"With One Look" (SUNSET BOULEVARD)

Tonight I saw a NYU men's volleyball match, and the energy in that gym was great. I thought I was in for a good match. My main goal was to pay attention to the referees' calls and hand signals. Last week when I saw Baruch College vs. Hunter College match, I got caught up in the excitement of the game and I wasn't paying attention to the referees, and my instructor was even there. That crowd, both schools, showed pride in their teams with yells and cheers but did not show any disrespect for their opponent at anytime. That was not the case with the teams tonight. The stands were larger than normal, and they were packed. I was surrounded by NYU students with a small patch of the crowd to the lower left of me from NJ Institute of Technology, the opponents. The first game was okay. NYU lost. But it was the second game where a few students went a little too far. The students were there to heckle, almost like it was a class extra credit. Cheering at a game and supporting your team is one thing, but when you start getting personal and using foul language then you've crossed the line, at least in my volleyball eyes. One guy exchanged words with a girl from NJIT, and it got pretty heated. I just knew I was going to see a fight. Another guy was persistent with his derogatory comments and the gym staff tried to quiet him down. Then that same guy got a little too close to the court and both referees ordered him to be removed from the gym. Okay, we just read about that ruling this week where a referee has the authority to have a spectator removed from the gym if they are disruptive to the game and possibly a team sanction. How strange to read about a situation and then to witness was actually cool and a little nervous. Would I be a referee who could do that? Yes I think I would. Sadly NYU lost 3-1.

"As We Stumble Along" (THE DROWSY CHAPERONE)

So at last night's clinic, we got the dates for our scrimmage night, written exam, and practical exam. Now we only take the practical exam if we pass the written exam so there's a lot of pressure. I'm totally nervous about this but I know that I shouldn't be as long as I just keep studying. Anyway the instructor told us about the scrimmage night and it just happened to be the same night that I was flying back home for my father's birthday weekend. I already had planned to miss that class. I knew I was getting a chance to scrimmage another high school game next week but this scrimmage night was going be a chance to referee for one of the city leagues. I know it would be really good experience for the practical exam. So I got back to my office and did some checking on flights and decided to re-book my flight for the next morning. Of course, I talked with my father first and made sure it was okay with him because it is his birthday. Anyway, now I'm arriving on his birthday so I still get to celebrate with him. So I'm glad that I get in a little more practice on the platform and more confidence. Now I need to study up on scorekeeping because when you look at the scoresheet it looks like one big mess but it's going to be on the exam. Also I need work on my hand signals in the mirror, silly things but certainly points can be deducted for sloppy arms.

"Like An Eagle" (BOMBAY DREAMS)

The view from the top of that referee platform is completely different. As was commented by another student, it's a different view than being on the court level, your whole perspective changes just by those few feet of height. I'm still reeling from the effects of that scrimmage. How could I let something I've seen dozens of people do get to me so much? Why did it bother me, it was a scrimmage, a learning process? It's because what I thought would be an easy thing was not so easy after all. Plain and simple. Now I need to get tougher in my studies because they'll have no sympathy at my evaluation. There is a written exam which means there's a lot of numbers to memorize but also the rules may differ between the girls and boys division and you must differentiate. Then at a tournament we will be evaluated on our practical exam. Now this is for certification for the NYC public school games but I'm hoping to one day be able to referee a college level game. Determination is my passenger right now and I can't let any nerves deter me.

"Let Me Walk Among You" (BAT BOY THE MUSICAL)

Wow, what a crazy day. First, work was filled with scheduling, emails, and phone calls that made me completely lose track of time. It has to do with our six weeks of fundraising so I'm lucky if I remember what day it is. But on my agenda today was a scrimmage--as a referee. Our instructor had arranged for us to act as referees in a scrimmage with help from a certified referee who would guide and inform us on what to work on. So I'm not sure what I expectd walking into the gym today but I arrived and watched a couple of teams warm up. The other students in the clinic watched and waited also and it must have been thirty minutes and still no "actual" referee. And who shows up to do it but our instructor which I was relieved at but also completely terrified. Oh, and the teams were high school boys teams who would be playing for the city championship in a few weeks. So when the instructor blew the whistle, the nerves started. I offered to go first on the platform, and my heart was racing. I had seen referees at the college level many times and thought nothing about what they do but now I have a whole new respect. There are so many things to keep track of from the ball handling to substitutions to rotation order to the libero. These kids are looking at me with each point, waiting for the whistle sound. Now that was when I was so nervous. After I stood on the platform, the next student got up there and continued the game. I got "notes" from the instructor, and his words were simple, they will rate you tough at the evaluation so make every call firm and loud. Okay, I got no problem with that, but this was experience was interesting and actually fun (once the nerves calmed down). So now I know what I have to work on before the next scrimmage I have next week. I've got a lot of things to work on because I was not prepared, mentally at least.

Viewed Matches:
Ray and Mike's Team (Five Old, One Young): 2-1
Claire and Stefan's Team (One Hit Wonders): 1-2