My worst game yet.

I had someone observe me once, in a JV girls game. The game was over 3 minutes into the first with the score 18-0, visitors. The observer commented that I lost focus after the game was out of hand. He was absolutely correct....I lost focus because I was trying to switch into game management mode.

I also work soccer -- and when you go to do an USSF assessment the observer will throw out his observation if the game was not challenging/difficult enough. Their rationale is that officiating a low-quality game does not provide opportunity to show your true colors as a referee.

The takeaway is this: do your best to focus, but also realize that how you do in this uncompetitive game is not a true reflection of your skill as an official. Even great officials can struggle in a terrible game.

[JetMetFan]

1. Find things in your game you can work on.
2. Call fouls that need to be called so that...
3. All of the participants leave with the body parts they arrived with, preferably still attached to their bodies.

[Rufus]

Originally Posted by JetMetFan

1. Find things in your game you can work on.
2. Call fouls that need to be called so that...
3. All of the participants leave with the body parts they arrived with, preferably still attached to their bodies.

This, especially #1. How many times, without having to do countless wreck games, do you have the opportunity to work on areas of officiating? Things like clock management, rotations, table communications, mechanics - it's all there and the great thing is you're getting paid to do it (note I didn't say you're mailing in the effort, just that you're also taking the opportunity to polish aspects of your game).

[bob jenkins]

"My worst game yet."

You're still young. It will get worse.

[DRJ1960]

1 vs 8 Girls AAA District Tourney blowout... final score was 80 something to something in the teens. Partners wanted to know why I was still running in the 4th qtr....

[dee33]

I had one last night 114-14 i had to slow the game down mentally and really just worked on mechanics court movement and game management it was rough especially when the team was up 40-2 at the end of the first quarter.

[JetMetFan]

Originally Posted by DRJ1960

1 vs 8 Girls AAA District Tourney blowout... final score was 80 something to something in the teens. Partners wanted to know why I was still running in the 4th qtr....

Answer: “Because you never know who is watching.”

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by AremRed

The observer commented that I lost focus after the game was out of hand. He was absolutely correct....I lost focus because I was trying to switch into game management mode.

Tell us more about what you mean by "lost focus" and "game management mode."

Originally Posted by just another ref

Tell us more about what you mean by "lost focus" and "game management mode."

Sure!

"lost focus" -- I started thinking about how to better manage a game that was turning into a blowout.

"game management mode" -- using preventative officiating to curb any potential problems that may arise (such as fighting/rough play, taunting, etc.) due to the losing team's frustration. This mostly includes calling more of the marginal fouls and violations committed by the winning team.

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by AremRed

Sure!

"lost focus" -- I started thinking about how to better manage a game that was turning into a blowout.

"game management mode" -- using preventative officiating to curb any potential problems that may arise (such as fighting/rough play, taunting, etc.) due to the losing team's frustration. This mostly includes calling more of the marginal fouls and violations committed by the winning team.

Doesn't sound like you lost focus to me. More like you shifted focus a bit, in a positive manner from where I'm sitting. Surely there was more to his critique than simply "lost focus"?

Originally Posted by just another ref

Doesn't sound like you lost focus to me. More like you shifted focus a bit, in a positive manner from where I'm sitting. Surely there was more to his critique than simply "lost focus"?

I wish, he didn't elaborate. He wasn't an official observer, just one of the varsity officials on the game after mine. He arrived early and I asked him to give me notes on how I did. I stuck around for his game and quickly realized the sad truth -- I'm already better than that guy.

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by AremRed

I wish, he didn't elaborate. He wasn't an official observer, just one of the varsity officials on the game after mine. He arrived early and I asked him to give me notes on how I did. I stuck around for his game and quickly realized the sad truth -- I'm already better than that guy.

Even if that's true, it's still a good idea to ask for his opinions after watching your game. Anything he might say has potential to provoke thought which may help you to improve, whether you agree with it or not.

Originally Posted by just another ref

Even if that's true, it's still a good idea to ask for his opinions after watching your game. Anything he might say has potential to provoke thought which may help you to improve, whether you agree with it or not.

I agree, and I do that quite often. However I left out the part where he said "I know you want to do it by the book but....". That's pretty much when I stopped listening.