Branching out...

[Rulekeep]

After recently being diagnosed with hyperopic astigmatism in my right eye and farsightedness in my left, it was suggested that I take up officiating a winter sport to see if I was still comfortable officiating with glasses/contacts. (All the Legion players love me now.) SO as of October 3rd, I will be a high school basketball referee. 

 

Anything I should know going in with zero knowledge of the sport?

[Richvee]

 

 

Anything I should know going in with zero knowledge of the sport?

I'd start with the rules

[scrounge]

[maven]

I started baseball and basketball the same year. I knew baseball much better than basketball, and basketball was far more a struggle for me. We have to make judgment calls much faster in basketball (though not as fast as you might at first think), and do it while running up and down the court.

Do start with the rules and mechanics, of course, and don't rush it. The more different plays you see, the better prepared you'll be to move up. And enjoy all the goofy stuff you get to see at lower levels.

I guess that's pretty applicable to officiating any sport.

[Richvee]

 

 

I feel compelled to give a little optics lesson....Don't be alarmed...you've been "diagnosed" with a need for eyeglasses or contacts.  

Hyperopic = farsighted. Myopic  = nearsighted.

 Astigmatism just refers to the type of correction. You're farsighted with an astigmatism in one eye. That's all. Vision corrections can be  spherical or astigmatic.. All astigmatism means is your cornea isn't perfectly round. It has a steep side and a flatter side. (Think of it as a baseball shaped cornea (spherical) and a football shaped cornea  (astigmatic)).   Astigmatism is not a disease, it's not rare, and it's corrected with contacts or glasses. Of all eyeglass/contact lens wearers, I'd estimate close to 50% have a  significant astigmatic correction. Don't sweat it, kid. You're fine! 

[umpstu]

I feel compelled to give a little optics lesson....Don't be alarmed...you've been "diagnosed" with a need for eyeglasses or contacts.  

Hyperopic = farsighted. Myopic  = nearsighted.

 Astigmatism just refers to the type of correction. You're farsighted with an astigmatism in one eye. That's all. Vision corrections can be  spherical or astigmatic.. All astigmatism means is your cornea isn't perfectly round. It has a steep side and a flatter side. (Think of it as a baseball shaped cornea (spherical) and a football shaped cornea  (astigmatic)).   Astigmatism is not a disease, it's not rare, and it's corrected with contacts or glasses. Of all eyeglass/contact lens wearers, I'd estimate close to 50% have a  significant astigmatic correction. Don't sweat it, kid. You're fine! 

I have astigmatism in both eyes and started wearing glasses when I turned 40 and my arms became to short.  Had no idea about astigmatism and am very happy to wear glasses.  Never got any grief from anyone other than fellow umpires.

[Rulekeep]

I feel compelled to give a little optics lesson....Don't be alarmed...you've been "diagnosed" with a need for eyeglasses or contacts.  

Hyperopic = farsighted. Myopic  = nearsighted.

 Astigmatism just refers to the type of correction. You're farsighted with an astigmatism in one eye. That's all. Vision corrections can be  spherical or astigmatic.. All astigmatism means is your cornea isn't perfectly round. It has a steep side and a flatter side. (Think of it as a baseball shaped cornea (spherical) and a football shaped cornea  (astigmatic)).   Astigmatism is not a disease, it's not rare, and it's corrected with contacts or glasses. Of all eyeglass/contact lens wearers, I'd estimate close to 50% have a  significant astigmatic correction. Don't sweat it, kid. You're fine! 

um. 

My dad is nearsighted and farsighted and colorblind b/y. My brother has astigmatism in both eyes. So does my mother. I have taken a basic biology course. That wasn't necessary??? Actually it kind of came off like I wasn't supposed to know that and you just wanted to show off????????? I mean. I don't think doctors normally just tell you what's wrong and then just ignore when you ask what it is???????????

If you "feel compelled" go tell the players at my school who are all harassing me about whether or not he slid under the tag. 

[scrounge]

@Rulekeep, I found @Richvee 's response to be pretty informative and quite polite, not at all the condescending or confrontational one that you seemed to read. Was Rich supposed to magically know all the additional information about your family and your coursework? Of course not...he responded on the very skimpy information you offered.

I don't think your confrontational response was warranted.

[ZebraStripes]

I learned more about my astigmatism in this thread.  

 

Basketball, especially at the rec level, has the parents right on top of  you.  I've thrown more people out of basketball games than all other sports combined.  Way more running than in baseball.  Don't get caught ball watching.

[dookiexman]

When I first started umpiring, I had an 8U parent AC as 3BC try to argue with me about an out at 1B where the F3 dropped the initial catch then picked it up while still holding her foot on the bag before the BR touched. Chirped all the way across the field to 1B dugout. I finally said, "Coach, this is 8U softball. We aren't going to argue about outs at 1st." Next half inning on his way to 3BC, he stops by the plate to let me know he refs HS basketball and I should be able to take a little ribbing. I just reminded him we are talking about 7 and 8 year old girls, not HS age players.

