- Be competitive: the players give maximum effort, and so should you. Tell yourself, "I'm not going to let this game get away from me, I am better than that." You are hired to make the calls that control the game-make them!
- Have your head on right-don't think your striped shirt grants you immunity from having to take a little criticism. It's part of officiating. Plan on it. Successful officials know how much to take. Ask one when you get the chance.
- Don't be a tough guy-If a coach is on your back, but not enough to warrant a penalty, then stay away from him (or her). This is especially true during time-outs. Standing near an unhappy coach just to "show him" will only lead to further tensions. Some officials develop irritating characteristics. Don't bone of them.
- Get into the flow of the game-each game is different. Good officials can feel this difference. Concentrate on the reactions of the players. Take note if the tempo of the game changes. A ragged game calls for a different style of officiating than smooth one.
- Don't bark-if you don't like to be shouted at, don't shout at someone else. Be firm, but speak with a normal, relaxed voice. This technique will do wonders in helping you reduce the pressure. Shouting indicates a loss of control, not only of one's self, but also of the game.
- Show confidence-Cockiness has absolutely no place in officiating. You want to exude confidence. Your presence should command respect from the participants. As in any walk of life, appearance, manner, and voice determine how you are accepted. Try to present the proper image.
- Forget the fans-As a group, fans exhibit three common characteristics: (1) ignorance of the rules, (2) highly emotional partisanship, and (3) delight in antagonizing the officials. Accepting this fact will help you ignore the fans, unless they interrupt the game or stand in the way of your doing your job.
- Answer reasonable questions-Treat coaches and players in courteous way. If they ask you a question reasonably, answer them in a polite way. If they get your ear by say "Hey, Ref, I want to ask you something," and then start telling you off, interrupt and remind them of the reason for the discussion. Be firm, hut relaxed.
- Choose your words wisely-don't aggressively threaten coaches or players. This will only put them on the defensive. More important, you will have placed yourself on the spot. If you feel situation is serious enough to warrant a threat, then it is serious enough to penalize, without invoking a threat. Obviously some things you say will be a form of threat, hut using the proper words can make it subtle.
- Stay cool-your purpose is to establish a calm environment for the game. Nervous or edgy officials are easily spotted by fans, coaches, and players alike. Chewing gum, pacing around, or displaying a wide range of emotions prior to or during agama; this will make you seem vulnerable to the pressure.
The above suggestions, generally applicable to officiating at all levels, may need slight modification in special situations. However, as a whole, they provide useful guidelines. Excellent mechanics and a thorough knowledge of the rules are an important part of being a truly successful official. But establishing and maintaining rapport with coaches and players also will help the official avoid many potentially difficult situations.
One researcher, Dr. Roy Asking, a professor of social psychology with officiating experience, examined his hobby and provided the following information. When asked, "What gives officials the most trouble?" Dr. Asking replied that other than problems associated with perception and sloppy plays; the behavior of some coaches, players, and crowds is most troublesome.
At this point, you may ask, "If officiating is so demanding inters of working conditions, why do people do it?" A survey administered by Dr. Asking found many reasons. The most common were: earning extra money, remaining close to athletics income capacity, and enjoying a position of some status and power. If you think this career looks promising for you, make plans to begin.
Getting Started
What kind of person makes good sports official? Dr. R. C. Hay-good, a vocational psychologist at Arizona State University, said that the ideal sports official is a saint, for only a saint could exhibit all of the psychological traits we expect of a good referee or umpire! Some of these personality characteristics are tolerance, self-confidence, and the ability to make decisions under stress. There's one way to see if you possess these: give officiating a try.
If you've interested, volunteer to officiate in a youth summer league, in a church or synagogue league in your neighborhood, Orin the community recreation program. Many league officers at this level go begging for officials! Your involvement can aid both yourself and the league; some youth leagues and intramural programs even provide salaries, but your greatest benefit will be experience. In addition, officiating is an excellent way to better understand a sport; it will give you a greater appreciation of the total game as well as a working knowledge of the rules. This serves as a valuable background for related careers.
If you become seriously interested, it's useful to remember that officiating parallels coaching in many respects. That is, novices work with younger players at the lower level. So, following approval, you usually will work games at the junior high school and junior varsity levels. In order to receive initial status, it will be necessary to pass a written examination in the sport or sports of your choice and to join the state officials' association as well as the local chapter.
