Avoid Phantoms/Ticky-Tack

Phantom calls are the worst calls you can make, and it happens more than anyone admits. I know this because it happens in my area more than I would like, so I can only assume that it happens to everyone.

Nobody likes to be labeled as calling "ticky-tack", either. Well, no good officials want that in reference to them. And that happens to most people at some point, too.

I heard a great line this past week that helped me calibrate my judgment: "Let the fouls call themselves."

How great is that? It makes you have a patient whistle. It helps you just call the obvious. It will help with coach and crowd reactions. You'll get the big stuff, and avoid calling the 20-30% plays where there is some contact but you could do without a whistle if you chose to.

I don't know, I though this simple philosophy was awesome, so on the blog it goes. It helped me have my best game as an individual official in a month in terms of judgment. Hope it helps someone else besides me!

Idea

I'm going to go buy a white arm sleeve, some black leggings, and a purple headband, so I can wear them the next time I work men's league at the court club. I'm loving these guys who either can no longer play, or never could play, spending $300 for their outfit. The arm sleeves on the guys whose range should be 3 feet or less is the final straw for me. I have to join 'em!

Christ.