Thank You, Coach E!

Submitted by Barbara Bleiweis on Wed, 07/20/2011 - 15:03. | comments

The 2011 Summer Evaluation Program will come to an end this week and I feel great about my chances for promotion. When I reflect on all that has transpired to get me to this moment, I think of Coach E, a mentor and friend who began preparing me for SEP from the time I became an official seven years ago. This week marks his birthday, and this blog is my birthday card to him.

Barbara Bleiweis

Officiating Report Card - July 20, 2011, Final Grade

Submitted by Barbara Bleiweis on Wed, 07/20/2011 - 14:30. | comments

Feeling Good about last night's semi final game! After 40 minutes of play, team "white" was victorious over team "red" by 12 points. Everything I had learned in the 10 previous SEP games, I now OWN.

Clock start / stop correctly? Check!

Foul count balance? Check! At the end of the first period, 6/6; at the end of the second period, 9/10

Evaluator happy? Check!-- all six of them!

Act like a CREW? CHECK!!

Barbara Bleiweis

Officiating Report Card - July 15, 2011, Getting Ready for the Semis

Submitted by Barbara Bleiweis on Fri, 07/15/2011 - 18:29. | comments

Ever since I was assigned a prestigious semi-final match for next week Tuesday, I have been mentally preparing to make it my best performance ever. SEP Games 9&10 on Tuesday followed by three Boys JV summer league games last night, let me focus on three major areas that I hope to nail by Tuesday:

1) Situational awareness: players, score, fouls, clock. Know the numbers and the tenor of the game and manage accordingly.

2) Communication with coaches and players: Answer questions, not comments, by coaches and players, politely, firmly and without emotion. Effective communication here keeps coaches in check and the game moving.

Brooke de Lench

Heads Up New Jersey! Second Annual Sports Concussion Summit on Sunday, July 17 in Plainsboro

Submitted by Brooke de Lench on Mon, 07/11/2011 - 19:54. | comments

Heads up to physicians and health care providers in the Garden State: here's a chance to learn about sport concussions from some of top experts in the field as, this coming Sunday, July 17, 2011, the Athletic Trainers Society of New Jersey will hold its second annual sports concussion summit in Plainsboro.

Barbara Bleiweis

Officiating Report Card- Interim grade

Submitted by Barbara Bleiweis on Mon, 07/11/2011 - 13:28. | comments

Received email notice today with an assignment for an SEP play-off game next week! YAY

! This is the closest to getting an interim 'grade'- and i clearly made enough of an impression to merit a semi-final game! The Semi-finals can be more exciting than the Finals and often more intense. This will be a true test of my ability to learn, apply, and consistently perform. I have the benefit of 4 practice games this week. Two tomorrow; and two on Thursday. Wish me luck!

Brooke de Lench

Win Copy of Sports Illustrated Kids' 3D Sports Blast Book

Submitted by Brooke de Lench on Sun, 07/10/2011 - 20:08. | comments

We rarely have so much fun with a new book as we have been having with the Sports Illustrated Kids' 3D Sports Blast. Everyone who comes into our office grabs the book and puts on the 3D glasses that come with the book and pour over the pages. Each walks away with a truly unique sports experience. Sports Illustrated 3D Sports Blast cover

We love this book and have two new copies to give away. Just follow the rules at the end of this blog to learn how to enter.

Sports Illustrated puts it best:

Barbara Bleiweis

Fast Forward 235 Years

Submitted by Barbara Bleiweis on Fri, 07/08/2011 - 17:25. | comments

A fellow official and good friend of mine, "Julia" recently sent an unusually emotional email advising that her partner of 19 years, "Danielle", had been removed as assistant scout leader for their son's Boy Scout troop. The Boys Scouts of America informed Danielle, that the basis of their decision was that her sexual orientation was" a detriment" to the scouts.

Barbara Bleiweis

Officiating Report Card- July 4, 2011

Submitted by Barbara Bleiweis on Mon, 07/04/2011 - 21:51. | comments

SEP games 7&8 took place June 30th. I have been mulling over my performance and that of the crew for days, trying to sort through my feelings. My goal at the outset was to merit an "A" performance by game 5-- and sustain that through games 9&10. Before June 30, I was at an A, but after last week, I took a step backwards and I don't feel really good about it. Why the set back? I was the more experienced person on the crew. I knew that from the time I got the assignment that this was a chance to step up and take care of little details that influence crew performance. I knew what to do and I knew what to expect from the players and coaches and yet, I still fell short. Why?

Shoes

Submitted by Craig Morton on Mon, 07/04/2011 - 19:46. | comments

We don't have a large house. My son's room, though he is increasingly getting bigger, is not expanding. We feed him, he grows. I wish we could feed his room something to make it grow, too.

His closet space is limited as well. One result is the overflow of shoes. While there are a few shoes in his closet, skate board shoes, wrestling shoes, once and awhile his snow boots get put away. Here's what his floor looks like. Collection of athletic shoes on the floor of a kid's bedroom

Brooke de Lench

Casting Call for The Revolution: Weight Loss Edition

Submitted by Brooke de Lench on Thu, 06/30/2011 - 15:36. | comments

Two weeks ago, my friend, Jacques, a Swiss endocrinoligst with a specialty in diabetes, came to Boston to visit for the week and to attend the Endocrine Society annual meeting. For two weeks each year, Jacques runs a successful sports camp for diabetic athletes in St Moritz, where they learn how to monitor their glucose levels and are taught ways to become motivated and more active and fit.