GhostBuster
Because of
their invisibility,
people don’t
give much
thought to the
referees and
what they put
in just to have
the privilege
of being on
the court with
players.
44
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“Many people starting out as referees say that
getting over the nervousness that they’re going to
make a mistake is the hardest part,” says John Grasso,
member of USAPA’s Referee Committee since its
inception. “If you’re a referee, you’re still human. We
all make mistakes, even the certified referees. You’ll
hear them transpose the score or something.”
Grasso, who also is a referee in Arizona, says
confidence is necessary to make those tough calls
if and when they arise, but other than that, the job
requirement is to lay low and let the players play.
“There are so many tough calls sometimes and you
can have players who don’t agree with you or argue if
you make a tough call. That’s the nature of the beast.
Being a referee is a mindset. The rules are different in
every sport, but the thought process is pretty much the
same. The main thing the referee doesn’t want to do is
make a mistake that costs a team a match or a game.
You don’t want to become involved. I want to be your
scorekeeper and keep things moving and I don’t want
to be involved in your game at all unless you force me.”
Being both a ghost and the official voice of the game
is a hard concept for many players to wrap their heads
around. And, because of their invisibility, people don’t
give much thought to the referees and what they put
in just to have the privilege of being on the court with
players.
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