You need to be really careful about "advice" from "veterans". I cannot tell you how many phone calls and e-mails I have gotten the past several years about "veterans" providing "feedback" to young officials that is 100% wrong.
Keep in mind that a lot of "veterans" think they know everything, and that their way is the only way. Listen to them, thank them, and then walk away and make up your own mind. There s a bell curve for everything in life. Years experience does not force you to the top of the bell curve, unless you are in a union.
Really good mentors will always give you ideas to help you further shape and develop your own philosophies and personal style of officiating. They will understand what makes you successful, and prod you into areas where further development will make you a better individual official and partner. They understand that there are many ways to be a great game manager, different kinds of game awareness, and judgment philosophies that all can be used at different times to be the best you can be in each game, because every game is different. I have games where there is no question that I have the most authority and credibility on the floor, and not necessarily because I am the best official of the 3. There are other games where I am the best of the 3, but I defer to a partner because he is the best to set the tone or work situations as they arise.
"Veterans" like to hear themselves talk a lot. They are always right, because they've been around longer than you. They also don't want you taking their games.
Remember: Smile, thanks, and then do what you know is right.
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