Feeling Good about last night's semi final game! After 40 minutes of play, team "white" was victorious over team "red" by 12 points. Everything I had learned in the 10 previous SEP games, I now OWN.
Clock start / stop correctly? Check!
Foul count balance? Check! At the end of the first period, 6/6; at the end of the second period, 9/10
Evaluator happy? Check!-- all six of them!
Act like a CREW? CHECK!!
What made the difference? Besides an unyielding desire to improve as an individual, the CREW had the desire to improve as TEAM. From the outset, our pre-game discussion, taking place fully one hour before tip, set the tone for our performance. We discussed and agreed upon how we would handle pre-game warm-ups, judgement on verticality, rebound post play, illegal screens, and technical fouls. We shared feedback from earlier SEP games with the goal of all three of us improving and succeeding. I could feel that we were a crew from the moment we took the floor. The evaluators' feedback focused on minor things in contrast to that of earlier SEP games. For example, when one of us was unsure of possession on an out of bounds and called to another for help, the responding official, if he has correct knowledge, should provide color and point direction emphatically. If he does not have knowledge, he is to immediately point to the third official. During time-outs, when the "first horn" sounded indicating that there is 15 seconds left before expiration of the time out, I should stand by the team huddle in clear view of the coach. My presence should prompt him to return his players to the floor and not risk a delay of game warning. By rule, players are to return to the floor before the horn that indicates the expiration of time-out. However, given the fact that this was a semi-final, we exercised latitude in issuing fouls, which is part of game management.
Evaluators were smiling. The nature of their feedback hinted that we had reach a level of proficiency in acting as a crew, which, you may recall was the single most difficult goal to achieve for me. The most telling feedback was from our Vice President of Training, the main kahuna for the promotion of officials within our association when he said, "You all called an excellent game". That was enough for me.
Am I feeling good? Nah-- I am feeling GREAT!
