What did you learn this season?
 

What was your biggest improvement or what was the biggest thing you learned or improved on this season?

For me it was to relax and call my game.

Got a ton of practice "officiating the defense" which lead to:

"Feet up" officiating

and

Watching the try for goal all the way through until the shooter returns to the floor and becomes a non shooter.

Additionally - (even) stronger preliminary/telling the story twice - once at the scene and once in the reporting area.

The game slowed down a lot for me and, as a result, my confidence and call accuracy soared. Nor did I lose any numbers.

I learned to try to have some fun this season. I also learned that an occasional night off is a blessing, not a curse. I also did 8 fewer dates than I did last season.

I'm nearing the end of my season (49 down, 1 to go) and for the first time in years I wish it would go another month or two.

Next season I'm cutting back to about 35 dates unless I get picked up somewhere unexpected during the offseason.

Game management. I called 3 "T"s in the HS games. Down from 20 T's 3 years ago. I was more patient. More confident in my calls.

I communicated better with the coaches. I also got much better assignments this year. Games were with better teams, better players, better officials. It was a good year.

I had more fun doing the games, before the game, during the game and after.

It has been a great year. I am thankful. Can't wait for next season.

The last 2 years, I wondered if I was coming back or not. Glad I did.

I worked 68 games this year, 1 to go.

Two things:

Relax - When able to do this and let the game happen rather than stressing out over concentrating on one area or another things went much better.
Coaches - Talk less and don't initiate conversations. Most of my game management issues could've been prevented by adhering to these two things.

Season ended for me a couple of weeks ago.

I learned to use the correct hand when signaling. After reffing rec leagues I was used to doing everything with my right hand. One thing that was pointed out to me immediatly when I joined an association that does HS games was that I need to be able to use either hands to signal depending on the direction so that I'm not turning away from the play or court.

By the end of the season, it was starting to come natural, but it was definatly awkward at first.

Don't be "That Guy!"

I learned that anyone can officiate in the post season in Iowa!:D

So that was you on those videos?

I learned that I have to keep doing what I am doing and control only what I can control.

Peace

Video exposes all the little things you aren't doing right.

I learned that my judgement isn't as good as I thought it was, but what I'm looking at is better than I expected.

Video doesn't lie.

Since I missed the entire season due to my heart surgery, I learned how much I miss it when I'm not working it, especially the little kids games. Two HS kids contacted me to tell me they had been looking forward to having me train them to ref in our local kids rec league and they were really sorry I wasn't able to help them. Previously, I had trained the older brothers of each of them.

If I'm not able to come back next season, it's going to be tough to cope with such a big loss out of my life that I've loved for well over 20 years, especially when you consider I've averaged between 100-150 games per calendar year.

My best to all of you guys and gals and even if I'm gone, always remember the first rule of officiating. :)

I decided early on this season that it wasn't helping my game to call HS one night and NCAA-W the next, so I cut ties with HS ball in early December.

As a result of opening up my Arbiter schedule, I received twice as many college games as last year ... including quarterfinal games in two different conference tournaments.

All in all, it was a very good season.

You actually closed out college supervisors for high school games? I work for HS supervisors with the understanding I'll turn back their games for college games.

Recommendations from the coaches
 

That's who the coaches want to see. There were several crews that struggled to correctly apply continuous motion to plays during the girl's state tournament, so it isn't just limited to these few clips/games.

With Deepest Respect ...
 

With all due respect, "Shut up". And that's coming from the deepest part of my 100% human heart.

Is Iowa a state where coaches' ratings determine who make the state tournament?

I learned:

I can't call three seconds in the lane during a throw-in. :P

Knowing who to listen to for advice and who to ignore.

Many refs can make the right calls and use the right mechanics, but understanding advantage/disadvantage, game management, and how to deal with coaches and players is what separates a good ref from a great ref.

Video is a great learning tool.

I wish...I've only made it as high up as district games. I need a couple more guys to retire at the top of the food chain.

It would also be a bit of a drive too!

True...even though I am a bit of a game whore, but Iowa is a little far for me!

I learned that even though it truly isn't easy, officiating can be a fun experience.

I have to echo the sentiments with relaxing. When I worried more about what I should be doing or where I should be, that was when I struggled with making the right call.

I'm definitely looking forward to next season.

3-person officiating is much, much easier (both from a physical and 'see the entire play' standpoint) than 2-person.

Better to work fewer games/days in the season and end the season wishing you had a few more than to work too many games and get burned out. (last season, I worked 120 games combined rec and High School and was completely burned out at the end. This season I worked 84. Still a lot, but I'm not burned out this time around).

My three "things" to work on all year were,

1) patient whistle
2) watch off-ball
3) illegal screens.

I felt I did a good job of improving in these areas...though I did miss/pass on an illegal screen IN MY LAST high school game of the year! Still mad at myself for that one! Dang.

This is a great thread. Thanks to all.

I've learned that not only do we officials have to keep the foul count even we also need to keep the shooting fouls the same. :rolleyes:

*Be more of a facilitator and less of a Rulebook Charlie.

*Camps help. Do more.

*There are no deadlines to reach a certain level. Relax and improve your game.

*P90X doesn't make you thin, but it does help your performance on the court.