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No Daze Between Plays

Time is out, and plate umpire Drew Fowler, Tinley Park, Ill., won’t resume play until he’s sure his partner and all the players are ready to go. During the break, he can also mentally process the game situation and anticipate a possible strategy that will prepare him to cover what happens next.

By Jeffrey Stern

At a time when scrutiny of officials is greater than ever before, the need to get plays right is Job One. Most evaluators won’t judge too harshly an official who may not be in the absolute best position according to the manual but still makes a correct ruling on the play. Unless the official freelances his or her positioning the entire game, judgment trumps mechanics almost every time.

With all of the pressure officials face while play is in progress, it’s easy to forget what happens while play is stopped is just as important as what happens during active play. An official who views timeouts or the time between plays as dead time is asking for trouble. Preparing for what will or may happen next helps officials maintain game control and puts them in a frame of mind to cover the action that follows.

Here are six things you need to do before play resumes after a stoppage.

1. Make eye contact with your partners

Just because you’re ready to go, it doesn’t mean those you’re working with are in the same state of preparedness. They may be tying a shoe, addressing a clock or equipment problem, talking to a coach or player or just plain daydreaming. Restarting the game before everyone’s ready can result in having to redo the restart, which makes you look less than professional.

You should also make sure game-related auxiliary personnel (e.g. the chain crew, scorers, timers) are in place and ready to go as well.

2. Consider the game situation

Understanding what strategy

the teams may employ helps you plot your positioning ahead of time. The score, juncture of the game and other factors should all be noted and analyzed. Will the offense throw a long pass? Will the trailing team pull the goaltender? Could a double steal be coming?

In addition to strategies, knowing which rules may come into play when the action resumes will prevent you from being surprised when a situation arises. How many free throws are awarded and how is play resumed after an intentional foul? What are the receiving team’s options if the kicking team touches an onside kick before it goes 10 yards?

3. Check for obstacles or other potential dangers

Cheerleaders or dance teams using props such as pompoms or run-through banners sometimes leave debris behind on the playing surface. Make a quick but thorough visual scan of the area to be sure it’s safe to proceed.

Fans anticipating the end of the game will sometimes move closer to the court or field. If necessary, get the help of game management to keep the spectators back so they don’t become entangled with athletes or officials and don’t interfere with play.

If the game was stopped because a player was bleeding, be sure any affected areas are properly cleaned.

Ensure that game apparatus (e.g. nets, pylons, goals) is in order. Teams should be sure that warmup baseballs and softballs have been gathered up from the field and that the team now on defense has removed items from its on-deck area.

If a player goes down to the floor, sweat may be transferred to the playing surface. Ensure that is removed with a towel or mop.

Water or sports drinks that spill in the bench area after timeouts also need to be cleaned up.

4. Count the players

Don’t allow a team to put itself at a disadvantage by restarting play with fewer than the required number of players.

By the same token, if the rules of the game allow you to help a team correct a situation in which it has too many players, take advantage of the rule. That is preventive officiating, not coaching.

5. Know the clock status

In sports that use a game clock, know if and when the game clock is supposed to start. If time incorrectly ran off the clock and you have positive knowledge of how much time was involved, have that time put back on the clock. That is especially important at the end of periods when time is precious.

Sad to say, some clock operators are less than scrupulous. In some cases, particularly at lower levels, they are not well trained. If there are repeated timing errors, consider asking game management for a replacement or taking over timing duties yourself.

6. Observe injured players

If play was stopped because a player was injured, note if the player is attempting to return to the game. In some cases, the rules require that if play was stopped because of an injury, the player may not return to action immediately. If the injury is so severe that the rules require the player to receive written clearance from a physician before participating, you must obtain the document and keep it for your records.

If a player needs assistance getting off the court or field, don’t resume play until the player and any support staff have completely cleared the area.

When blood is involved, enforce whatever rules apply to your sport. If a player’s jersey is saturated with blood, that will entail having the player change uniforms. Be sure the player’s number is changed in the scorebook and the opposing team is notified to prevent any confusion. Jeffrey Stern is Referee’s senior editor. He officiated high school and collegiate football and umpired high school baseball. 

THEY SAID IT

“Baseball players are smarter than football players. How often do you see a baseball team penalized for too many men on the field?”

— The late author and former major league pitcher Jim Bouton

QUICKTIP

Project confidence even if you don’t feel it. You might be nervous about the rivalry game that is about to start. You might be a little unsure if you’re ready for your first varsity game. No matter

what doubts you have, exude assurance in your manner

and body language. If there’s a close call, sell your decision … even if you’re unsure about it. Participants don’t need to know you’ve got butterflies doing the Texas two-step in your stomach. Show them confidence and they’ll buy what you’re selling.

DID YOU KNOW?

