "One thing we really don't wanna be doing tonight is rushing to make the ball live before making eye contact with each other", for example.

Both of these tactics have shown a measure of success around here. And, over time, those resistant to the direct approach are hearing what they need to hear. Especially with a smaller group of officials who sooner or later will be working on a crew together, it seems to work.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by Freddy

Would you agree that sublevel officials fall primarily into two categories?
1) those "on their way up and eager", and
2) those "on their way down and out."

I might add:

3) those that are there because of their abilities (they can be content or not, or agree with this status or not. Some may have been doing it for many yrs at this level and like the $, etc.).

May be more too.

JMO

[RookieDude]

Originally Posted by grunewar

I might add:

3) those that are there because of their abilities (they can be content or not, or agree with this status or not. Some may have been doing it for many yrs at this level and like the $, etc.).

May be more too.

JMO

How about "New and Clueless"...

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by Freddy

Sublevel officials fall primarily into two categories:
1) those "on their way up and eager", and
2) those "on their way down and out."

Sublevel officials fall primarily into THREE categories:
1) those "on their way up and eager", and
2) those "on their way down and out," and
3) those, though rare and appreciated to the utmost when discovered, at that level by choice, maintaining a healthy appreciation for mechanics, positioning, rules knowledge, and judgement, serving as true assets to the associations, assignors, and schools with which they are involved.

The subsequent responses prompted the addition of category 3). I just wish our area would be blessed with a few more of them!

[Loudwhistle2]

Originally Posted by Toren

And then in my game, I kicked a pretty insignificant call, but I won't repeat that mistake. Player catches the ball and loses his balance, he reaches down with his offhand and balances himself. So he has two feet on ground, one hand on ground. It didn't look proper, so I tweet and signal travel. Nobody said anything, but as soon as I made the call, I'm questioning it. Halftime comes, nobody says anything and I had forgotten to check with my partners. I go home and I remember that I didn't like that call, look it up. Bam, 4-44-5, I was dead wrong. Ugh, well at least if that was the worst call I had all night, I'm alrigh I guess. Won't repeat that mistake.

Hate it when that happens and its always after you blow the whistle in my case when I remember something I read on here.

[Indianaref]

Originally Posted by Toren

Before my varsity game last night, I decided to arrive early to the game and observe the JV game.

First call, L makes the call opposite paint and calls a block, player was standing there in LGP and the offensive player took 3 or 4 steps ad bull dozed him. Okay, his angle is different than mine, maybe he saw something else.

Second call, held ball, and then a little scuffle after between the two players involved in the held ball. The official says to the scoretable "I have a dead ball double personal foul".

At this point I decided to go get changed, I had seen enough. Not sure why I got so frustrated, but I was extremely frustrated at this point.


And then in my game, I kicked a pretty insignificant call, but I won't repeat that mistake. Player catches the ball and loses his balance, he reaches down with his offhand and balances himself. So he has two feet on ground, one hand on ground. It didn't look proper, so I tweet and signal travel. Nobody said anything, but as soon as I made the call, I'm questioning it. Halftime comes, nobody says anything and I had forgotten to check with my partners. I go home and I remember that I didn't like that call, look it up. Bam, 4-44-5, I was dead wrong. Ugh, well at least if that was the worst call I had all night, I'm alrigh I guess. Won't repeat that mistake.

What if that same JV official came into the locker room and said that you blew that call.

[Toren]

Originally Posted by Indianaref

What if that same JV official came into the locker room and said that you blew that call.

I wish someone would have, because I wasn't sure. I don't mind being wrong...I definitely mind being wrong twice about the same thing.

That would have been poetic though