Successful Sports Officiating Clinic

What does a sports official need to know?

The easy answer is the rules and proper positioning and mechanics, but it is so much more than that. They need have a basic understanding of time management and how to develop and maximize a personal officiating style. In addition to possessing these skills, it is critical that officials have integrity. If an official cares who wins or loses a game, he/she should not be an official.

Your Officiating Objectives

The 4 Essential Objectives of Officiating

Officials’ responsibilities include (1)making sure that principles of fairness are observed, (2)that games that place in a manner that ensures the safety of participants, (3)that players employ positive elements of sportsmanship, and (4)that the people playing have a chance to develop their skills and knowledge of the sport.

(1) Enhancing Game Safety

· Inspect protective equipment

· Inspect game equipment

· Inspect facilities – when you discover a hazard notify the supervisor immediately

· Regulating game conduct – officials must learn when to issue warnings and when to penalize the act without warning. Officials must also recognize when perfectly legal acts may cause tempers to flare. Recognizing belligerence and having a strategy will help deal with misconduct. Animosities tend to escalate if they are not addressed early in the contest.

· Injury response – “flowing blood” rule...if there is an open wound, the player must exit the game and is not permitted to return until the bleeding has stopped. An accident report form must be filled out by the supervisor on duty. If there is a minor injury, the official should use good judgment and heir on the side of caution. It is a good tactic to consult fellow officials, supervisors, or another team representative before sending a player from the game.

· Crowd response – If a spectator begins to berate players or officials in an unacceptable way, officials should ask supervisors to remove the person who is causing the disturbance. Rarely should officials engage the spectators directly.

(2) Striving for Fairness

· Making good decisions requires two traits

1. A full understanding of what is supposed to take place in a game and,

2. A superior ability to make distinctions about those factors

· Officials must learn how strictly rules apply at various levels of competition

· Use the “advantage/disadvantage” principle. Know when rules can be flexed and when they should be strict.

· DEF – Fairness – a solid knowledge of the rules applied in an even way to game action

(3) Aiding in Athletes’ Development

· At times, officials can help players better understand a game and improve their skills. There are rule situations that an official can explain (for example: running a baseline in basketball)

· Officials can inform players about rules that player seldom see enforced

· Sometimes, in sports where contact is either permissible or unavoidable, an official can help a player understand certain acts are forbidden, such as running into a goalkeeper in soccer. By cautioning players, an official may actually change participants’ behavior, improve their skills, and increase their knowledge of the sport they are playing.

· It is acceptable under some conditions to notify players that they are about to commit a violation.

(4) Promoting Sportsmanship

· It is good practice for officials to positively reinforce a gracious act. In some sports an official can feel free to compliment players when they make outstanding plays. Comments should be judiciously offered in a low-key manner directly to the participant during breaks in action.

· Acknowledge acts of sportsmanship whenever appropriate.

· A timely remark from an official can actually have more influence under certain circumstances than a combative coach or captain.

Your Officiating Style

Three Styles of Officiating

(1) Rule-Book Style

· Some officials think that they are fulfilling their role as the games guardians by applying rules in a punitive manner. Many rules are subject to wide interpretation simply because there are so many variations in game circumstances. Some rules, however, do not permit any deviance (for example: boundary lines).

· It is ok to use this style as long as he/she is even—handed and is equally picky with both teams.

· In games that flow rapidly, a tight game can hamper the flow of the game and make participants frustrated.

(2) Laissez-Faire Style

· Some officials like to let games play out and not interfere much. This is ok if games move along smoothly.

· The “live and let live” official may get into trouble by not making calls when they are essential, not attending carefully to the welfare of players, or making a half-hearted decision when a crisp one is called for. Feeble decision making can be the undoing of an official.

· Officials may give the perception that they do not know very much about the game. Lack of rule knowledge will ruin everyone’s experience.

· Officials may give the perception that they lack the hustle necessary to make good calls.

· Players need to be warned if they make a hard foul. An official who refrains from warning players about potentially dangerous acts is either ignorant of the danger or reluctant to take action.

