Leadership Officiating

Covering pregame preparation, team-officiating and being the crew chief.

Leadership Officiating

Leadership Officiating
Covering pregame preparation, team-officiating and being the crew chief.

Create your own Luck

Luck has been defined as what happens when preparedness meets opportunity, and opportunity is there all the time. Question: When opportunity comes, will you...

9 Characteristics of a Good Mentor

Ask anyone who has “made it” in officiating about the people who have helped them along the way and they will without a doubt have a list of...

Make the ‘Third Team’ the Best Team

Most people think two teams are required for an athletic competition. Officials know better. It takes three: the two teams scheduled to take the field or court, plus...

5 Mentoring Strategies That Work

Experienced officials are often asked to mentor men and women who are just beginning a career in officiating. It can be a daunting task to take on. Before you agree...

Decisions, Not Reactions

Officials are supposed to make decisions based on close observation of plays, not on gut reactions to the action. To do that we must rely...

What it Really Means To Be A Crew Chief

As the crew chief, you’re the maestro on the field or court. That means you have a lot of responsibilities. You must be ready to lead. Retired NBA referee,...

Dictator or Facilitator: What Type of Official are You?

The late Bill Klem, perhaps the greatest umpire in the history of baseball, was once shown a photo that supposedly proved he blew a...

Break Time Doesn’t Mean Time Off for Officials

A college football game encompasses 60 minutes of playing time divided into four 15-minute quarters. But those 60 minutes typically require something approaching three...

Be a Team Player

“I hear you, Coach, but it wasn’t my call.” That statement can send shockwaves of negativity into a situation on the court or field....

Don’t Be Afraid to Take the Lead

There is nothing wrong with being a wallflower by nature. There is, however, a major problem with being one as an official, a lesson I was fortunate enough to...

Five Quick Mentoring Tips

There may be no more important role in officiating than that of a mentor. If the next generation of officials is to become proficient...
Pass On Officiating Wisdom

How to Pass on Your Wisdom

Whether you’ve been officiating for some time or you simply have three more games under your belt than another official, you’re in a position...

Picking Up the Pace of Games

One of the great debates in sports these days is how long it takes to play the games. Television has been a great boon...

9 Points To Grade Your Officiating Crew

Most people think two teams are required for athletic competition. Officials know better. It takes three — the teams scheduled to take the field or court, plus the team...

Act Like the Role Model You Are

One night I drove to a rink in Amherst, N.Y., to watch the Empire State Games, an Olympic-style event for amateur high school athletes. The hockey game I...

5 Tips to Mentor the Next Generation

There may be no more important role for current officials than to be mentors. If the next generation of officials is to become proficient...

Poise and Dignity Go a Long Way

The best way to answer criticism may be not to answer at all. Ignoring the remark denies it credence. No one of an astute...

Step Up When Your Partner Needs Help

The excitement of getting an important assignment can be dampened when you discover that your partner needs help because they may not be at...

How to Transition Smoothly with a New Partner

In many areas, we don’t have a choice about who we’re teamed with. We might have some input into the process, but the final...

Move from Camp to Classroom

Every serious official has been there: in a classroom, looking at a PowerPoint as a clinician goes over a rule or positioning principle. They’ve made...

Five Lessons on Leadership

By George Gately As CEO of a small, nonprofit corporation, my avocation as a soccer referee has been an adventure in learning. What began as...

Understand the Mindsets of your Crew Members

Getting the most out of a crew is challenging to say the least. Rather than just expecting everyone to be on the same page,...

Facing Discipline? Be a Professional

The best way for an official to address association discipline is to not be disciplined at all. Be a professional. Officials who are professionals...

Welcoming Adversity

E veryone handles nerves and adversity differently. Some believe if you don’t get at least a little nervous before a big game, you don’t understand the...

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