Anyone get worse after the first few years?

[dsqrddgd909]

I'll try to keep this brief.

4th year, mostly assigned JV B/G doubleheaders, some freshmen and Middle school sprinkled in.

I have tried to improve. I'm in better shape, I'm in the rules and case books. I attend our association's training, I go to clinics, I've got a mentor. I go to watch more experienced officials.

I just don't feel I'm getting better. I think my judgement is getting worse.

Friday night, freshman boy's doubleheader in tournament. Aggressive D by both teams, poor shooting, so lots of changes of possession and rebounding. Late in Q2, I have what I think is a 50/50 charge/block call on a fast break. I go with charge (trying to remember what my mentor told me that if it's 50/50 go with the charge and it will help clean up play). A's coach vehemently disagrees. I try to explain that the player doesn't have to be a statue and that just makes him angrier. "You're (and it was either freaking, frickin, or F&*(ing) terrible." I T him up. Didn't even handle that right. Didn't inform my partner, just kind of wandered around. At half, partner says Coach may have had a point.

Next morning, Saturday tournament Middle school. Guess at 3 or 4 calls, pass or miss a couple of obvious travels and call some phantom contact.

My question is has anybody else experienced this? I hope I'm not one of those guys that has a rookie year over and over again.

[Adam]

It's not unusual. You're second guessing yourself too much.

Did your partner have anything constructive?

[afsst]

Don't get discouraged. Lower level games are often more difficult to officiate and present tougher calls (because the kids are more out of control). Also, there are only 4 eyeballs on the court instead of 6, so we'll miss more.

The key is the passion and attention you are giving your craft. You obviously have high standards and "grieve" over missed calls...I'm a lot like that too. I don't think that's a negative unless you become obsessive. Some of my favorite officials are able to admit mistakes, but in a non-passionate and non-arrogant way. They just state what they've learned and move on.

One bit of advice a mentor gave me: keep the negative thoughts and words off the court. Don't "lament" bad calls during the game. Stay positive and look to get the next one right. Don't speak negatively about your performance during time outs. I think that just serves to bring the crew down. After the game you can discuss issues with your partner(s). I think if you stay positive, despite what happened 30 seconds ago, you won't have issues "snowball."

[Rufus]

Originally Posted by afsst

Don't get discouraged. Lower level games are often more difficult to officiate and present tougher calls (because the kids are more out of control). Also, there are only 4 eyeballs on the court instead of 6, so we'll miss more.

I've thought about this a bunch and think it's true. I still yo-yo from varsity 3-man to JV/MS 2-man and always found the switch to be jarring. I knew I was missing stuff and felt compelled to press, reach, and basically screw myself into the ground trying to be perfect to make up for everything you're just not going to see when you're "down" an official.

Flash forward to this season and, for some reason, things are a lot more calm whether in 3- or 2-man games. There's a recognition there that stuff gets missed, and even that mistakes are made, but it's not bugging me like it used to (yes, I still evaluate marginal/missed calls, still have discussions, but not in a beat-myself-up way, but more analytical).

What changed? Well, this is year 6 into the officiating odyssey and that may have something to do with it. Maybe I've matured (Nah!) and stopped caring so much what folks (fans, coaches, players) say about me while still listening to what they're saying (yes, nuggets of wisdom can come from the strangest places). Maybe it's that I don't do anything but MS/HS (i.e., no wreck) and so am "fresh" for games. Maybe it's because I came off my second round of camps this summer. In any case, you're asking the right questions and seem to be doing the right things. Hang in there and, if it's what you want to do, I'm confident you'll get there eventually.

[JRutledge]

I have seen it with others for sure. Some people never progress or learn the tricks of the trade to advance their skills. I remember John Adams saying some time ago before he was the NCAA Supervisor, he said, "Some guys just get it and others do not." I think that is somewhat true. And I think many younger officials overanalyze things in their game. We all have bad things happen or deal with conflict even with many years of experience.

It sounds like to me your issue is more about confidence than anything. You have to realize or have the confidence that you will not convince a coach of every one of your calls being right. Most of the time coaches will complain no matter what you call or say to them. I have a coach on Friday who complained every time we called a travel on his players and every time a player on the other team made a move he wanted a travel. It got to the point I had to tell the coach to "knock it off" and he figured it out and did just that. And we kept calling the game the way we did before and after his complaining. I just think you need to stop putting much stock into what coaches say and be confident in what you call. You can also grow your confidence by watching more video of yourself so you can see for yourself if that block/charge is correct. Listening to coaches about anything is really fool's gold.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Keep watching varsity officials work, and notice what they call, and what they don't call.

