sports section Focus on the Task at Hand

By Rick Woelfel

One game at a time. That’s what coaches tell their players; “Don’t look past an opponent. Concentrate on today’s game, on the task in front of you.”

That’s the mindset we should embrace as officials as well. Every game matters to the participants. We owe the players and coaches our best work every time out.

But it’s easy to think ahead. We may be working a freshman game on Thursday afternoon but we’re already starting to think about our varsity game on Friday night or a college assignment on Saturday. That’s only natural. But it’s important not to let those thoughts distract us from the task at hand.

Here are some tips on how to stay focused on the game you have instead of letting yourself get distracted by thoughts about your next assignment.

• Take time to focus — Allow for enough travel time to get to an assignment early. Even if the rest of your crew hasn’t arrived, use the time to put aside issues concerning job, family, etc., and assume an officiating mindset.

• Review rules situations

— Go through the casebook and review playing situations from recent games or brought up for discussion at your local association meeting. Visualize what these plays look like at actual game speed. Are there situations that are more likely to occur at this level of play than at other levels you work? Younger athletes, especially those below the high school level, are more prone to making mistakes. You don’t need to on this assignment. Along the same lines, be sure you have the right uniform. Wearing a shirt with a high school logo on it to do a college match (or vice versa) looks bad.

• Conduct a thorough pregame conference — A good pregame gets you focused on the game you’re about to work. It’s also an opportunity to bond with your partner(s) and provide mutual support. If you have more experience than your partner(s), be approachable. That mindset will build cohesion on the crew, even if it’s just a “crew for a day.” fixate on the situations you review, but be aware they can occur and prepared to rule correctly if they do.

• Review rule differences — The game you’re working today may be played under a different rulebook than the one you worked yesterday, the one you’ll work tomorrow, or the one you may be working later that day for that matter. Be sure you know what rules code you’ll be working with

• Give yourself a fresh start — If you had a problem in a game yesterday or last week, don’t take it onto the field with you today. Focusing on the call you may have missed or the rule interpretation your crew may have handed incorrectly will do you no good and could lead to additional problems. It’s always best to start a game with a clean slate and the players and coaches you’re working with deserve your full attention.

• Take in the environment — To you, this may be just another game on the schedule. But to the coaches and, most importantly, the athletes, this is the most important game on the schedule today. Take a moment to take in the atmosphere, the enthusiasm of the players, coaches and fans. As officials, we’re doing our part to make the occasion special for them.

A new game is a new beginning, a new opportunity for players, coaches and officials alike. And each game you work will have some unique elements. It’s important to view every game you work, whatever the level, as a unique experience and an opportunity. Tomorrow is another day. Rick Woelfel is a writer, broadcaster and podcaster from Willow Grove, Pa. He officiated baseball, softball, basketball, and football for 50 years. 

Basketball

Stop Short of the Boiling Point

By the Referee

Editors

When you step on the basketball court to officiate a game, chances are you aren’t thinking about how working that game is quite similar to boiling a pot of pasta. Please allow us to explain.

For every game, officials get an assignment, do their scouting, contact partners, verify details with the host institution, travel to the game site, conduct a pregame, get dressed, head for the playing court, conduct a meeting with captains, check the playing area and observe the teams warming up, confirm the lineups in the scorebook, meet the table personnel, shake hands with the coaching staff and take the floor. Each of these duties is required before the opening jump ball.

To use our pasta analogy, we’ve researched our recipe and made a grocery list, traveled to the store, purchased the ingredients, prepared the cooking surface, taken out a pot and utensils, filled that pot with water, set it on the stove, and then lit the burner.

Once that happens, we have a different set of tools we can use to make sure that pot doesn’t boil over. And yes, we are talking about officiating again as well as pasta water.

Effective with the 201718 high school basketball season, the NFHS implemented an official administrative process for warning the head coach/bench personnel for misconduct. Rule 4-48 details the procedure, known as the bench conduct warning. The idea is to lower the temperature on a simmering coach before he or she boils over and creates enough of a mess where we as officials have to become more punitive and issue a technical foul. It allows us to give a slight turn to the stove’s dial and keep that pasta water at a temperature that we can work with.

To take the analogy one step further, when we’re making pasta, we also might do things like add salt to the water to change the properties of the water and influence the cooking process. While that may be good practice in the kitchen, not so much on the basketball court.

If we have a coach who’s approaching that boiling point, our only job is use the tools we have at our disposal to avoid the boil-over. As officials, we need to be the calming force in an otherwise hectic moment. We don’t want to add anything to the mix that might be counterproductive to that cause.

By finding the right temperature, and using the right means of keeping things in that range, we can enjoy a much more satisfactory meal, and a much better basketball game. 