In some sports, it is tradition for athletes to mark their final competition by removing their shoes and leaving them on the playing surface. That is a symbol a part of them will always remain with the sport. That tradition is not exclusive to athletes, however. According to USA Wrestling officials, wrestling referees mark their retirement by leaving their whistles on the mat.

Oral Exam: How to Help Coaches Hear What You Say

By Jim Corpora

Ihave officiated since 1975, served for 22 years as a high school softball assigner and 14 years as an NCAA Division III college football conference coordinator. What follows are my observations and thoughts as they pertain to what I have learned and what I recommend officials do to enhance their careers. • In many instances, the many “officiating philosophies” have served to create a bigger disconnect between coaches and officials. Many coaches have never been made aware of officiating philosophies. Coaches tend to think more in terms of “black and white” and not the “gray” that often permeates officiating philosophies. That disconnect is not good for either group. Much better communication and explanation in that area are needed. • Some officials put the onus of knowing the rules on coaches. That is our job far more than it is the coaches’ job. It amazes me when I hear an official say, “The coach did not know such and such rule,” when there are too many officials who don’t know the rules of their sport. • Interpersonal/communication skills are, and will always be, critical to an official’s success. Unfortunately, that is often overlooked. Assigners will concur that the majority of “officiating issues” involve the manner in which an official communicates to a coach. Officials should be taught to develop a “game plan” to use in their interactions with coaches. • Coaches come in a variety of personalities, approaches and styles. Their one commonality is that they all want to win — some more than others. Some coaches would rather die than lose. I think officials in general would do well to respect the incredible passion many coaches have. • Many coaches are, to some extent, paranoid. That is nothing new. I believe it will always exist to some degree. Officials need to accept that and understand that without questioning why that is the case. It’s unavoidable. • Too many officials stereotype all coaches as crazy, out of control, vindictive, unknowing, etc. That is a dangerous approach for officials to take. There are coaches (at all levels in all sports) who are really fine people. Go into every game with a clean slate. Always be professional. Remember not to use stereotypes. • Sometimes, the best thing for an official to say to a coach is, “Coach, I missed that play,” or, “Coach, if it happened the way you say it did, I missed it.” Reassure the coach you are working hard and will continue to do so. The ability to admit a mistake increases your credibility. Most, but not all coaches, are understanding to some degree. The key, of course, is not to make too many mistakes. Too many apologies should cause you to examine your mechanics or your positioning. • When dealing with coaches, listen first, then respond. Always maintain your composure. That is mandatory. It is fine to be firm with coaches when warranted, but strive to not make it personal or vindictive. • Under the right circumstance, it is OK to say, “Coach, I have heard enough.” I suggest following that with something to the extent of, “Coach, I need you to get back to coaching your team now.” Of course, officials have to learn when that point is reached. Officials need to choose their words more carefully than does a coach. That’s the reality of how it works. It’s part of what we signed up for. Jim Corpora lives in Whitehall, Pa. He has officiated football in the Atlantic Coast Conference since 2001. 

Dealing with coaches can be a frustrating exercise. Teresa Turner, Cottonwood Heights, Utah, maintains her composure while explaining a call to an unhappy coach.

Partner Problems Prevented

We don’t always get a choice when it comes to partners or crewmates. Certain assigners force you to accept contests before you know who your partners are. That’s when you need to show a little decorum.

Upon learning you’re paired with an official with whom you have a difference in personalities or philosophies, you might want to talk to your assigner and see whether a change of partners can be made. If not, enter the contest with a clean slate.

Perhaps the conflict was a onetime thing. With luck, the other official may have received new training and is much improved. It benefits the entire chapter or association if members work with and know one another — particularly on the lower levels. Those sub-varsity games might be the only chance for new officials to work with chapter veterans.

What else can you do to make the best of a potentially bad situation?

Keep an open mind

Just as it’s important for officials and players to have a rapport, it’s crucial for officials to work well together, too. Everyone prefers to work with certain people — that’s human nature. But it benefits no one if you walk into a contest thinking, “This is going to be a disaster.”

If you’re a veteran and see you’ll have an inexperienced official with you, be ready to help him or her. Make him or her feel at ease and provide a confidence boost. Remember, you were a young official once. Think back to what a veteran said or did that helped you and try that with your less-experienced partner.

Set an example

There’s no excuse for giving less than 100 percent just because you’re not thrilled with your partner. If the other official kicks a call or performs a mechanic incorrectly, maintain good body language. Don’t let players, coaches and fans see you roll your eyes, drop your shoulders or shake your head.

Coaches who are more familiar with you or those who recognize your partner isn’t as skilled or confident will sometimes attempt to have you overrule another official. Politely but firmly decline those requests. By overruling, you can ruin any confidence your partner has, or obliterate the other official’s credibility. 