Your best tip for a new official??

[Johnny Cakes]

I'm working my way through the Redding guide and trying to memorize the rules in anticipation of taking my local league's training program for new refs this spring.

Two questions:

As an experienced ref, what's the best peice of advice you can give (or were given) that's not found in any rulebook?

Also, is there a progression of where refs are assigned? I don't mean from JV to Varsity, I mean what's the first position refs normally start at and what's the progression from there (Referee, Head Linesman, Line Judge, Umpire, Back Judge, Side Judge, and Field Judge). I'm thinking it makes sense for me to start watching the official whose position I will be in first.