Tuning Them Out

[Terrapins Fan]

For me, it's simply focus.

When I played ball, I never heard the crowd unless I was on the bench. I was tuned into my team and coach.

As an official, it's the same. I am tuned into my partners and the players to an extent. Unless it's a quiet gym ( rare ). I don't hear the crowd at all. During specific times in the game, I will focus on different things, like the coach when I think he will be looking for a TO and such.

I have had partners come to me and say " did you hear that guy in the 3rd row with the blue shirt on?" I didn't, but he knew exactly where the guy was.