· Selling calls with vigor is necessary at critical moments in all sports. An official whose timing is slow, whose signals are lethargic, and who fails to be empathetic at times is going to lose confidence of the players.

· Laissez-faire officials are only good when the players themselves take control and run games satisfactorily.

(3) Advantage/Disadvantage Officiating

· The best officials take charge of a game and run it a smartly and efficiently as possible, letting players play when only minimal intrusion is necessary but intervening in a decisive way when events in the game show that measures of control need to be applied.

· Examples of good use of the advantage/disadvantage principle:

In basketball, a player dribbling down the floor is met by a defender whose arms are outstretched. The dribbler executes a skillful crossover dribble and slides by the defender, although the defender’s arm swipes across the body of the ball handler.

In soccer, a defender slides feet first toward a player dribbling the ball and momentarily causes the dribbler to disengage. But the dribbler hops aside, even though the defender’s slide caused a slight imbalance, and moves down the field in possession of the ball.

In each of the preceding cases, no advantage accrued.

Preventative Techniques are critical when trying to keep control of the flow of a game. There are two effective ways in which to utilize preventive officiating:

(1) Helping players avoid technical violations. A basketball official will withhold the ball from a player on a throw-in if that player’s foot is on the boundary line.

(2) Notifying a player not to commit a foul. A player can be told to avoid excessive hand guarding in basketball as play develops. Similarly, a player in soccer can be told to avoid a foul when they are close to becoming overly aggressive on defense and are beginning to kick at the ankles.

Note that any warnings about potential violations should be issued during dead-ball intervals.

Context Determines Approach

· At times, an official has to take a stance about the way a game should be handled even before the game begins.

· Depending on the level of play and the intentions of the players, we can assess the situation and either call a loose game or else revert to a tight style. A lot depends on degrees of player skill and the intensity of rivalries.

· When play is sloppy, officials have to adjust their expectations and operate according to the skill level of players, which may mean overlooking technical violations and make some allowances for lack of ability.

Style and Mechanics

· Signals are fundamental communication devices for all officials. Officials convince others of their accuracy in judgment by the way they execute signals.

· Good officials rehearse

· The timing, emphasis, clarity, presentation, and smoothness should be mastered as the manuals and books illustrate them. Move away from clusters of players. Avoid being loose jointed, flippant, stiffly mechanical, or exaggeratedly demonstrative.

Personal Characteristics

The following characteristics can help you to become a good official:

· Integrity

· Courage

· Self confidence

· Decisiveness

· Consistency

· Being even-tempered

· Humility – the official who gains the most respect admits that sometimes he/she could be wrong.

· Understanding Human Nature – Some people whine when they are aggrieved, and they’re usually sorry for it later; try to forgive them before they ask for forgiveness.

· Ability to control situations

· Hustle – There is no substitute for dashing to position yourself for a firm call, and people will appreciate that you’re on top of the play, even if they don’t say it.

Personal Performance Principles

In addition to the above-mentioned characteristics, there are a number of pieces of advice to help you become a good official:

· Be competitive

· Have your head on right – Effective officials know how much to take before responding, and knowing where to draw the line is essential.

· Avoid a showdown – If a player is relentless in negative marks, stay as far away as possible. This is especially important during breaks in action.

· Get into the game’s flow

· Never bark – This is the Golden Rule philosophy. Be firm when necessary, but use a voice with a modulated pitch. Shouting appears to be defensive and indicates a loss of personal control

· Show confidence – A sharp appearance, a smooth manner, and a polished voice determine whether or not you’ll be readily accepted. Body language speaks louder than words.

· Forget the fans – the supervisors will take care of the spectators. If you need to...stop the game and ask for the supervisors help in dealing with spectators.

· Answer reasonable questions – Courtesy is a vital technique for officials. Treat players with politeness and make listening a strong element in any personal exchange. Be firm, gentle and relaxed.

· Stay cool

Ten Commandments of Style

1. Avoid criticizing other officials; even without your contribution, there will be a sufficient supply of criticism.

2. Avoid second-guessing game strategy.

3. Strive to avoid the appearance of favoritism; smile, but don’t laugh out loud. There should be no such thing as a friendly neighborhood official.