Make sure that your staying in your primary coverage area. Some of the comments in your post seem to indicate some loss of concentration. It's easier to lose concentration if you're straying away from your primary, and thus, easier to concentrate if you stick your eyes where they're supposed to be stuck.

We often charge technical fouls when we're pissed, and when we're pissed, we can often lose our concentration. I've seen guys try to set up free throws for a technical foul at the wrong basket. When you call a technical foul, slow things down, and I mean really slow things down. Get together with your partner, and let him help you out, even if it means that you don't switch properly on the foul.

[Raymond]

GO TO CAMPS!!! Go to one designed for HS and go to a D3 level camp(even though you are not ready) . IMO nothing improves an official quicker than being in camp with officials who are better than you.

[DRJ1960]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

GO TO CAMPS!!! Go to one designed for HS and go to a D3 level camp(even though you are not ready) . IMO nothing improves an official quicker than being in camp with officials who are better than you.

Wonder why I keep hearing this from top tier officials?

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I have seen it with others for sure. Some people never progress or learn the tricks of the trade to advance their skills. I remember John Adams saying some time ago before he was the NCAA Supervisor, he said, "Some guys just get it and others do not." I think that is somewhat true. And I think many younger officials overanalyze things in their game. We all have bad things happen or deal with conflict even with many years of experience.

It sounds like to me your issue is more about confidence than anything. You have to realize or have the confidence that you will not convince a coach of every one of your calls being right. Most of the time coaches will complain no matter what you call or say to them. I have a coach on Friday who complained every time we called a travel on his players and every time a player on the other team made a move he wanted a travel. It got to the point I had to tell the coach to "knock it off" and he figured it out and did just that. And we kept calling the game the way we did before and after his complaining. I just think you need to stop putting much stock into what coaches say and be confident in what you call. You can also grow your confidence by watching more video of yourself so you can see for yourself if that block/charge is correct. Listening to coaches about anything is really fool's gold.

Peace

I know a few guys who have been at it for 10 years, great guys, but just don't get it, never will.

[Triad zebra]

Originally Posted by dsqrddgd909

Next morning, Saturday tournament Middle school. Guess at 3 or 4 calls, pass or miss a couple of obvious travels and call some phantom contact.

CONCENTRATE!!! DO NOT HEAR THE FANS comments.
Focus on the defensive player and fouls will be easier to see. Work on having a patient whistle.

[Adam]

Freshman coaches know just enough to get them in trouble. When the 50/50 calls come, they want them. When they don't get them, they want to work you for the next one. They all think they'll be the next Dean Smith if they can properly work the officials.

"Coach, the defender had position.". If you need more than that, it should be, "You asked for an explanation, I gave it. Now we're playing ball/moving on."

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by dsqrddgd909

I just don't feel I'm getting better. I think my judgement is getting worse.

Perhaps the problem is that you continue to set the bar higher for yourself. This is not the right job for a perfectionist. There will always be a certain amount of doubt about the quality of ones own performance on any given day. Get input from others, but continue to be your own harshest critic.

[Red_Killian]

Give it some more time. I'll agree with others it appears you have a good attitude but maybe a little too hard on yourself. Ok to think about sitches you could handle better/differently but learn from them and move on. The level of games you are working is difficult, when you move up the skill level gets better and the games actually get easier to work.

Maybe get some input from your assignor(s) or partners you respect if you don't have a mentor.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by just another ref

Perhaps the problem is that you continue to set the bar higher for yourself. This is not the right job for a perfectionist. There will always be a certain amount of doubt about the quality of ones own performance on any given day. Get input from others, but continue to be your own harshest critic.

There are at least 2-3 I second guess every game I work. I remember it for about 10 seconds (if that) and move on. Anything longer and I could miss the next one, too -- and that's something you can avoid.

We all miss some. Basketball's a hard sport to work.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by Rich

There are at least 2-3 I second guess every game I work. I remember it for about 10 seconds (if that) and move on. Anything longer and I could miss the next one, too -- and that's something you can avoid.

We all miss some. Basketball's a hard sport to work.

+1, this is something a lot of "veterans" will not admit.

To the OP:

1. Develop a process to make calls as consistently as possible from game to game. This will include obtaining and maintaining open looks.
2. Keep seeing plays and file them away.
3. Always pick up your defenders (recognize their numbers in your head) and let plays start, develop and finish before blowing your whistle.

Did your partner really say the coach may have a point about you being terrible?