Anyone get worse after the first few years?

[Kelvin green]

If you are familiar with competency stages and the situational leadershio model developed by ken blanchard and Paul Hersey, part of their model is that theer is a learning stage where as you progress that you become insecure...

The stage you are going through is a natural stageof learning and development. The difficulty is that when we get to thisbtype of stage we need a leader that is highly encouraging and we as officials are normally on our own so it is harder to get through this stage... You will get through it just kep working at it

[BballRookie]

- I hope this isn't out of place in this thread:

I know that camps have been brought up previously, but as a newer official, I go out of my way to promote camps with my peers(I just attended one), because sometimes they can be presented in the wrong way. I have encouraged friends to find an instructional camp where they will get a lot of feedback and have the opportunity to sit in sessions covering important topics. For instance "If you totally blow a call how do you respond to an irate coach" or "at what point does an emotional coach shift to a disrespectful coach" etc etc. For a new official, this may be a completely demoralizing situation to think about and those situations can ruin your game. Not all clinicians are the best, but there going to be things that you'll learn in a very intense 3 day period that you won't during the season, primarily because you have paid to have a talented official watch and give you feedback.

My mentor told me that a camp is worth 3 seasons. I found that to be accurate in my experience. Even though I felt lost at camp, I felt very confident when I got back home. It was almost like a steroid for my confidence level.

The only camp I went to was instructional, although assigners were acting as clinicians. Many of the guys had attended other camps where the feedback was less frequent, and they didn't learn as much. We had very candid conversations, so there was no reason for them to sugar coat their opinions.

Bottom line: not all camps are created equally, but some are very helpful. Ask a number of people their opinion, since bias exists with the recommendations you'll receive.

[BillyMac]

I don't know if this applies to basketball officiating, or, anything else for that matter, but according to journalist Malcom Gladwell, mastery of anything, whether it's the Beatles in music, or Bill Gates in the computer world, takes 10,000 hours of practice.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I don't know if this applies to basketball officiating, or, anything else for that matter, but according to journalist Malcom Gladwell, mastery of anything, whether it's the Beatles in music, or Bill Gates in the computer world, takes 10,000 hours of practice.

I was once told it takes a minimum of 7 seasons before one is ready "to work any game" in local our jurisdiction. The top 2 games would be Game 3 of the BV city final and the regional BV final.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

I was once told it takes a minimum of 7 seasons before one is ready "to work any game" in local our jurisdiction. The top 2 games would be Game 3 of the BV city final and the regional BV final.

My local board, according to our bylaws, will not assign a single varsity game to anyone unless they have worked four years, including the cadet year, as a subvarsity official, no matter how good they are. Members can't work a "full" varsity schedule until they have worked three years as a "split" (both varsity and subvarsity games) official.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

My local board, according to our bylaws, will not assign a single varsity game to anyone unless they have worked four years, including the cadet year, as a subvarsity official, no matter how good they are. Members can't work a "full" varsity schedule until they have worked three years as a "split" (both varsity and subvarsity games) official.

Coincidence? 4 + 3 = 7!

[jdmara]

I think the biggest tool an official (rookie or veteran) can utilize is video review. Instead of being uneasy about a call you made for the rest of your life (or until you forget about it), you can see it from a different angle (perhaps two if there is video exchange software being used) and analyze your call. Did the defender establish initial LGP? Did the defender move into the ball handler? etc... I think it's underutilized by newer officials because it does take a lot of time to get proficient at using the information gleaned.

For my high school games, I arrive at the site, introduce myself to game management, and hand them a self-addressed stamped envelope with a DVD and ask for a copy. I'm not always successful but I get more of the videos than I have time to watch during the week and it is immensely helpful in my progression as an official.

-Josh

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

My local board, according to our bylaws, will not assign a single varsity game to anyone unless they have worked four years, including the cadet year, as a subvarsity official, no matter how good they are. Members can't work a "full" varsity schedule until they have worked three years as a "split" (both varsity and subvarsity games) official.

How do they handle transfers? I'm not planning on moving to your corner of paradise...just wondering.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by tomegun

How do they handle transfers? I'm not planning on moving to your corner of paradise...just wondering.

I always get a kick out of places who essentially turn away quality varsity-level officials because they tell them they have to work sub-varsity for an arbitrary amount of time.

I know that if I moved somewhere and was told I needed to work 7 years before becoming a full varsity official, my career would be over.

I'm not saying that I'd expect to not be evaluated -- I'd be happy to be seen 1, 2, 4, or 10 times my first season -- whatever they wanted -- but saying that an official, no matter how good, would need to work freshman games to "pay his dues" is ridiculous.

(I ran into something like that when I moved here, BTW. I was able to work a varsity schedule right away but I had to wait 3 years before I was post-season eligible even after 15 years of varsity experience in other states.)

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by tomegun

How do they handle transfers? I'm not planning on moving to your corner of paradise...just wondering.

IAABO transfers fill in, for the most part, seamlessly, including transfers from Connecticut's other local IAABO boards, or from IAABO boards outside Connecticut. Our assigning commissioner communicates with the transfer's previous assignment commissioner and they will usually pick up where they left off. I believe that these transfers are assigned schedules according to the IAABO (International) constitution, and bylaws.

Transfers from non-IAABO associations are another story. Our assignment commissioner will try to get as much information about the transferring official as possible. Our assignment commissioner will also schedule the transferring official for a few preseason scrimmages, and observe said official, and base the transfer's schedule on the observation.

And, yes, it is almost like paradise. Connecticut basketball game fees for 2012-2013: Varsity Fee: $89.76; Sub Varsity Fee: $58.21.