4. Most signals should be preceded by a distinct pause. Avoid overreacting; instead, make signals rhythmic and snappy.

5. Recognize you’ve made a controversial call, and permit reasonable disputation. Realize that you are arbitrating a competition. Listen before you respond, but never tolerate a personal attack such as name-calling.

6. When in doubt about a rule, make a firm decision, consult the other officials and/or supervisor, explain your reasoning, determine the truth later by referring to the rule book, then reveal your findings accurately and promptly.

7. Never invent calls; be sure of what you observe. See the whole play.

8. Don’t bluff; if you don’t have the answer, admit it.

9. If a judgment call deserves an explanation, provide it.

10. Never be neglectful, cavalier, or nonchalant about your image; people are observing you, and they’ll admire a professional demeanor.

Goal Setting

A study at Yale University in 1953 found that only 3 percent of that year’s graduates had set specific career goals. Twenty years later, in 1973, that 3 percent proved wealthier and had accomplished more than the other 97 percent combined.

Questions to ask yourself going into officiating:]

· Do I like a particular sport?

· Do I have a personality that will adapt readily to the difficulties of officiating a sport?

· Do I know enough right now to enter this avocation at a low rung?

· Am I willing to make a commitment to learn?

· Will I settle for mediocrity or will I continue to strive to learn?

It is important to set goals for yourself when officiating. Try to identify goals that can be measured. Try to help break up the workload by setting goals that are attainable. Have a system to check your progress throughout the season.

Developing Your Communication Skills

The manner, style, and content of all messages are a matter of conscious choice. When officials are observed in critical situations they seem to be communicating in a calm, straightforward fashion. Officials work very hard to respond sensibly to game conflicts and verbal attacks. They learn to weigh their words carefully, to develop mechanisms (expressions, posture, gestures) that convey a confident and soothing message, and to couch remarks in terms that solve problems rather than escalate them.

When being confronted by captains, officials should try to offer a solution to the perceived problem. A solution may include consulting with an officiating partner or explaining a rule in clear and pointed terms. The key is to hear the problem in its entirety.

Sometimes taking a deep breath before offering a response can help your mind process the entire context and permit you to arrive at a sensible determination.

Always try to lend an ear as long as the discussion doesn’t delay the game. The captain may have a valid point that needs addressing.

It is almost impossible to listen dispassionately when you are mad, but how can you avoid it? Be conscious that your emotions are ignited.

Staying in Control

When most people are attacked verbally, their natural response is to defend and explain to counter whatever argument is offered. College baseball umpire Randy Christal of Austin, Texas, has adopted a technique that helps him to process what he hears. When a coach comes out to berate him for a call, Christal’s response is, “What did you see?” That immediately switches the official’s attitude to an empathetic mode. Such a topic will not come about if one relies solely on an automatic reaction. A person has to do some self-programming, however, to arrive at this controlled state.

Verbal Skills

Pregame introductions often involve small talk about game conditions, the crowd, or the weather. The official should follow regulations by inquiring about conditions of the game site, and the captain’s names and numbers (if applicable). In preliminary procedures, officials should be as direct and formal as possible.

Officials should not use slang referring to bodily functions or sexual behavior, cursing of any kind, name-calling, negative adjectives (worthless, gutless), and religious or racial slurs.

If you use strong negative messages with positive nonverbal reinforcement with a smile. “I’ve heard enough” or “ You’ve said enough” are about the strongest expressions an official should use to stop vocal harassment. It would be polite to preface such orders with “please.”

3 Ways to Improve your Verbal Skills

(1) Address people in respectful terms, even if you are responding to a disrespectful comment.

(2) Make explanations brief and to the point.

(3) Avoid using technical jargon unless the terms are readily understood, such as “outside corner,” and “establish position.”

