Volunteering at an event you have a team at?

[EricH]

Ooh boy.

May I suggest that you start by reffing at an event that your team most definitely is NOT at? This will give you a chance to find out if you're really up for the job, without the added pressure of having to call your own team correctly. Being a ref is harder than it looks.

I got my start reffing last year, at an event that neither my current team nor the team I was on in high school was at. That's where the head ref for the regional both teams call home (where I was planning to inspect) told me that if someone flaked, he'd be looking for me... and then I heard that the ref allotment had expanded, so I figured I'd better volunteer before I was "recruited". And at the local offseason, I didn't step back fast enough and found myself the head ref. THAT was pressure!

Oh, and did I mention that taking a break when my team was up wasn't an option last year? In those cases, you've got one option: Call the game straight.

This year, I'm reffing two events--one had my current team, one has my former team. At both, I simply turn in the conflict of interest form and inform the head ref. This year, it's simple enough: If there is a potential conflict, you work the other side of the field. In most years, that isn't an option, so break it is.

As far as your team asking questions, unrelated to the game (or not), my best advice would be to tell them upfront that you're reffing, so chit-chat is going to be heavily discouraged.