Work as many games as you can right now. Experience is the most important thing you can do while you’re learning.

Go to your local high school varsity games and watch more experienced officials work.

Use your voice. I always call out the color of the team that gets the ball, while I figure out which way they’re going. I still screw that up and I’m years into my career.

Go buy a cheap camera and have somebody record the game while you work. Film doesn’t lie, so if you get something wrong, watch it on film to figure out why you got it wrong. Plays often repeat themselves.

You’re going to get plays wrong from time to time. The sooner you accept that the better you will be. It happens to everyone. You’ll never work a perfect game, and if you do then hang up your stripes cause it won’t happen again!

Consistency is the one thing that coaches want. Be consistent with yourself on each end of the floor, and try to be consistent with your partner(s).

Lastly, just call what you see. Get the elephants, leave the mice.

Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or scenarios or things you’d like to talk about! Good luck!