Choosing Words Carefully

An official defused a potentially explosive situation a few years back in Clearwater, Florida, football game. Near the end of the game and with the score close, a quarterback faked a handoff and kept the ball himself, dashing around the end and down the sidelines. One official, however, thought that the player plunging into the line had the ball and blew his whistle sharply. He had ignored the fundamental axiom of football officials to “see leather,” that is, to make sure that the runner had the football. This mistaken whistle infuriated the coach, because it denied his team the tying score. Referee Ben Shlemon went over to the sideline and said, “I’m going to let you vent for a moment, and then we’ll continue the game.” The coach continued to scream awhile before his assistants tugged him aside. Shlemon then moved away so as to be out of earshot. “Vent” is a term used nowadays to connote acceptable protests and rebukes, as opposed to such terms as go crazy, go berserk, or have a fit. The referee recognized that the coach was bound to be aggrieved, that the situation could not be rectified, and that a call of unsportsmanlike behavior would simply have compounded the problem. Shlemon also exhibited a firm resolve of closure when he indicated that game action would commence shortly.

Nonverbal Skills

Nonverbal skills are a critical component to selling a call. Correct posture and semantics will go a long way to letting players know that you know what you are doing.

Developing Decision-Making Skills

Proper officiating involves making quick decisions. To make a good call, you need to be in position. Officials must learn to move with the game, and that includes anticipating plays so as to be in proper position to make calls.

Here are the keys to making decisions during games:

· Know the rules

· Know the language of the sport

· Master the signals, and employ them properly – each sport has a designated system of mechanics for announcing decisions.

· Understand the game’s rhythms and strategies – tempo is a factor of many games, often determined by the players themselves but to some degree controlled by the officials. Officials should be aware of the game’s inherent rhythms and try not to alter them. In basketball, for example, officials must sense a potential press, fast break, trap, or a strategic deliberate foul by the team that is behind in score. Always remember: “anticipate the play, not the foul.” Spectators tend to watch the ball, but officials have to see both the movement of the ball and the actions of the other players. This is called off-ball coverage, and the official must know his/her precise assignment, must hustle to be in position to make the proper judgment, and must know the rights and restrictions of players to whom the ball is aimed.

· Be in proper decision – If an official is out of position to make a call, he/she has two options. One is to make a long distance call. The other choice is to rely on partners.

· Concentrate and focus on the essential elements – Try to anticipate what strategy a captain will employ when play resumes. Dead balls should be an opportunity for analysis of the game.

· Remain calm

· Work closely with fellow officials – Any official who sees a violation should call it.

Here are hints for learning the rules in logical order:

· Terms and definitions

· Players rights and restrictions

· Violations and penalties

· Description of the game, including scoring

· Dimensions of playing surfaces

· Peripheral regulations – rules on jewelry, clothing, jerseys, etc.

· Rare occurrences

Managing Conflict

To manage conflict effectively, you must understand that conflict in inevitable. As an official you are there to arbitrate competition, and the most you can hope for is respect. Officiating is not a popularity contest.

Recognizing Conflict

Signs from players – most players will have signs that will alert you that they are frustrated. Look for these signs when officiating to help curtail explosive behavior. Knowing the signs of frustration gives you the context to deal with the player appropriately.

· A player’s poor performance is an obvious sign of a player’s frustration level.

· Look at player’s facial expressions and body language for clues about their feelings. Tense facial muscles, such as a set jaw, may indicate that a player is close to acting aggressively. Be on the look out for staring or glaring as well.

· Always watch for contact away from the ball or after play ends. If there is any unnecessary contact be sure to deal with it quickly and decisively. There may be non-contact situations away from the ball or after a play that you may need to watch out for as well. Generally it is in the form of trash talk or a stare down after a player has executed good play.

· Be on the lookout for “paybacks.” Some players retaliate immediately, while others will retaliate later when the official may not be looking. Paybacks must be dealt with immediately with a minimum of a caution given to the player(s) in question.

Planning for Conflict: Using Preventative Officiating

Part of being a good official is being a good strategist. Getting ready for a game usually involves a pregame conference with partners. Discuss focus on rules, mechanics, court coverage, foul-calling philosophy, and a conflict game management plan.

Here are ways to help utilize Preventative Officiating:

· Clear your head – forget the mood you are in, tests you have, or other game experiences with the team(s) you have officiated already.

