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Welcome from The Editor |
With the basketball season just around the
corner this should indeed be an exciting time for all referees.
Information in the October 2000 Newsletter should have assisted
your preparation phase for the upcoming season. At this point
you should have an adrenaline flow, ready for the scrimmages
and the final tune-up for opening night.
Consider the following:
1.The players are in full swing with pre-season conditioning
or practices. Can you say, wind sprints.
2.The coaches are in tape reviews, determining offensive and
defensive strategy. Can you say, up-tight.
3.Team uniforms have been ordered by the equipment manager.Will
the shorts be closer to the knee or ankle this year?
4.The cheerleading teams are selected and in full practice. Maybe
this year during a time out you will actually see the first 4
leveled standing pyramid stunt.
5.Athletic administrators are marketing and pre-selling tickets.
The ticket lines will get longer for some as soon as the pre-season
polls are announced.
6.Fans are at the malls and bookstores purchasing team apparel
in preparation for the season and holiday gift shopping. Although
his closet is already full of the other animal ties you gave
him during the last 20 years, hurry and get Uncle Bob that tie
with the tiger on it. You may as well complete the zoo.
7.And finally, the bands and dance teams are practicing this
season’s routine to the song that referees are sure to hear
all year long……WHO LET THE DOGS OUT? , WOOF, WOOF,
WOOF, WOOF, WOOF... |
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Topic of the Month |
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Game Assignments 2000-2001.
The waiting game is on at every level for
the impending assignments to cover this year’s basketball
season. Pass the envelope please, and let’s take a look
inside. Now for the agonizing questions that most referees ask
themselves when they receive that envelope. How many games, where
are the games, who are the teams playing in the games, who are
my partners ( who is the “R”), are the games televised
or not, and are they conference games or not? With the season’s
assignments on the horizon, there can be a level of anxiety for
some officials in anticipation of “the games”.
Unfortunately, this anxiety is often due
to the number of games received or the perceived quality (“BIG”)
of games. Since schedules are starting to be sent out I suggest
that you take some time and do an internal check in an attempt
to better focus on your responsibility to the assignments
you receive regardless of the number of assignments or
who is playing in those games. Self assess on the schedule
that you have received, anticipate coming, or know to be your
final schedule. Are the vibes that you are feeling more positive
or negative? Are you placing blame on your assignor? Are you
comparing your schedule in relation to other referee’s schedules?
Are these feelings short term or do they linger on day after
day?
Remember you don’t control the
number of assignments you receive, but you do control
how you perform in the assignments you have.
There is really only one important question
you should ask yourself regarding your schedule. Ask yourself,
if you are ready to take a positive approach to work each
and every game with 100% focus and effort as if it were the
game for the basketball championship of the world. Attitude is
a choice. Being positive and taking personal responsibility
for each and every assignment is a vital part of your role
as an official to the players, coaches and basketball community.
If you aren’t willing to do that, you should turn back the
assignment. Someone else will gladly give the effort that you
aren’t willing to give. And you can feel good about your
honesty in not accepting the assignment.
If you accept the assignment, DO THE WORK
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Getting Ready |
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Here are a few tips to use during the scrimmage
season to help your preparation.
1.Look at the scrimmage as an opportunity,
not as a chore. There is room to improve, and you need to prepare.
2.Have a good group pre-scrimmage meeting and pay close attention
to new rules, new points of emphasis, and new mechanics and signals.
3.Spend a few minutes with the team and coaches to review the
new rules. This is a good time to include the ENTIRE crew in
the participation, not just the “R”. Set egos aside
and be a good leader and partner.
4.Officiate the scrimmage with a more literal interpretation
and adjudication of the rules. Do not take a “let’em
play” approach. You would do all games justice by ALWAYS
taking a “referees set the tempo” approach.
5.If there are several referees working the scrimmage, the group
goal should be to keep the same (good) tempo regardless of which
combination of officials are on the floor.
6.Pay particular attention to clock management and end of period
communications with your partners.
7.Do a post scrimmage critique. Be open and honest with yourself
and your partners.
8.If you bring you own VCR to the scrimmage and plug into the
school’s system (if possible) you can review your tape. |
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Life Tip for the Month |
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Highway Safety.
Most officials will use automobile travel to some degree when
going to and from games. I am sure that you probably have experienced
some of the same annoying and dangerous situations that I have.
For this season why not try to help the situation on the highway
be using the following guidelines:
1. Use your turn signal before changing
lanes or making turns.
2. Use the left lane(s) for passing, not sightseeing.
3. Don’t run traffic lights that you see turn RED.
4. Do not drink and drive. And by the way, meals behind the wheel
aren’t a good idea either. |
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Question of the Month |
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How long should a high school official
have to referee before they can work varsity basketball? - Name
withheld by request.
I feel the key to advancement is readiness.
There should always be the concern by an assignor of having officials
on the court with the ability to manage the game. The skills
needed to do that effectively include rules knowledge and application
skills, some demonstrated on court experience for mechanics and
signals, leadership skills, the ability to blend with partners,
and having a good approach to the game of basketball (attendance
and participation in regular association meetings and summer
camps). That all comes quicker and easier for some individuals
than others.
I have always supported giving officials
the opportunity to move up the ladder as soon as they are ready.
To me that can be determined by evaluation in higher level scrimmage
situations and at summer camps along with a “merit mentality”.
It is easy to determine an official’s readiness when you
actually see them perform in a higher level game; rather than
make a subjective evaluation in a game at the level they currently
work. If the bar isn’t raised, how does the assignor really
know? And if they really don’t know (personal comfort zone),
most will rely on the “number of years” clause. Do
I agree with the concept that advancement be based on number
of years, NO I do not. I would, however support organizational
guidelines and assignor advancement decisions based on merit
regardless of years of experience. I have observed many talented
young officials that become success stories and number of years
in training was not the factor. Usually quality instruction and
guidance works very well for the talented prospect. In a competitive
avocation like basketball officiating I believe ALL OFFICIALS
should be given the opportunity to advance based on MERIT and
not TENURE.
In a competitive avocation like basketball
officiating ALL OFFICIALS should be given the opportunity
to advance based on MERIT and not TENURE.
Question of the month submitted for
December: I am required (expected)
to go to the summer camp run by my collegiate assignor if I am
to be eligible for assignments in that conference. What do feel
about that ? |
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Thought for the Month |
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If you give just a little
It may help just a few
But the help that you give them
May make them want to give too
And what starts as a trickle
Soon rolls like the tide
All these people reaching out
With their arms open wide
And then it comes back to you
Lifts your spirit high above
Cause you gave just a little
But got repaid with much love. |
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If you have an opinion on the December question
visit www.toliverbasketball.com
and respond. I will offer my thoughts on the question in the
DECEMBER newsletter. Stay well…..gt |
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Copyright 2000. Toliver Basketball.com.
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part of any
article without permission is prohibited. The thoughts in this
newsletter are the property of the writer. I will not be responsible
for anything contained as it reflects my opinion. While topics
may be cutting edge in content it is the intent of the newsletter
to stimulate positive interaction and growth for the readers. |
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