Supervisor of Officials: Brian Abbott Assigner: Kelly
Holman
What can you do in the off-season to improve yourself for next year?
You can be as busy as you want to be in June. Some of those opportunities are officiating camps, team camps, and the Utah
Summer Games. I was able to officiate 37 games in the month of June. For some of us, with limited availabilty during
the year that may be a full season worth of games. Typically, the outcome of the games are less important to the teams
and coaches and you can work on things you may not be willing to try during the season. The Utah Summer Games is
the exception. If you want to put yourself in situations where you will be tested, this is the place. Not
only are the games competitive, they can also be intense. You can learn how to indentify, and deal with
problem players because in some cases there are 10 on the court and a few on the bench.
Camps are probably
the most important things you can do. As you know we must attend a camp once every 3 years to stay varsity and post-season
eligible, but that isn't the only reason to go. No matter what camp you choose to attend you can learn things if you go in with
the right attitude. Most of the camp evaluators attend high-profile camps and bring the information they learned with them.
While at the SUOA Camp I learned two valuable off-the-court lessons. The first came in a discussion about our rating.
I was one who was hung up on a specific number. It was like the topic was just for me. All of us want to know we are improving
and look to our rating as the most important indicator of improvement. The evaluation committee ranks us by with numbers ranging
from 100-450 in 50 point increments. However, they also break it down further and one way you can see that is based on your
game assignments. If your game assignments start at a 250 level to begin the season, and end the season close at 200 ,
you can see you are improving. Your ranking at the end of season may still be a 250, but based on you assingments
you have improved. You might be a 210, and if you get get hung up on being a 200 you might hold yourself back by not
having a good attitude going into next season.
The second lesson came when Casey McClellan talked to us about
finding a mentor. He was lucky enough have Mike Littlewood as his. Mike officiated at the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight
two years ago and his highly respected among NCAA Officials. Casey talked about feeling great after officiating a game and thinking
Mike wouldn't have much to say to him, but then getting a page full of things to work on. Casey worked on those things and developed
into a College Basketball Official himself. There are accomplished officials in our association and I haven't run into one yet
who isn't willing to help out another official. Develop a relationship with at least one of them and ask them for help.
Invite them to your games to evaluate you. If you want to improve and develop into the best official you can be find a mentor
and work on the things they give you.
Summer can be the best time to improve so don't let the time go to waste!!
Coby Millett-Website
Administrator
