New Official

[tjslax]

My first scrimmage is in 4 hours. Any last minute advise from you veterans?

[CoachRob]

Call in sick?? No, actually, arrive 30 minutes early, meet with your partner to review mechanics, enter the field 20 minutes before FO, inspect the goals and field, and follow what you've been taught. Make sure you have an extra whistle, and you might bring some zip ties to fix any holes in the goal if the coach does not have any available.

Other than that, expect to make mistakes and move on. The players will make MANY more errors than you do. And oh yes, don't watch the pretty girls on the sidelines; very distracting.

[LaxRef]

Don't be in a hurry to blow the whistle to kill the play. The biggest mistake new officials make is to think "I saw a foul!" and then blow the whistle when they should be doing a play-on or throwing a flag.

Don't let play-ons go for more than a few seconds.

Try to keep straight which fouls are personal and which are technical, so you don't blow the whistle for a loose-ball technical (which should normally be a play-on).

When you're the lead, stay on the goal line extended and move in as close to the goal as you can; back out if you have to.

When you're the trail, stand near the corner of the box and back out toward midfield anticipating a change of possession when the ball becomes loose. If the attack regains possession, drop back in.

And--I hope I'm not overwhelming you--finally, be aware when you're the "on" official and when you're the "off" official and don't watch the ball when you're the "off." In particular, if you're the off official, watch the shooter or passer to see if there's a late hit whenever possible.

Good luck, and tell us how it goes.

[shrekjr]

Uh oh, he didn't report back!

[CoachRob]

Hopefully he didn't get clubbed over the head for a bad call! Sounds bad when you don't hear back from a new official. Maybe a search party is in order?? He lives in Vermont. They MUST have State Troopers who can find him.

Did you hear about the Chinese food delivery guy in NYC who got stuck in an elevator for four days before he was found? THAT'S crazy. Now I'm no detective, but you'd think they would have started the search where he was going to deliver food.

[Snake~eyes]

Hopefully he didn't get clubbed over the head for a bad call!
Must of reffed that team coached by uhh that Coach Rob character.

[tjslax]

Here I am. Away from the computer for a short time. Thanks for the halp guys it was a great experience. No problems with the rules, some positioning issues I'll have to work on, and communication with my partner (sometimes forgetting to give the ready to play signal, more visable "he's in the box" signal etc.)
I called the only 2 time serving penalties in the game so I couldn't compare my calls with my partners but...overall it was great and I'm excited to have joined the officiating ranks!

By the way we had 5 (not a typo, five) officials at the game. I have never seen so many officials in one place before. It was great though, we took shifts and I always had someone to answer a question.

[LaxRef]

Here I am. Away from the computer for a short time. Thanks for the halp guys it was a great experience. No problems with the rules, some positioning issues I'll have to work on, and communication with my partner (sometimes forgetting to give the ready to play signal, more visable "he's in the box" signal etc.)
I called the only 2 time serving penalties in the game so I couldn't compare my calls with my partners but...overall it was great and I'm excited to have joined the officiating ranks![/QUOTE]

Congrats! BTW, the fact that you called any penalties is a good sign; in my experience, a lot of new officials are terrified to call anything at all.

By the way we had 5 (not a typo, five) officials at the game. I have never seen so many officials in one place before. It was great though, we took shifts and I always had someone to answer a question.

Well, you said it was a scrimmage, so it's not unusual to have a bunch of officials there.

One year, my assignor was a little shaky. I had about 3 games where I showed up and there was no partner, and another where there weren't even any teams. Then there was one game where--as if to compensate--four of us showed up. We sent two guys home.

[shrekjr]

I called the only 2 time serving penalties in the game...
That's 2 more than I called in my high school varsity game last night. Lots of little technical foul turnovers, but no flags!!! It's nice to have teams that are that smart and play well. Game was over in 1:25. Don't get too many of those. I'm sure my next game will make up for it.

[3rdPersonPlural]

No problems with the rules, some positioning issues I'll have to work on, and communication with my partner (sometimes forgetting to give the ready to play signal, more visable "he's in the box" signal etc.)
I called the only 2 time serving penalties in the game so I couldn't compare my calls with my partners but...overall it was great and I'm excited to have joined the officiating ranks!

Finally, a topic that I can exert some authority on!

The hardest part of becoming a proficient ref is not recognizing the infractions - if you played you know instinctively what violates the rules - but instantaneously converting the recognition into an action. Do you throw a flag, blow the whistle, or call a play on? This is easy on paper, but on the field things often happen so fast that unless you're completely engaged with the game you'll fumble around and end up calling something that happened 10 steps back.

The key is not to let the jitters that ate at you before this first game to be squelched by confidence.

Never let yourself become an appreciative spectator, even if you've got the best seat in the house to a beautifully played game.

Fight the instinct to mentally multi-task - work, family, and other projects have to stay out of your head no matter what.

