Some Don’ts You Shouldn’t Do

By Bill Welker, EdD

Whendiscussing how officials should conduct themselves, we sometimes neglect to consider what not to do. Here are some “Don’ts” officials should consider.

Don’t be disdainful. There are no redeeming qualities of arrogance. Contests involve three human components. Foremost are the athletes, then the coaches and finally the officials. Be respectful when addressing coaches. You’re not above error.

Don’t seek approval. Never glance at coaches when you make a call, checking their reaction. Be assertive when making judgment calls and keep your attention on the participants.

Don’t coach. Your duty is to enforce the rules of the game. Telling players how to execute moves or plays is the coach’s job.

Don’t gossip or ridicule. Never “bad mouth” a fellow official, coach or athlete in public. If you have a problem with another referee, meet with him or her privately to discuss your concerns. If that doesn’t solve the conflict, don’t accept future assignments together. Don’t use social media to discuss specific plays, coaches or athletes.

Don’t appear doubtful. The tougher the call, the more assertive you should be. If you appear unsure, everyone will question your decision. It is important to exude confidence when making a difficult judgment call.

Don’t act too friendly with coaches. Refrain from longer conversations with one coach than the other. Fans may interpret that as favoritism. Keep discussions brief and formal.

Avoid conflicts of interest. Don’t accept assignments at a school at which you teach, your children are enrolled or you are a recent graduate. Also, if you hold a public position in the town, you should avoid games in that town. One set of fans will think you’re favoring the opposing team as a means of not showing bias toward the local team, while the opponents will perceive you as being a “homer.”

Don’t linger afterward. Nothing can be gained by waiting around for compliments on your performance. More than likely, spectators of the losing squad will want to express their negative opinions. Become a magician and disappear once the game ends.

Don’t break a contract. If you get a chance for a higher-profile contest when you already have one scheduled, check with your assigner. Most will work with you to release you from the commitment. To lie to get out of a contract or simply not show up for a contracted event is unethical.

Officiating is viewed as an honorable avocation. To earn the respect of the athletes, coaches and fans, officials must demonstrate ethical practices and perform their duties with passion and integrity.

Dr. Bill Welker, Wheeling, W.Va., officiated wrestling for 25 years. During his career, he was named the National Official of the Year by Wrestling USA magazine, the West Virginia and Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Official of the Year and NFHS Mideast Section Distinguished Active Official. He has also served as a rules interpreter, clinician and supervisor. *

Are You Feeling Defeated When They Say You Have Cheated?

Coaches have all sorts of creative ways to question our ethics and integrity. During the pregame meetings, they are often curious where we’re from — the unspoken implication is if the opposing team hails from the same city, the coach will be looking out for any hint of homerism.

The old feeling among coaches of, “I’m going to get screwed on the road,” is not quite as prevalent as it used to be. But certainly a few coaches may still get that feeling before they step off the bus and they may even convey that to their players.

Your integrity is your calling card and you need it to be successful at every level. It’s the catalyst for everything in officiating, from maintaining control during the game to moving up the ladder. If our integrity is in question, so is our judgment and the whole scheme of being fair. That’s why officials need to be extra protective when it comes to challenges to their character.

The best way to avoid giving a coach any ammunition to attack your integrity is to work every game with a simple four-point plan:

• Arrive, saying little.

•Treat each coach the same before the game.

•Work hard during the contest.

•Leave, saying less than when you arrived.

But what do you do if you feel your integrity is being questioned? Most officials agree you must address the coach immediately.

Most officials don’t appreciate it when a coach tells them to call it both ways. They don’t tolerate it and immediately remind the coach they are calling it both ways. That sends a message you heard the coach and you’re not going to be so cordial if the topic comes up again.

Say a coach questions you about a foul total discrepancy, implying there is some favoritism going on. A good response might be, “Coach, what are you trying to say?” Put the onus back on a coach who’s hinting around about your integrity. Make the coach come out and say it if that’s what is intended. Most coaches will back off before it gets to a penalty stage.

Comments like, “Call it both ways,” and questions about why the foul totals aren’t even are indirectly hinting at your integrity, but coach comments aren’t always that clear. If you have a coach questioning every single call, in a manner of speaking that coach is questioning your integrity, too. You have to stop that type of behavior. Don’t be afraid to ask point blank, “Are you questioning my integrity?” Most coaches know that is a line not to be crossed and will then rephrase their comments.

If they don’t back off, if they directly accuse you of cheating, how should you handle that? That’s actually easier to deal with than all those roundabout hints regarding your integrity. Hit the coach with the proper unsportsmanlike penalty — which may include ejection.

Those blatant accusations are rare, but they happen. If charges are made during or after a game by a coach at any level, documentation of the incident is important. Follow procedures and keep your cool. Notify your appropriate league office or supervisor and document the comments in your game report.

Officials at all levels have a responsibility to strive for integrity, not only during their games, but also in their communities and in their lives. Because officials work so hard to uphold their standards of character and impartiality, and because those standards are the only things that allow us to do our jobs with credibility, attacks on our integrity are especially heinous.

Officials are part of a unique community. We are in an avocation that mandates impeccable integrity. Most people realize officials as a group have a great history of integrity and because of that, you should be able to be proud to be an official. *

No matter how many games you’ve worked there’s still STUFF nobody told you. Until now! Referee has collected all the STUFF you need to know to polish your game and present a professional image. Don’t work another game without all this valuable STUFF.