What To Do When You Are Less Experienced but More Talented

Recently I was approached by a younger official asking me how he could deal more effectively with other referees who had more experience than he did, but less talent.

As a young referee in Texas back in the 1980’s, I could advance to the highest level of high school officiating just by working more games than others. It was possible to become a Division 1 high school referee, the highest level possible in Texas high school basketball, and be a less than acceptable official. I was fortunate that, even though I advanced quickly to a Division 1 high school official, I had a bit of talent to accompany the number of games I accrued over several seasons.

Today, I notice talented younger referees advancing much faster than if they had to wait to get a varsity schedule once they worked enough games to become a Division 1 high school official. But there are still officials out there who think experience trumps talent.

It doesn’t. Talent trumps everything.

So what do you do if you are a young referee who possesses tremendous talent and you are teamed with two referees that have more experience than you, but lack the talent you do to understand rules and their application, demonstrate approved mechanics, comprehend the importance of correct positioning while refereeing, and exercise fair judgement while on the court?

First, understand that when you referee, you do not referee by yourself. You are part of a team, and as a part of a team you have certain responsibilities. Understand those responsibilities and stick to them in the locker room and on the court.

Second, depending on the environment you step into, your other officials might be the only friends you have on the court and in the arena. Appreciate that and embrace it.

Third, protect your primary and be careful when you reach beyond your primary. “Protecting your primary” means you take pride in making sure the area of the floor you are most responsible for when it comes to blowing the whistle or not is managed well throughout the game – live ball and dead.

Fourth, use dead ball situations to huddle with your fellow officials to discuss plays that have occurred in the past, and what the next segment of the ball game might present to your crew. During live ball situations, exercise eye contact, approved mechanics, and your voice to communicate with your partners what is happening in the game, and what may happen in the game.

Fifth, as a member of the crew, show your partners that you are “coachable” through the game. Ask questions like, “Did you see the block shot play I had in front of me? Do you think I got that right?” The more you demonstrate that you are “coachable” during the game, the greater chance the rest of your crew will demonstrate those same behaviors.

Sixth, when you know your partner has missed a call in the game, at the next dead ball approach them and ask “What did you see on that block/charge play?” They will usually explain what they saw, and then you can share what you saw. Make sure when you describe the play, you use approved basketball language found in the rulebook and casebook – language like “established legal guarding position”, “verticality”, “A to B”, and so forth.

Finally, remember that you are a team out there, and that it is the responsibility of the entire crew to give both teams a fair, consistent, and positive basketball experience. It’s better to swallow a little pride (and then make a note to yourself that you might not want to work with that certain official again) and officiate with fairness and consistency to give the players, coaches, and fans the best experience possible that evening.

And that’s “The Primary Focus”.