BASEBALL Be the Coach Whisperer

By the Referee editors

Coaches are like umpires, like teachers, like any other profession. Their personalities are as varied as there are different types of people. While there may no longer be many Billy Martins or Earl Weavers like back in the day, some of them can still be over the top, even in youth sports.

So, here’s a few words on dealing with coaches. You’ve likely heard some, if not all, of these tips before, but a good umpire, like a good coach or ballplayer, keeps going over the fundamentals time and time again.

Old Yeller

If you’ve been umpiring any length of time, you’ve dealt with this coach. The only time he’s not yelling is during pregame. He yells at you, your partner, his other coaches, his players, you name it. Every time he comes out to discuss a play, he comes out with his hair on fire.

The first piece of advice is do not respond in kind. That old expression, “I fight fire with fire,” can be very problematic Instead, try “a soft answer turns away anger.” Firemen don’t pull up to a burning building and start by pouring gasoline on the fire. They pull out their hoses and use water to put it out. If you carry yourself in a calm, controlled manner, there’s a good chance coaches will see your maturity and rein themselves in. You might even want to try to approach the coach between innings, under the guise of getting some baseballs, and quietly explain that the excessive yelling will not be tolerated.

Worst-case scenario, you may have to eject the coach, but don’t do it in a showboat way. You may have to raise your voice a little bit — key word little — to be heard, but under no circumstance come down to the coach’s level by getting in a shouting match.

Dr. Phil

This is the type who tries to use psychology to influence you. Mind you, we’re not talking about the classic, “Good call, blue … good job, blue,” even when you make a call against him early in the game. That’s harmless. We’re talking about the coach who, when disputing a call made at the plate, keeps saying, “You’re better than that, you’re better than that!” While fighting back a smile, you may be tempted to respond by saying, “I appreciate the fact that you think so highly of me as an umpire, but that doesn’t change the fact that your runner is out. The catcher did not block the plate without the ball.” Sarcasm is good in a comedian, but it’s not such a good trait in an umpire. So again, do not respond in kind, no matter how tempting it may be. Stick to a response that points out the facts without getting fancy.

Better Call Saul

These are the coaches who seem to know every single rule in the book. In some quarters they’re known as rulebook lawyers. And that term is not a compliment. Almost every other inning they’ll bring up some rule that nobody has ever heard of. Some will do it in a malicious, mean-spirited way. Others will do it in a smiling, trying-to-be-yourbest-buddy way. Regardless of which approach, the best way to handle them is to make sure you’re on top of the rulebook. And yes, sometimes it can be frustrating, especially if you’re working different leagues and different ages because the rules can vary so much.

The easiest way to deal with this is, when you get a game in a league you’ve never worked or haven’t worked in a while, go to the league’s website and go over the rules the night before or the day of the game so they’re fresh in your mind. Also, if you’re not familiar with the league, check with your partner (which you should be doing anyway) to see if he or she is. That way, you’ll both be on top of the rules. 

Softball

Time To Test

By Brad Tittrington

Let’s talk about testing for a minute. No matter what level you work, there is some sort of test you must take before the start of each season in order to keep your certification. And for some umpires, as soon as the test is released, it adds some anxiety.

However, the main reason for these tests is to get us into the rulebook. It isn’t meant to be a form of punishment, even though some umpires see it that way. So how can we turn what some view as a negative into a positive? For purposes of this article, we will talk about those

1. LOGIN with your membership number and zip code.

2. Select RENEW you know you can manage your membership? exams that are released and you have weeks (or months) to finish them and turn them in. For those that are closed book and must be taken in a small time frame, not all of the information below will work.

The first and best way is to form study groups. There is absolutely nothing wrong with getting together with fellow umpires and discussing the exams. In fact, most organizations encourage it as it helps build camaraderie, it gets umpires talking about other scenarios, it helps build mentorship, and most importantly, rules knowledge is shared and everyone is bound to learn something.

In some cases, not every umpire will have the same test. There are those organizations that have a pool of questions and each umpire’s test pulls randomly from that pool. Umpires can still print out their exams ahead of time and get together with a group and go over those questions. Just because you don’t have it on your particular test doesn’t mean it isn’t something you should study.

In order to get the most of your test, you should go over the exam, read every question thoroughly, and try to answer each question without looking in the book. When you are on the field, you won’t have a book to look at before making a decision. Put a star or circle around questions you aren’t sure of on your first pass through. After you take the test without any help, use the rulebook and casebook to verify your answers. Then, get together with your study group and go through the questions and answers. Don’t be the umpire who shows up without looking at the exam and simply circles the answers as the group goes through them. This does not help you learn the material at all and will not make you a better umpire.

