priviliged to be a white hat first year at varsity level

[Guiseppe]

   gentleman - i am heading into Friday night lights as a 1st year white hat - extremely excited to be with an outstanding crew. . . would appreciate any input - advice - recommendations

[Jim D.]

My suggestion, since you say you have a good crew, it to concentrate on referee position and master it.  Don't try to tell the U how to umpire or tell the BJ how to back judge, etc.  They are competent officials and they know more about working their positions than you do.

Certain things have to be determined at the crew level and you can lead there - how to mark of penalties, measure a first down.  In those common areas, you are first among equals. 

I guess what I'm saying is don't get a "God" complex and think you know more about officiating than the rest of your crew and try to control everything.    I've seen new white hats loose a crew by trying to tell "my umpire" (he ain't yours, by the way - he's his own man), etc. how he wants the other guys to work.

[Guiseppe]

Jim D - totally in agreement. . .thank God, arrogance has never been a problem for me.

[FLAHL]

Let the crew know that the 5 (or 6 or 7) of you are a team. While you are first among equals, ask the crew for feedback every week. Ask the U if you're setting a good tempo and being consistent with the RFP.  Involve everybody in your pregame rather than owning everything during that meeting. Be open to different points of view. If a wing or U suggests that your holding call wasn't really holding, don't shut them down simply because you're the WH. I'm also moving to R this year after 10 years on the wing. I'm very interested in reading responses from the other guys on here. Good luck to you!

[Johnponz]

Being the R is like any other position with some added administration responsibilities.  It is really not a big deal.  Let the rest of the crew do their jobs and you do yours.  One of the best kept secrets is that under most circumstances being the R is the easiest position on the field.

Have a good season.

[AlUpstateNY]

Slow down, relax and take a deep breath every now and then.  If all else fails, stop the clock, gather your crew around you and discuss what needs discussing, understanding that nobody on the planet, outside your crew, will have any idea what you're all talking about.

[bama_stripes]

Train yourself not to be a "ball watcher".  Trusting that your crew mates will do their jobs makes this much easier.

[bulldogs1msu]

Congrats and good luck.   

[Ralph Damren]

All very good suggestions...to stress a couple : (1) Have a solid pregame, BUT don't tell your crewmates what to do; ask them what they will be doing and never be timid of asking for suggestions. (2) Take it slow, especially when administrating penalties, don't be walking while signaling -- stop, face pressbox, and take a deep breath, give a signal - holding it for a second - take another deep breath and signal down.

If you are ever going to mess up downs it probably will be on a penalty laden series. Have your crew signal the down on EVERY play and you be the leader. And....oh,yes... Good Luck !

[VALJ]

(2) Take it slow, especially when administrating penalties, don't be walking while signaling -- stop, face pressbox, and take a deep breath, give a signal - holding it for a second - take another deep breath and signal down.

Good one, Ralph.  However slow you feel you're going, you probably need to go slower than that. Make your signals deliberate - I had an observer tell me that I was rotating my arms too fast on a false start, and it made it hard to read my signal.

Relax.  Trust your crew to do their jobs, and don't hesitate to ask them to repeat something.  And watch the quarterback.  Then watch him some more.  Then watch him even more. 

Best of luck!

[justbill]

At some point before each game, take a moment to privately reflect on your topic post.  "privileged to be a white hat first year at varsity level"  Think about why you think it is a privilege and what occurred to put you into this position.  Say a prayer of thanks and then go out and have fun.

[Guiseppe]

wow!  - thanks to all for your insights and suggestions. . . I am so grateful to God for my health and for the ability to do the things I do everyday. . . I am so looking forward to next Friday - a week from today. . . Looking forward to working with my crewmates - - - I pray you all have a safe and rewarding season in 2014.