 |
| Menengai Oilers Image |
1. WHEN YOU
“THINK” YOU SAW SOMETHING, YOU DIDN’T.
There are times you will be focused on action in your coverage
area but something on the farthest edge of your peripheral vision will draw
your attention. That looked like a foul, but I didn’t see the whole thing. My
gut says it was a foul. Better safe than sorry. I’m going to call it. Gut
feeling is a valuable officiating tool. Many times your instincts will guide
you in the right direction. See what you call and call only what you see.
2. THE CAPTAIN IS NOT ALWAYS THE
TEAM LEADER.
For whatever reason, the team leader can sometimes be the player
that will help you to resolve a situation and respond positively with other
players during a game. That player can often be the one causing problems for
you and others. When that’s the case, make every effort to relegate that
captain. Tell the coach that you need another player to serve as captain
because the current captain isn’t doing his or her job. Or tell the captain
that he or she will no longer be serving as the head for his or her team for
that game because of his or her actions.
3. KEEP THE GAME MOVING?
There are few officials who want to be on the field for a really
long game. What is not satisfactory is for officials to be the cause of a game
going lengthy. Do everything possible to make a dead ball live again or to get
the clock running as soon as possible. That doesn’t mean rushing teams, it does
mean being efficient with recording substitutions or enforcing penalties,
hustling to your next position and getting the next play started or the next
pitch thrown.
4. PROVIDE COURTESY TO PLAYERS WHEN IT’S
NEEDED.
While an official should endeavor to keep the game moving, there
are times when you need to slow it down. When tensions get high, take a moment
to put the ball in play and use that time to give a sociable reminder as
opposed to a premature penalty. When you feel the situation has had a moment to
serene, blow the whistle and get the game moving.
5. GIVE
THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT TO THOSE WHO HAVE EARNED RESPECT.
There will be times when you get questioned on a decision you made
or a penalty you called. How you respond to that question should be determined
in by how you are asked. In a taut moment, both coaches question a call. The
coach who doesn’t go ballistic on every call deserves a more thorough response
than the lunatic. It’s as simple as that.
Because it is so out of character for that calmer head coach to
question a call, maybe he or she saw something that didn’t make sense or was
done wrong by the rule. Taking the time to seek clarification of a ruling is
time well-spent. The ranter may have seen the same thing, but doesn’t deserve
the benefit of the doubt since that coach has been on your case about
everything.
6. LOOK COACHES IN THE EYE.
Detectives will tell you that suspects who lower their heads when
providing evidence are withholding information. Whether you are introducing
yourself to the coach before the game or answering his or her question during
the course of play, communication should be done face to face and straight on.
Even if you are delivering bad news, you will have more credibility and gain
more respect by looking the coach in the eye.
7. WHEN
IN DOUBT, DO WHAT IS EXPECTED.
There are times in games
when a referee may not be immediately certain what action to take after observing
a play or an incident. Law books will spell out the intent and guiding
principles of the rules and the better officials figure out how to apply them
equitably, in context. But there are times when one faces doubt at the moment
he or she is expected to make a call or no-call. When that happens, it’s best
to do what is expected.
Officials will never be 100 percent sure of what they see 100
percent of the time. That’s not humanly possible. In those gray-area
moments when a call is necessary, do what is expected and make the
call or ruling with a clear conscience.
8. ANSWER QUESTIONS, NOT
STATEMENTS.
Coaches and fans say a lot to officials during a game. And much of
what they have to say, whether it is a valid point or not, does not need a
response. Statements don’t need an answer from officials. Often the only time
you need to respond to a statement is when you are delivering a warning or a
penalty for one that crosses the line. What deserves a respectful response when
time permits is a legitimate question. Officials can save themselves a lot of
headaches and heartburn by answering only what is asked.
9. GET THE
GAME GOING AFTER A MISTAKE OR EJECTION?
When your game has a law controversy, the best thing you can do is
to get the next pitch thrown or the next play started. Once game action
resumes, players, coaches and fans will typically worry about that action and
forget about the situation that caused the problem in the first place.
Officials should keep the mistake/ejection in the back of their
mind. Don’t dwell on what happened but keep in mind that it could lead to
future issues. Managing the game by making sure your presence is felt even more
after ejections for fighting, is a good way to prevent future problems.
10. BE 100 PERCENT SURE IF
MAKING THE UNEXPECTED CALL.
It’s never a good idea to enforce an arcane law just to let
everyone know that you know the book. But if it needs to be called, sell it and
be prepared to back it up with confidence. The more unusual the situation, the
more sure you must be.
11. DON’T INSERT
YOURSELF OR DISRUPT GAME RHYTHM IF IT’S NOT NECESSARY
If you’re an official and
you somehow don’t feel “in the game” because little if anything to the law has
occurred in your coverage area, back off. Don’t be that official with a quick
whistle or flag, looking for any kind of violation or penalty, to make it look
like you’re “in the game.” Back off. It’s better for you, the crew and the
game.
The better officials know when to stay out of the way and call
only what needs to be called. Under no circumstances should an official disregard
fouls that involve safety of the players, but being too quick to insert
yourself when you don’t need to will result in too many flags or whistles for
minor violations or for phantom violations that are better handled with
preventive officiating. At some point the game will need you and when it does,
be ready. In the meantime, back off.
12. WHEN A
GAME IS OBVIOUSLY OVER, CONCENTRATION NEEDS TO BE STRONGER.
Thoughts of home, work, meetings or your next game can easily grab
your attention instead of the game in front of you. That’s the time to amplify your
focus as much as possible. Don’t allow yourself to be distracted by anything.
Focus on the game and use it as an opportunity to improve.
Above all, don’t physically quit on the game. Continue to hustle
even though you may have the exhort to loaf. Apply personal pride, vanity or
your competitive side. Draw upon any inner strength or collection of emotions
or memories to stay in the game. Do anything necessary to keep your focus and
not quit.
Comments