[Rulekeep]

@Rulekeep, I found @Richvee 's response to be pretty informative and quite polite, not at all the condescending or confrontational one that you seemed to read. Was Rich supposed to magically know all the additional information about your family and your coursework? Of course not...he responded on the very skimpy information you offered.

I don't think your confrontational response was warranted.

I literally said I had hyperopic astigmatism. That's not exactly skimpy information, seeing as it is EXACTLY what is wrong with my eyes. If a doctor told you you had a disease or something, I'm assuming that you would told about it if you didn't already know. Which is why I got upset at Richvee. Because I know what the hell is going on, strange as it seems. I didn't want to know about eyes, I wanted to know about basketball. 

[BRUMP]

um. 

My dad is nearsighted and farsighted and colorblind b/y. My brother has astigmatism in both eyes. So does my mother. I have taken a basic biology course. That wasn't necessary??? Actually it kind of came off like I wasn't supposed to know that and you just wanted to show off????????? I mean. I don't think doctors normally just tell you what's wrong and then just ignore when you ask what it is???????????

If you "feel compelled" go tell the players at my school who are all harassing me about whether or not he slid under the tag. 

pretty sure rich works in that field and even if he doesn't your response wasn't warranted

Edited September 23, 2015 by BRUMP

[Rulekeep]

pretty sure rich works in that field and even if he doesn't your response wasn't warranted

neither was him posting that it was completely unrelated and I'm not stupid. 

[Richvee]

neither was him posting that it was completely unrelated and I'm not stupid. 

Tone down the anger and assuming I posted with any intentions other than helping you out a little. I never said or insinuated you were stupid, or anything even close to that. If I had a dime for every eye doctor who fully explained astigmatic corrections to all their patients, I'd have....umm 20 cents??   The way you opened your post......"After recently being diagnosed with hyperopic astigmatism in my right eye and farsightedness in my left...." It "sounded" like you were worried/concerned that you had a serious condition. I was simply trying to ease your concerns that nothing was seriously wrong with your eyes and you'll be fine. Can't quite figure out what I said that gave you the impression I was being condescending or rude, and if you feel that way, I'm sorry. Certainly wasn't my intent.  I thought as a practicing optician for the past 30+ years I'd help you out with a little info and ease your concerns.

Oh, BTW, "My dad is nearsighted and farsighted...". That's called presbyopia. A "condition" effecting the majority of us as we reach our 40's and beyond. We start off nearsighted, and as we age we have trouble focusing on near objects, or, as Umpstu points out, our arms start getting shorter. But I guess you knew that too.

[Rulekeep]

Oh, BTW, "My dad is nearsighted and farsighted...". That's called presbyopia. A "condition" effecting the majority of us as we reach our 40's and beyond. We start off nearsighted, and as we age we have trouble focusing on near objects, or, as Umpstu points out, our arms start getting shorter. But I guess you knew that too.

actually I didn't because I don't make a point of concerning myself in my father's problems. But thanks for that extra sarcasm. 

 

Now, if we could talk about BASKETBALL that'd be awesome

[Man_In_Black]

Now, if we could talk about BASKETBALL that'd be awesome

Well, I would...but I'm afraid if I explained something you already know, you'd accuse me of insulting your intelligence and being condescending. I'd rather not risk the public humiliation.

[Thunderheads]

@Rulekeep .........  chill please.  There was ZERO intention of ANY misguided-ness in Rich's post.

[Rulekeep]

Well, I would...but I'm afraid if I explained something you already know, you'd accuse me of insulting your intelligence and being condescending. I'd rather not risk the public humiliation.

it's pretty much established that I know nothing about basketball. That was the point of even posting. 

[grayhawk]

Sensitive teen is sensitive...

[ricka56]

Well, I would...but I'm afraid if I explained something you already know, you'd accuse me of insulting your intelligence and being condescending. I'd rather not risk the public humiliation.

Then why didn't you just STFU. No, instead you had to take a shot.

[basejester]

I'd look for basketball-empire.com.

Try this maybe.

https://forum.officiating.com/basketball/

 

[Thunderheads]

Then why didn't you just STFU. No, instead you had to take a shot.

Kettle, meet pot ....pot, meet kettle

[Man_In_Black]

Then why didn't you just STFU. No, instead you had to take a shot.

Oh please, ricka...

Yeah well, arguably a cheap shot, but I felt she overreacted to and completely misinterpreted a well-intentioned post from Rich. He meant well and didn't deserve that kind of treatment. A simple: "Thanks Rich, but my doctor explained my condition to me in detail, so I know exactly what my situation is. Let's get back on topic." ...would have sufficed, and that would have been the end of it. And with that, we'd probably have a bunch of helpful suggestions by now, but alas...

How does the saying go? "It's not what you say, but how you say it."

[Rulekeep]

I'd look for basketball-empire.com.

Try this maybe.

https://forum.officiating.com/basketball/

 

Thank you.