While going over the exam, focus on those questions you had a star or circle around and try to come up with other scenarios that fit into the same category. Chances are, if you had trouble with a question, someone else did as well. By coming up with other scenarios, it will help to better understand the rule(s) surrounding that question.

Also, keep tests from previous seasons to assist you as well. These previous tests can serve as a study guide for the upcoming exam. Many organizations will utilize questions from a previous exam or use similar questions. By keeping all of your exams, it helps you build your own database of test questions.

One thing to remember when taking tests: read each question carefully. Often umpires miss a question because they misread it. Also, rules tests can sometimes feel like English grammar exams, and it is important to know exactly what a question is asking. Always be leery of questions that use the words “always” or “never,” and be mindful of questions that ask the opposite, such as, “Which of the following is not true,” which really means, “Which of the following is false.” Do not be afraid to take notes on your exam to help you understand the question, and ask fellow umpires for clarification if you are struggling to understand a question.

The most important thing with testing is to give yourself enough time. Too often umpires wait until the last minute to take a test, which will only add to anxiety. As soon as the test is released, print a copy. Start thinking about it early and do a few questions a day. This will help alleviate some of the stress and will allow you time to ask others questions if you are stumped. If you wait until the last minute, you may not have time to get together with others and double check your work.

Finally, once the exam is submitted, if you missed any questions, take the time to figure out why you missed those. Then, create other scenarios and situations in the same vein and think about how to handle them. Get in the rulebook — this is the goal of most open book tests from the beginning. Don’t be afraid to use some of the questions as jumping-off points for pregame discussions as well.

In summary, start early, plan ahead, open your books, join a study group and look at previous exams. All of these things will improve your scores and your rules knowledge. It takes practice to get good at the rules.

Brad Tittrington is an associate editor for Referee. 

Soccer

Should I Call That?

By Paul Rojas, Ed. D.

Almost without exception, referees have the ability to recognize fouls and call them as necessary. One of the areas that is reported by coaches and administrators is that referees recognize the fouls but fail to recognize persistent infringement and caution the offender(s). The topic of persistent infringement is often discussed at clinics and has been a point of emphasis at the NFHS and NCAA levels.

Some assigners or referee administrators request verbal reports of matches from coaches and at the end of discussion ask, “How was the officiating?”

For example, say a coach states that her best player on the team, the one who scores the most goals and even sets up plays, was fouled over and over in the first half. After enough was enough, the coach asked the assistant referee to intervene and request the referee issue a caution, saying that persistent infringement is now obvious. The coach counted the fouls on one hand and noted the areas where they were committed. The assistant referee turned and said that the fouls on this player were committed by a different player most of the time. The assistant referee did not recognize that persistent infringement can be committed by more than one player.

Persistent infringement is a pattern of fouls no matter who is doing the fouling. Once the pattern has been identified, it is the referee’s duty to caution as appropriate. It is stressed at many clinics that the referee is to make sure all players are safe and can play to their best potential. In the scenario described above, the referee should have observed this pattern (the assistant referee should have at least talked to the referee).

The referee must either talk to a player or two and advise them should the pattern continue, a caution will be administered. It is imperative if the action continues that the referee follows up and administers a caution. If the referee fails to do so, the referee’s credibility will be severely diminished.

Persistent infringement could be one player committing multiple fouls. How many equates to multiple is a decision by the referee. This is based on the type of match (physical or not), skill level of the players, etc.

It can also be several players fouling the same player to prevent that player from developing plays or controlling the ball. This must be dealt with quickly to prevent retaliation and more serious situations. In all cases, the referee should be making a mental note of who is committing the foul and who is being fouled. This will help the referee determine when persistent infringement is occurring.

Referees are instructed at clinics and after a match when they are assessed or mentored, “If you follow the rules/Laws of the Game and apply them properly, you really can’t be wrong.” Referees can apply the spirit of the game when officiating but cannot look the other way if a situation needs to be dealt with according to the rules/Laws. The following are just a few examples: a player removes the jersey after scoring a goal — a caution must be issued. If it is the player’s second caution, the referee must display the yellow card followed by the red and the player is sent off. A defender on their goalline stops a shot on goal with a hand and kicks the ball away. This is an ejection for denying a goal scoring opportunity. There is no option, and the referee must perform this duty. The referee observes a player coming in late to tackle safely but makes contact with the opponent. This action appears to be a bit trifling, and the referee decides to let play continue. The referee could talk to the player involved and warn that player to be more careful when making a tackle. If nothing happens for the rest of the match, the referee corrected the problem.

Please remember when in doubt, if you follow the rules/ Laws of the Game and apply them properly, you really can’t be wrong.

Paul Rojas, Ed.D, Morton Grove, Illiinois, has been a referee for more than 30 years, and is a high level Assessor and Instructor. 