Leadership Officiating
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Covering pregame preparation, team-officiating and being the crew chief.
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...
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...
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...
The Fine Art of Building Your Crew
Great crew chiefs are like great leaders because … well, because they are great leaders.
But in officiating, the whole is only as good as the sum of its parts....
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Right People, Right Place, Right Time
It takes a special person to be a good assigner. You’ve got to find the right people, send them to the right place and...
Saying the Right Thing at the Right Time
We’re used to practicing restraint in conversations with coaches and players, because saying it like it is could cost us our careers. But should...
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...
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...
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....
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...
Stabilizing Your Crew
Matt Austin, Louisville, Ky., is a Southeastern Conference football referee who has worked in the league for 10 years. Through a quarter-century of officiating,...
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,...
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...
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...
Scrutiny Keeps Rising on Video Review
T he first time video review was used to make an officiating decision was during the 1968 Winter Olympic Games in Grenoble, France. Officials...
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...
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...
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...