Always be rehearsing in your head the calls that you'd be likely to make given the circumstance of the moment. That way when something happens that's actionable, you're already thinking about it.

I'm halfway through my second season, and I still come home from games more mentally than physically exhausted. In the hour you spend on the field, you spend maybe 30 seconds making the decisions you're charged to make ('He stepped in the crease. He wasn't pushed. He still has posession, Blow the whistle.' takes a second to sort out) The challenge is keeping focussed on the game for the other 59 minutes.

[LaxRef]

Finally, a topic that I can exert some authority on!

The hardest part of becoming a proficient ref is not recognizing the infractions - if you played you know instinctively what violates the rules - but instantaneously converting the recognition into an action. Do you throw a flag, blow the whistle, or call a play on? This is easy on paper, but on the field things often happen so fast that unless you're completely engaged with the game you'll fumble around and end up calling something that happened 10 steps back.

I might add that a good way to practice this is to read the rules scenarios in the rulebook and try to envision yourself calling play on, throwing a flag, blowing the whistle, or whatever. Then read the ruling to make sure you made the right call.

[michaeldwilson]

I might add that a good way to practice this is to read the rules scenarios in the rulebook and try to envision yourself calling play on, throwing a flag, blowing the whistle, or whatever. Then read the ruling to make sure you made the right call.

That's exactly what I do when I read the rules. I imagine myself on the field making the calls. I might do it a few times (getting in my reps, you might say). I also do it as I read this board. Great stuff here.

Mike

[laxfan25]

So TJSLax, now that you're at the end of your first season, how was it?
Any good/bad/funny moments stand out? Did you get to work with that eme guy from Putney?

[tjslax]

My first season was great...I loved every minute of it, enev the coach's challenge. I did get to work with eme once...i worked the box while he was "R" for one game (We normally only have 2 officials at a game but, my game was canceled and I didn't find out until I got there so I hung around and helped out).

I can't wait until next year!!! (Hopefully I will get to do some games this summer)

[RockStar]

^^Glad you had a positive experience.

My rookie year of refereeing also went pretty well.

I'll tell you all though, that after putting myself into that position, I do have a new-found respect for most of the professional officials who do the elite junior, senior, college and pro games!

I grew out of being a screaming thickwit of a ref-abuser several years ago as I learned more about the game (As you all know, the loudest fans are usually the most poorly informed!).

Now, having actually worn the whistle, I rarely if ever criticize judgement calls vocally, and am often explaining to nearby fans why a call actually wasn't too bad, after telling them to shut-up.

[LaxRef]

My first season was great...I loved every minute of it, enev the coach's challenge.

What was the coach's challenge?

[tjslax]

What was the coach's challenge?

I may have mentioned it before, but I'm not sure of the thread...The challanging coach (varsity coach at a JV game) contended that we had misapplied a slash call because he did not intend to slash him. ( I also had to teach my partner the new rule on the double horn. He wanted the coach to wait until 4 min left in halftime.

[laxfan25]

I may have mentioned it before, but I'm not sure of the thread...The challanging coach (varsity coach at a JV game) contended that we had misapplied a slash call because he did not intend to slash him. ( I also had to teach my partner the new rule on the double horn. He wanted the coach to wait until 4 min left in halftime.
So that was a good experience, you got to ask the coach if he wanted to use the rest of his timeout to talk to his team!

[tjslax]

Actually, no-I was so into making sure my partner knew what was going on and getting the varsity coach out of the situation (the JV coach apparently had no idea what was happening-he did not want to or even know that he could challenge the call) I forgot to assess the timeout. At halftime however I informed both coaches that I should have done so...and would on any subsequent mis-challenges (is that a word?)

[laxfan25]

A learning experience again! That's the great thing about reffing lacrosse, you're constantly presented with these learning opportunities. Even after 20 years of reffing and 36 years in the game I still find chances to learn! My inadvertant flag-down this year was one. Threw a flag for a slash, saw it was his own teammate and got really flummoxed. First I thought about casually picking it up, as if no one had seen it (right!), then just waited till the ball was dropped to whistle and award by AP. My partners gently reminded me at the half of the proper procedure. Another lesson learned,a nd a mistake I won't hopefully repeat.
Welcome to the fraternity of zebras, I'm glad you had a great first year and I wish you well in the future.

[tjslax]

Thanks...Happy to be here!

[blindbill]

This was a great thread for me too, for my rookie season. I made a copy of it and kept it in my back pack and read it before I went on the field (I think it's still in there).

I reffed HS, U-15, U-12 during the 2 month season, and I now have the opportunity to ref a post college (we get some pretty good ex academy players and even some pros)get up game once a week. It's quite different than U-12!!!

No coaches challenges, but some player challenges by **ACK** by some players that ACTUALLY know something about the rules! **ACK** I've come out pretty good in my explanations of my application and interpretation of specific rules.

At least they've asked me back!!

This Forum has been THE difference, and I encourage everyone, especially those players that express and interest in coaching, to check us out.