You call yourself a Referee, but You never played varsity hoop?

[Travelling Man]

Originally Posted by Smitty

I get the feeling the OP just wanted everyone to know she played Varsity and college basketball to establish some aspect of credibility here. Based on her posts so far, if that was her goal, I think she failed.

*That is exactly what I woud have expected you to presume; and I must say that I'm a bit disappointed that you have actually confirmed it. No one who writes on this web forum is in need of "credibility" affirmations---I mean for all we know you could be just a kid hiding behind a computer screen spouting off about hoop officiating?

The purpose of my post was to ascertain the utility of real life competitive playing experience in regards to how this prepares one to be a good hoop official. And, as evidenced by the variation in replies it is apparant that such playing experience tends to help in the earlier phases of the profession but levels off as more technical and practical experience is obtained.

[Smitty]

For the exact reasons you stated, I choose to respect the opinions of those who I observe to know what they are talking about based on their experience and how they communicate here. I have learned more about officiating from this site than anywhere else. You've been here 5 minutes and irritated most of the people I respect. Not a great start, but whatever works for you. It is a public forum. At least your posts are about basketball officiating...can't say that for a few others during the off season.

[Sharpshooternes]

Originally Posted by smitty

for the exact reasons you stated, i choose to respect the opinions of those who i observe to know what they are talking about based on their experience and how they communicate here. I have learned more about officiating from this site than anywhere else. You've been here 5 minutes and irritated most of the people i respect. Not a great start, but whatever works for you. It is a public forum. At least your posts are about basketball officiating...can't say that for a few others during the off season.

+ 1

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Travelling Man

...---I mean for all we know you could be just a kid hiding behind a computer screen spouting off about hoop officiating?
....

How do we know you are a working mom?

Your personality on the forum is not consistent with someone who felt intimidated being a woman in a man's game, which is how you presented yourself initially.

We've seemed to inspire a new level of self-confidence.

[blindzebra]

Some of the WORST officials I have seen are former star players.

[JetMetFan]

Originally Posted by blindzebra

Some of the WORST officials I have seen are former star players.

I worked with a guy this summer at camp who was a former D1 player. He said the biggest surprise when he started officiating about 5-6 years ago was how little he really knew about the rules.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by blindzebra

Some of the WORST officials I have seen are former star players.

Originally Posted by JetMetFan

I worked with a guy this summer at camp who was a former D1 player. He said the biggest surprise when he started officiating about 5-6 years ago was how little he really knew about the rules.

Yup.

Former players often are very poor on the side of rules...at least for a while, and sometimes, forever. They may understand the plays and what the players experience, but that doesn't really matter if they're calling over-the-back and reaches as they wanted their entire playing career or calling a block because a defender stepped backwards before being charged into.

I know many officials who, being former players, get by more on charisma and presence than they do by getting actually calls correct. Some just make stuff up but get away with it due to their ability to sell it.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Travelling Man

*That is exactly what I woud have expected you to presume; and I must say that I'm a bit disappointed that you have actually confirmed it. No one who writes on this web forum is in need of "credibility" affirmations---I mean for all we know you could be just a kid hiding behind a computer screen spouting off about hoop officiating?

The purpose of my post was to ascertain the utility of real life competitive playing experience in regards to how this prepares one to be a good hoop official. And, as evidenced by the variation in replies it is apparant that such playing experience tends to help in the earlier phases of the profession but levels off as more technical and practical experience is obtained.

So, I want to get this straight, so help me if I'm wrong.

You're disappointed that you've been judged; but you fully expected us to judge you.

Is that about right?

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by Adam

So, I want to get this straight, so help me if I'm wrong.

You're disappointed that you've been judged; but you fully expected us to judge you.

Is that about right?

You're wrong. He didn't asked to be judged. He asked for feedback. Very little was given. You judge a referee after his performance on the floor, their attention to detail, coach/player control. Rule knowledge, and how to properly call them [do not defer to NBA IMO]

When I first started umping baseball, it helped me tremendously having good game knowledge. I felt I got a much better head start advancing. In some cases that also came back to bite me a little in the butt. I was one of the few willing to work with raw, no baseball knowledge, umpires. I had to umpire, watch my partner, and the play too. I had to take my heat right there with the newb also.

I think it's sad that posters that started at point A at one time can't help those starting at point A themselves, and are wanting to try, and move up the alphabet. It says something that the maker of the OP gets the impression that that, "Hey, you played at a somewhat higher competition level than most, so you probably wouldn't be the best fit as an official.

[Smitty]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

It says something that the maker of the OP gets the impression that that, "Hey, you played at a somewhat higher competition level than most, so you probably wouldn't be the best fit as an official.

This is a huge leap from what has been said and is not remotely what anyone has said or implied. Except you.

[potato]

No doubt having experience in playing the game helps understanding the rules, but you don't need to be in HS or College game to learn that, any games should give you some insight.

But i seriously doubt there's any refs whom never played a basketball game ever.

It's like a Race Car Driver turned Mechanics, he might not know the mechanic part as well as other experienced mechanics but he has other insights gained by having previously driven race cars. Having experience of both players & ref is nothing else but a good thing. If you never dined in a fine restaurant before you probably have hard time understanding what the diners wants, sure the manager can teach you all that but nothing beats actually experiencing it & learning what a diner wants from a diner point of view. Then you'll be able to see both sides of a coin before passing judgement.

[Travelling Man]

Originally Posted by potato

No doubt having experience in playing the game helps understanding the rules, but you don't need to be in HS or College game to learn that, any games should give you some insight.

But i seriously doubt there's any refs whom never played a basketball game ever.

It's like a Race Car Driver turned Mechanics, he might not know the mechanic part as well as other experienced mechanics but he has other insights gained by having previously driven race cars. Having experience of both players & ref is nothing else but a good thing. If you never dined in a fine restaurant before you probably have hard time understanding what the diners wants, sure the manager can teach you all that but nothing beats actually experiencing it & learning what a diner wants from a diner point of view. Then you'll be able to see both sides of a coin before passing judgement.

*pretty good analogy!

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by potato

But i seriously doubt there's any refs whom never played a basketball game ever.

Don't bet on that. I've seen some enter our training program that really seem like they've just seen the game for the first time.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Don't bet on that. I've seen some enter our training program that really seem like they've just seen the game for the first time.

I believe one used to frequent the board.

[Smitty]

Originally Posted by Travelling Man

No one who writes on this web forum is in need of "credibility" affirmations---I mean for all we know you could be just a kid hiding behind a computer screen spouting off about hoop officiating?

This is absolutely false. The one thing that makes this web forum useful is that you can pretty quickly notice who has experience and knows what they're talking about and who doesn't. In any web forum, it pays, as a newbie, to lurk for a while and see how things "work" before diving in head first and thumping your chest, without earning some respect yourself. Maybe this is your way of trying to earn some respect, but your years of experience (and at what levels) in officiating and rules knowledge define your credibility here. Not when and where you played - that's virtually irrelevant. Credibility is everything in this forum.