· Stay Objective – Gain enough information to help you understand why certain things are happening in the game, but be responsible enough to sort through the information and treat each game as a new one.

· Don’t take it personally – One of the most difficult aspects to understand about officiating is that generally when people yell at you, they’re yelling at your official’s uniform and what it represents. Understand that players and fans will see things differently than you do. Allow some venting but make sure you have set the line for them not to cross.

· Decide what deserves a response – Every question does not need a response. Statements require no answer. If a basketball coach says, “She’s camping in the lane,” what is more effective: ignoring the statement or saying to the coach, “No way; she’s been fine all night”? Most of the time, ignoring a harmless statement or acknowledging it with a simple head nod ends the matter. When you defend your position, the coach instinctively may go on the offensive and continue the debate. Ask yourself, “If I say something, will it do more harm than good?”

· Understand Game Context – The intensity of the game, the closeness of the score, and how much time left in the game all play a part in how much and what type of conflict you must deal with. You may want to allow a little more leeway under those circumstances. Don’t let players get away with extremely unsportsmanlike conduct, but it does mean that the way in which you handle the end of game situation will likely have impact on the result, so you should consider the emotional charge of the situation and tolerate a bit more than you normally would in less critical situations.

Implementing Your Conflict Management Plan

During each game, you must recognize the signs of conflict, prevent it from escalating, and deal directly with it by penalizing when appropriate.

Conflict management tools – Physical presence, voice control, body language, and whistle or flag usage are vital conflict management tools.

· Your Presence – An official without presence often looks nervous and appears to be anxious. Your presence also means where you are in relation to conflict. When players end up on the ground due to aggressive playing action, such as diving for a loose ball, an official should immediately move to the area where the players are on the surface. If the first person that a player sees is an official in that area, there is less likelihood of verbal or physical retaliation. If you aren’t there, a player might try to get away with an intentional elbow or a push to the opponent.

· Your Voice – Officials should never indulge in verbal retaliation. When communicating, be firm, loud enough to be heard, but not challenging. Remember, the more you say in a situation of conflict, the less it means.

· Keep emotion out of your Voice

· Avoid Threats – Officials’ ultimatums back the officials themselves into corners as much as coaches and players...avoid using “One more word and you’re gone!” Instead, use phrases such as, “I’ve heard enough.”

· Point to a Shared Goal – If you need to address something a player or coach is doing – before assessing a penalty if you use preventative officiating – keep the common goal in mind. Here is an example: “Coach, we need to work together to ensure the safety of all players. Can you please talk to number 45 about the rough play out here? That will help us protect the players. Thank you.” By letting the coach/captain know that you both have a common goal – in this case, protecting the players – you’re more likely to get cooperation from the coach/captain.

· Don’t Argue – One obvious way to avoid an argument is not to get drawn into one. Avoid aggressive body language, and talk calmly and slowly to lower the emotion of the conversation. It’s not an argument if you don’t participate.

· Tell the Truth – It’s okay to say you made a mistake. Honesty is your best policy. If you do blow a call, it’s okay to admit it quietly to the coach or player. If you do it too often, however, your reputation will suffer.

· Don’t Trivialize – Though extremely tempting sometimes, don’t ever utter the phrase, “It’s only Intramurals” or “It’s only a game.”

· Your Body Language – Avoid crossing your arms in front of your chest when communicating with a captain. Also avoid an aggressive hands-on-hips stance with your chest thrust out. When an argument ensues, consider placing your hands behind your back. Stand tall while doing so and make solid eye contact. Also try hard not to scowl. From the moment you arrive at the game site, you’re on stage in effect.

· Your Whistle or Flag – When you blow a weak whistle, you’re more likely to be challenged because it sounds as though you are not sure of yourself. Blow a strong steady whistle with normal volume in most situations. Don’t use short, repetitive blasts except to get someone’s attention in a loud setting because they draw unnecessary attention to you and can be perceived as overaggressiveness or hostility to the offender. In football, if you throw a weak flag that looks as if it simply fell out of your pocket, it suggests that you’re unsure about your call. Throw your flag on an arc so that it flies gracefully through the air toward the area of the foul and doesn’t look as if you’re throwing it aggressively at someone.

