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With my first season as a referee coming to a close, I can’t help but think about the various ways my life has been affected by it. Or at least think about that which I have learned that can be applied to life in some way.

You see, in the beginning I had my doubts about whether or not I should go through with it or not. At that point in my life, 3 months filled with waking up at 6:30 on Saturday mornings did not sound that appealing whatsoever. However I would be compensated for with pay. I really had to think about whether or not this was a good investment, if my Fridays would be hindered, if my Saturdays would be owned, if it would have any effects on my relationship, if it would cause me to miss certain important moments. I also figured I would have to get over the mental block of being afraid to make a call, over the mental block of withholding blowing my whistle. In the end, with all considerations accounted for, I decided to take the job.

Now 2 and a half months later, the experience seems to be coming to a close at a rapid rate, as though I flipped a console on and the next thing I know I had beaten the game. I had quite a few experiences in that time, and there were quite a few lessons learned, whether it be related to reffing or not.

1) You can push the human body to extraordinary lengths before you black out.

It seems like every week that would pass I would tell myself this: This Friday will be the Friday that I fall asleep at 10 and wake up healthily at 6. Never once did that Friday come. It just never felt right saying goodbye to her on the Fridays we were together. It just never felt good leaving an experience unfinished. So I would stay up late, and at times just say Fuck sleep altogether. Now add that up with weekdays in which I would only get a couple to a few hours every day before going to school and you begin to feel the toll it takes on your body. However, at the end of the day, I am still standing, until of course I black out. And once I black out, that is when trouble begins.

 2) You have no control over the reactions your actions warrant.

People both in basketball and in life tend to believe that if you wish to not see the reactions resulting from your actions then you shouldn’t be making the call to begin with. As an official you have to make the call. If your eyes fall upon misdoings and broken rules, it is your duty to make that call. At times the fans will applaud. However then there will be those times in which the fans react negatively. There will always be the “Comeon!” the “Call it both ways!” and will soon be followed by the “Let them play!” At times, coaches will aggressively point out the calls I should be catching, and even the players will look at me with bewildered faces occasionally. Nobody knows that it is my first year as a referee, nor can they see some of the angles in which I can see the game. Nobody tends to think about the times in which a player is obstructing my view or that I can not catch everything. Nope, they just yell and cause the tension to rise. It is ok though, it comes with the job description. Never lose your composure.

3) Be confident in your call making.

Like buzzards circling a coyote whose life is uncertain, fans and coaches alike are ready and willing to descend upon you at the first sign of weakness. I do admit that in the beginning of my life as a referee I was afraid to blow the whistle in fear of obtaining howls or criticism from the majority for doing the wrong signal or simply making a “bad call.” Luckily my superiors assured me that confidence is the key to a smooth game. No matter if you think you should take back your call, blow your whistle hard and report the infraction with confidence. Only now do I realize at times all this is for is to make you feel calm. Sometimes the forum will never back you up, because in their eyes, you are equally the hero and villain.

4) If the whole building is against you, you can feel confident that your partner will back you up.

Never question your equal in earshot of your adversaries. No matter if you feel he is as blind as a bat or just plain stupid, you should always have their back. If you feel they should be watching something, up your own radar, and in between quarters, point out a few things here or there. Make a few suggestions, don’t yell, and don’t fight. Know that he or she would do the same for you. Hopefully.

5) Never count out the human spirit

When it feels as though you are at your lowest point, as though you are backed in to a corner with no way out, or as if you will never be able to catch up, there are always those people that catch a 2nd, 3rd or even 4th wind and push forward with everything they have. A burning desire to win, an aura brighter than anyone else’s can be seen emanating from this very beings soul. Like a fire, their determination can spread to their team mates, to their coach, to their fans and the interior of a once cold building will hum with beautiful scorching resonance. These are the times in life in which you see the impossible happen, the times in which you feel like a million bucks after you succeed, the times that will go down in your history as a moment you will never be able to forget.

In the beginning it was a simple way to get paid a few extra dollars here and there while being a part of one of my favorite sports again. It transitioned in to an unforgettable learning experience that I will hold dear. That is what life is all about, experiencing as much as we can, learning from each experience, building on block after block until our life bursts with memories and reason. Onwards, towards the New Age.