Handshakes and Resources
Meet the new referees!
This group had me working so hard because the clinic was a two-evening activity. I agreed to do it when I thought my job was going to be different, but the job didn't change. So how to make the 5:30 pm start time? Start my regular job at 6 am.
The first night, I was so blasted tired and frustrated with their behavior and had gotten there to discover internet was at dialup speed. I wasn't prepared to be technology-free that first evening. So I spent a lot of time while I was at work wondering how much was teenager stuff and how much was my burning the candle at both ends.
Second night I had a plan which had zero need of the internet. I told them I thought maybe they thought they knew it all because they play, so I put them to the referee stand-up test. Everyone stands and you can't sit down till you answer a question. Teenagers hate standing up apparently, but I'm a softie. Before the standup test we reviewed what were their learning resources—the website on their phone, the books that I set out on the tables and other referees. It was interesting to see them stand there squirming until I said, "Use your resources!" One of them picked up the book. One of them conferred with her friend. One of them had a boy across the room toss out the answer for her. I said she should go pat him on the back for being a good team player. And she did. Even after hearing me say "use your resources" the ones next in turn did not seek help until I reminded them "use your resources."
The second activity had them stumped but now they were in teams. I said, "use your resources" and a team of girls ran for a Law book. One of the others said that was cheating. Nope, that's asking for help/information. After that, the race was on for which of the four teams could get to the two books first.
I had a lot more fun the second night because now I believe they will go to the "book" a.k.a. the website. I know no one can learn near enough in the class. There is just too much to include. It is such a learn-by-doing job. My best accomplishment: by the end of the course, they were all shaking hands properly. There's a lot of handshaking in refereeing.