USSF National Instructor Holly Hollingsworth of St. Louis agrees that a good postgame is the cure and feels that a relaxed approach is the best medicine. “At the professional and many of the college level soccer games, an assessor is assigned to evaluate the performance of the officials. In many cases, this results in a formal postgame discussion rather than a give-and-take discussion that may lead to a more productive learning experience for a young official. I like the assessor who functions as a member of the officiating crew, rather than an expert consultant, and can stimulate a give-and-take discussion. Then everyone, including the assessor, learns from the postgame discussion.” In his postgame after a college basketball game in Los Angeles, Arredondo started informally by asking his partners, “What two things did we do well tonight and what two things could we have done better?” Monte Murray, who has moved from the high school level to the collegiate level from within the San Gabriel Valley unit, was quick to become introspective. “There was a short span there in the second half when the tempo picked up and I got caught up in it and lost focus,” he said in a concerned but still self-assured manner. “When that happens, make a point to slow yourself down,” advised Arredondo. “Take a few seconds longer before you administer an inbounds. Give yourself a chance to regain control.” The junior referee listened carefully and nodded. “If you don’t take the time to review your game with your partners and carefully assess each of your efforts, then you’re missing the chance to really improve,” says Arrendondo. “In a postgame, we’re forced to analyze our performance and be analyzed, right there, right at the moment. The problem is that too many officials get hurt because they take it personally, not professionally. What has made Monte successful is that he doesn’t take things personally. He understands that when you open yourself up and are willing to fail, you succeed. That happens in a postgame. Confidence and competence come by postgaming.” Hollingsworth likely would praise Arredondo for taking the initiative in his postgame. “Young officials probably would like to be invited to join in a postgame but are uneasy about soliciting an invite. The more experienced officials need to extend the invitation; maybe as part of the pregame or as part of the travel planning.” “Any kind of postgame evaluation is necessary to help you improve,” Daopoulos affirms. “It’s just important to communicate.” And once the disease is cured, what do you say to your partners when you leave the court or the field? “Great working with you,” suggests Arredondo. “Now let’s have a postgame.” (Rich Winograd is a freelance writer from Thousand Oaks, Calif. He officiates high school basketball.)