January 2015 – There’s a back entrance of a church with a nondescript gym. The court lacked hardwood; rather, the flooring of a church hall, equipped with a heating system that could be older than every adult in the room.
:SPOILER ALERT: ::THERE ARE NO ADULTS IN THE ROOM:: (except for myself and my partner, which we would find out together)::
I just got certified to officiate Basketball in the state of New York, but what I reffed on that cold winter night, I’m not sure if it was officiating or officially babysitting.
This is my first foray in officiating any basketball games of any kind. I already had Flag Football, adult Softball, and Lacrosse in my under my belt. But basketball refs dont’ wear belts. Nothing could have prepared me of what I was about to embark on, the constant nagging and barking from players that don’t know you from a hole in the wall, let alone the churches holes in the wall.
We make it out alive
All right, all right
No church in the wild
Frank Ocean
I already know and always knew what time it is. I was and am (at the time) a rough basketball player myself. I talked constant sh*t to opposing players, but never disrespected refs; so much so, I almost always avoided games that included stripes, which ensured the continuity of having
Back to the game, I’m not playing.
I was mediocre myself – even more so in officiating. Players don’t care about that sentiment, the fact that you just started, especially in that moment. Moreso, I always tried to still look like I knew what I was doing. I tried my very best to lean on my previous experiences from other sports, and other adults in those sports to act like I’ve been there before.
Fake. It. Until. You. Make. It.
When it came to the feel, the
Youth * Adult * Women’s Rules * Boy’s Rules * Pro rules * College Rules
Spectators are so inundated with a mixture of these games, they may not pay attention to all the small yet distinct differences in each game. The mechanics are different, the time, placement – they are all so different. But basketball, to most people, are all the same. I”m here to tell you that they’re not.
First time I ever put air in the whistle, they were already starting. Staring:
“Yo Nick!” Rob said.
Rob was an older black man who had cornrows and a du-rag – an absolute no-go for any game that really ever meant something. And Nick – he was the commissioner of the league, who to my understanding, needed a ref that night, so my friend Anthony got me in to do this game, which I’m regretting as the running 16 minutes on the clock slowly waned. Rob continued.
“Where the f*ck do you get these guys from?”
I knew he knew that I was new. But I knew, and always knew, that you can never ever act new. And so I didn’t. I didn’t back down.
Never have. Never will.
Fast forward to last night, when I get a text to one of my favorite basketball officials, Vinny.
Our first game was smooth. It was highlighted with 3 jump balls before a second ever elapsing; both teams maintained no possession as they simultaneously had a held ball two times. One coach, who now is a ref, has a softer touch; perhaps because she knows what goes into being one now. Perhaps she was softer because her star player on her school team, was her opponent in an AAU game. But what took the cake was the adult game after.
To players:
When it comes to basketball, I most likely have been working, during work hours, just like you. I come here to officiate a good game. I’m not here for any drama! There are at least, for the most part, two refs. We both have similar responsibilities, but we have different areas that we cover on the court. I find it humorous when one player takes issue with certain calls that are against him and his team and then argue with one ref, and think the other ref is responsible for it as well. If I’m looking at the same spot of where my partner is then I’m not doing my job.
Case in Point.
The clock is running. One of these kids set me off. He comes right up to me and voices his concern. “Your not going to call that foul when he hit my arm, but on the other side they are getting every call.” I’m still calm. “Would you like me to tighten it up? Because I don’t think it will be fun for you.” I asserted.
It was fun for me. I called everything I see. Similarly to what was aforementioned, they were mediocre. Hence, I called a violation on a foul shot. A kid with a navy blue t shirt, no uniform on, got 3 quick fouls in 30 quick seconds. That kid that initially irked me got called for a foul himself. “WE GET IT,” the players said. So at first they were mad that I didn’t call anything. Now they are mad that I’m calling everything. Such is the night for the first day I ever reffed in 2019.
Before you roar, take a deep breath
Fortune Cookie