· Team Captains – Use captains to your advantage. Ask them pertinent game-related questions or ask them to deal with game management duties (including keeping their players and bench under control). During dead time, say something like, “Captain, number 24 is starting to talk a bit to the opponent. Could you please handle that?” If the captain follows through with your request, thank him/her.

Resolving Conflict – When you are involved in a conflict, your goal as an official is to resolve it. In a Referee magazine feature story titled “Count to Ten,” psychologist Dr. Bruce Baldwin detailed a plan to help resolve conflict:

1. Permit the other person to talk without interrupting. Use the “10 second” rule – Give a captain 10 seconds to vent before you respond.

2. Limit the discussion only to the immediate issue that is adversely affecting your relationship. Say things like, “Let’s focus on this play and get it resolved. Now did you see this play?”

3. Choose an optimal time to bring up and discuss problems. Then keep the conversations focused and brief.

4. Judiciously avoid the other person’s vulnerabilities or emotional sensitivities. Sarcasm is never a good instrument for promoting conflict resolution. Probably the biggest temptation is using a team’s record or game score as a weapon.

5. Regularly touch base with the other person. Ongoing dialog is one of the best possible ways to avoid problems, but this can be difficult for officials because they can’t have a constant running dialog with participants.

Tricks of the Trade

· Use your line up or roster card – Call the captain over to while you have the line up or roster in hand. The roster technique allows you to address a problem directly but discreetly, because everyone else thinks you’re talking about the roster.

· Talk to your partner – talk to your partner so that others can hear. Say something like, “Mike, number 4 for blue and number 5 for white are starting to talk too much. Just a head’s up.” Use a non-threatening tone.

· Make a deal – If a player or captain is complaining about the same thing make a deal with them. For example, “Okay number 76. I’ve heard you. I’m going to watch you exclusively for the next three plays. If he doesn’t hold you in the next three plays, the complaining stops.” The player will almost always accept the conditions. If the complaint is true, call it. If not, gently tell the complaining player so: “he looked clean on those plays.”

· Put the ball in play – When someone starts to complain, get the ball in as quickly as possible. Don’t rush, but there is generally more complaining during dead balls. Your conflicts will decrease.

When to Penalize

Using warnings and penalties – You can use informal warnings in situations that are bad enough to warrant attention but not bad enough to penalize. Most of the time, your voice will be effective.

Informal Warnings

· The quiet word – Use the quiet word when you notice something that could develop into a larger problem. The conversation should only include those directly involved. Use positive statements and point to a common goal.

· The louder word – When the quiet word doesn’t work, sometimes a louder word does. Be firm and strong, but don’t ever yell or curse. Consider using the louder word to the offending player in front of other players.

· The visual warning – When the quiet word and louder word don’t work, use the visual warning. A visual warning, though informal, is considered the last step before issuing a penalty.

Although all three types of informal warnings are great first steps in game management, repeated warnings become ineffective. Ideally, each offender gets one visual warning; the next problem from that offender should be penalized.

Formal Warnings, Penalties, and Ejections

Some behavior requires automatic penalties:

· A curse word clearly audible to others – generally a penalty (depending on the loudness, a caution)

· Trash talk to an opponent – penalize immediately (depending on the severity, caution)

· A captain from the bench on the court or field arguing with an official - immediate (depending on the severity, caution)

· Showing up an official – penalize immediately (depending on the severity, caution)

· Anything that starts with “you” – i.e. “You suck” or “Your terrible” penalize immediately (depending on the severity, caution)

· Physical contact with an official – immediate ejection

Tip for when to address a complaint and when to penalize: If your concentration is broken because of a complaint, it is worth addressing, because your first job is to take care of the game. After you’ve spoken to the offender once, if the same offender breaks your concentration again, penalize.

When to Forfeit

You forfeit a game when you’ve determined that the game can no longer be played under current conditions and that no amount of preventative officiating and penalizing can maintain control of the game.