Here is an excellent article sent to us by a blog fan. It is directed primarily at football and basketball officials but holds a lot of truth for tennis officials.
"So you've decided on a life in stripes. What have you gotten yourself into? Rookie officials face a host of challenges as they get ready for their first season. The life of an official is not for everyone, evidenced by the high percentage of newcomers who don't return for their sophomore season. Your local association will provide you with training and guidance as you prepare for your first night on the field or on the court. The NFHS will provide the rulebooks and manuals, and your state association will most likely provide additional information and direction on state guidelines.
But what are the intangibles, the real secrets behind becoming a successful official? What are some of the tips that will help you shake off your "rookie" moniker as quickly as possible?
Here are four tips for first-year officials that will help make your initial season a productive one.
* LEARN THE RULEBOOK. That seems to be a constant refrain among the heads of officials associations, who say that a rookie official who knows the rules has a greater chance of success than one who just thinks he does. Read the rulebook, casebook and officials manuals every chance you get. Over lunch. Before bedtime. On the train or bus. By the end of your first season, the books should be so threadbare you'll need to get another set.
* BE A LISTENER, NOT A TALKER. Crews love to chat, but rookies need to admit that they have less to add to the conversation than an official who's served for two decades. Every official a rookie runs into can teach him or her something. Obviously you can learn much from a 15-year line judge who's mastered his mechanics. But listening to your fellow rookies also can be educational.; Why make the mistakes yourself, when you can learn from another rookie's gaffe?
* FORGET MONEY. That's an obvious one, but its one that overlooked. Most associations are very up front with recruits that the money shouldn't be a motivator, but it bears repeating. The Atlanta Area Football Officials Association, like many others, pays its officials at the end of the season in one lump sum, and many of its members look at it as a modest Christmas Club account.
* GAIN EXPERIENCE ANYWHERE YOU CAN. Is your association calling preseason intrasquad scrimmages or games? Work as many as you can. Have an extra Saturday available? Officiate a B-team game. Tell your assignor you're available should a last-minute vacancy occur. Take every opportunity to gain onfield experience. Remeber, a rookie who calls two games a week is twice as experience as the rookie who calls just one."
Lots of good advice and definitely has truths for a rookie tennis official...
4 comments:
I especially like the "be a listener, and not a talker" point. Arrogance will kill your opportunities. I've encountered way too situations where a new official thinks they know everything and won't listen to very good advice. My pet peave is those who respond "I respectively disagree" when provided advice that should be taken to heart.
The new ones that amaze me the most are the ones who say, "I know that" whenever you tell them anything. My standard response is, "If you know that, then why aren't you doing it?"
Doesn't really help but helps my inner frustrations and turmoil.
I think that the comment that Sharpie shared came from an older official down Houston way.
I guess some of them never learn.
"lump sum payment at the end of the season"? You've got to be kidding. Maybe some of those football officials have taken a few too many blows to the head.
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