LegsnDrags:

Been there, done that. It takes time. Be thick skinned. Coaches do not know the rules but, then again, I don't know how to coach so I figure we're equally disadvantaged.

Its an emotionally charged, close in sport, as you know from coaching. Everyone expects you to know the rules and apply them consistently. The rules are pretty straight forward. The consistency takes experience. But what usually drives coaches and fans crazy is an official that clearly does not know the rules. For example--if you let a kid hold the foot to the butt for more than 5 seconds when broken down, don't be surprised when a coach who knows the rule starts yelling. Or if you let a kid lift or run a chicken wing parallel with the body, dont' be surprised when a parent gets in your face after the kid suffers an injury.

The best way to learn is by mentoring with an experienced offical but you'll have a tough time finding one, I think. I would strongly urge any new official to visit some of the wrestling web discussion forums -- the NFHSS has one, Indiana has one, The Mat.Com has several links. These sites are frequented by officials who are interested in improving and who will engage in thoughtful discussion of the rules, their application, and their exceptions. The threads cover basic stuff but also more interesting situations as well as the philophical aspects. You can learn a lot just by reading and if you ask questions these folks will answer. Also, I am surprised how many officials appear to have a good understanding of the sport but don't actually study the rules and the case book. If your 2006 rules book still has the cover on it you aren't reading it enough.

Good officials have common traits. Watch them and find a style that suits your personality.

Other than a complete mastery of the rules book, if I had to give three tips to a new official they would be:

1. Get away from the action -- you do not need to be in close, even to see a fall. That's why the parent in the stand knows you blew the call, he saw it but you were so close you missed it. Most inexperienced officials get too way close. And don't "feel" for a fall...that shows everybody you can't see.

2. Confidently verbalize all your calls...let everyone in the gym know exactly what you are calling, why you are calling it, and by your voice and signals, that you know what you are doing.
Act confident even if you find yourself in a match way over your head.

3. Slow down, relax, and enjoy the match. You don't need to be jumping all over the place, hoping up and down off the mat, and getting yourself all lathered up. You can see everything just fine while on your feet about 75% of the time. The other 25% of the time when the action picks up you pick it up, too.

And I guess there is a 4th. The rules do not allow, and in fact, prohibit, a coach from being disrespectful to you. So does the Kansas ethical standards for coaches. You've been a coach so you know that every official expects a little grumbling on close calls and that's what the mean when they say don;t have "rabbit ears." You can ignore and just "not hear" an awful lot of stuff that is just the coach expressing his disappointment. That stuff's not personal and its not really directed at you. Let it go. But the first time a coach raises his voice in a personally disrespectful manner where he is obviously directing it at you, give him a "knock it off look," the second time he does it, stop the match, walk over to the table, beckon the coach over and say, very politely, "Coach, I have just stopped this match because you are carrying on in an unsportsmanlike manner and it is interfering with this match. This is a JV tournament and we are all learning, so I am not going to penalize you this time, but please don't do it again." If he doesn't learn, then use the rules sequence and he'll eventually be gone. This is very hard to do but inexperienced officals must learn to keep control of the match, even when they are struggling and learning, or the whole thing just snowballs.

Good luck, and remember the green arm band goes on the right arm.