Why Crew Harmony Matters
When any game assignment arrives, all sorts of questions usually race through an official’s mind. First, who’s playing? Great teams? A rivalry game? If you’re an official for the right reason, it really doesn’t matter. They’re all good.
Second, where is it being played? Is it the brand-spanking-new gym across town? The loud and raucous stadium? Again, it really doesn’t matter a whole lot.
But one question that does matter to officials is, who are my partners? The answer can either cause a sigh of relief or a host of anxiety. The names might conjure memories of blown calls, inadvertent whistles and petty arguments over who had the better angle to make the call.
It’s best to take a deep breath and remember two key words: crew harmony. Those two words speak volumes for you as an official as you strive to be successful every game, season after season. It’s no different than the harmony that’s essential in a marriage, a family unit, a work environment or a social organization. No man or woman is an island. No official can be one, either. Officiating is a people business, and people must be in harmony to achieve common goals.
The Crew Is the Unit
A crew is only as good as the crew itself. If one crewmember doesn’t perform as well as their crewmates, the game will be evaluated as not being officiated well. Crewmembers must be on the same page in order for the crew, and thus each individual, to be successful.
So, how do you do it, especially on nights when it seems your crew is not in the same book, let alone on the same page?
Mutual respect as officials and, more importantly, as human beings, is the first necessary ingredient. Support, communication and humor are also key.
The Leader Sets the Tone
While all crewmembers must know their responsibilities to the crew and to each other, it is the white hat (referee) in football who must take the initiative in building harmony. In soccer, it’s the referee; in baseball and softball, it’s the umpire-in-chief; in basketball, it’s the “R” (referee); and in volleyball, it is the first referee (R1).
In all sports, it is usually the veteran. It is every veteran’s responsibility to help younger crewmembers without a condescending attitude. It is the crew chief’s responsibility to create the “family” atmosphere that is crucial to crew harmony. As explored in The Fine Art of Building Your Crew, strong crew leadership is based on trust, preparation and helping every member perform at their best.
That family atmosphere may be more easily built and maintained in football and baseball, in which set crews are common. In other sports, referees often work consecutive nights with different partners throughout the entire season. It is extremely important to build harmony, even for just a day.
Building Harmony Before the Game
The process begins with an email or text when the games are first assigned. It may be an ice-breaking introduction, a friendly reunion of paths crossing or a straightforward discussion about the game and travel plans. Traveling to a game together, whether in a car across town or on a plane across the country, is a good way to begin establishing harmony.
The pregame conference is then the main forum for building harmony that will carry the crew throughout the game. It’s the crew leader’s responsibility to ensure each person feels comfortable during the pregame. None of the officials should feel intimidated, overwhelmed or in the shadow of another official. If they do, they’ll be hesitant and not make the calls that need to be made. The whole idea is to elevate a new or less-experienced official, so that the entire crew works at a higher level.
One way to do this is to have the new or less-experienced crewmember begin conducting the pregame. The more you let that official participate and share ideas, the more comfortable he or she will feel. Additional guidance on welcoming and preparing an unfamiliar partner can be found in How to Handle a New Crew Member. With a more veteran crew, egos must be put aside for the good of the unit.
Pregame details also provide an early opportunity for a crew to establish consistency and confidence. Even a routine responsibility such as the opening ceremony benefits from clearly assigned roles and communication, as outlined in Don’t Leave Your Coin Toss to Chance.
Maintaining Harmony During the Game
When the game begins, the process of building crew harmony continues. No raised eyebrows, negative body language or outward criticism can be tolerated if the crew is to work productively as a team and thereby earn the respect of the players, coaches and fans.
Don’t ever embarrass a crewmember and imply that you don’t agree with his or her judgment. And always keep a sense of humor, without affecting the flow of the game.
When It Doesn’t Work
And what happens when it just doesn’t work? What happens when there is friction between partners or dissension among crewmembers? The crew chief should file a report with the assigner or coordinator with an honest assessment of why it didn’t work.
It’s up to the person in charge to see if there is a pattern with a particular official. There are also further evaluations and rating systems to help address individual problems that can disrupt a crew.
And then move on to the next assignment, with the next partner or crewmembers, and with a total commitment to getting it right together.
