PUBLISHER’S MEMO

Those Laws Refined

In the May 2013 issue, I used this space to posit “immutable laws” regarding the endeavor of officiating. During the past nine years, I’ve reflected upon them. Now, in these times, I felt a need to offer them again, updated. I believe they serve us even better today. 1. The Law of Respect. There are those who deserve receiving the benefit of the doubt from you. This should be a “gift” to be earned, not dispensed gratuitously. 2. The Law of Response. When asked a question, if you choose to answer, do so tightly. Don’t answer a question for which you do not have credible information. Answer questions not statements. 3. The Law of Deference. Speak with courtesy. Your point will carry double its weight. If you are slapping them with your words, they can’t be clearly heard. 4. The Law of Threats. Showdowns lead to showups. In either case you will come out on the short end of the interchange. When you threaten someone, you are bargaining from the position of weakness. 5. The Law of Belief. The best you can do is to call what you believe you see. Absent that, you are guessing. If technology is an approved tool, use it to benefit the game. 6. The Law of Candor. Mistakes are made. The acceptance of this fact and the corollary of its admittance and administration should force you to some humbleness. This isn’t new territory for us anymore. The book of officiating is no longer a private read, especially in its widespread digital form. 7. The Law of the Ladder. It is all about not making things worse. Seldom will you get the toughest, richest assignments because you scored 100 percent on your test. You will get them because the assigner/coordinator believes you will not make things worse.

8. The Law of Adaptation. When your horse dies, get off. If your approach to the game seems to result in less-than-satisfactory results, your methods have to change. You have to change before your results will change. You might believe that “others” have to do the changing, but that is primarily a self-deception, a diversion.

9. The Law of Eavesdropping.

When you put words into the digital realm, you own them, and for a very long time. 10. The Law of Ownership. You will be presumed arrogant. That is because you own the whistle. Powerful piece that whistle. Your words and deeds must always define a less arrogant you. 11. The Law of Wholeness. Every assignment is more than the game itself. It is a mosaic of responsibilities. With each piece of that mosaic comes the opportunity to enhance your stature as an official or exasperate those who are trying to rely on you. From acceptance/ confirmation through game-report filing, from arriving at the site to leaving the area, your professional, thoughtful best is required. 12. The Law of Cleanliness. If you have to think whether something might be a conflict of interest, consider it so. One breath of scandal freezes much honorable sweat. 13. The Law of Skipping It. If you are an official, the use of social media to offer personal opinions on matters of officiating comes with serious responsibilities, minefields. It is far easier to make things worse than better. Context matters and social media has little room for context. Good rule of thumb? Skip it. 14. The Law of Memory. The older you get, the better you were. Ever notice that with each telling of tales we ourselves become better and better officials? Memory is such a wonderful evaluation enhancer.

Chief Strategy Offi cer/Publisher Barry Mano Chief Operating Offi cer/Executive Editor Bill Topp Chief Marketing Offi cer Jim Arehart Chief Business Development Offi cer Ken Koester Managing Editor Brent Killackey Assistant Managing Editor Julie Sternberg Senior Editor Jeffrey Stern Associate Editors Brad Tittrington Scott Tittrington Copy Editor Jean Mano Director of Design, Digital Media and Branding Ross Bray Publication Design Manager Matt Bowen Graphic Designer Dustin Brown Video Coordinator Mike Dougherty Interactive Media Developer Michael Kielas Comptroller Marylou Clayton Data Analyst/Fulfi llment Manager Judy Ball Account Manager Joe Jarosz Director of Administration and Sales Support Cory Ludwin Offi ce Administrator Garrett Randall Customer Service Support Specialists Michelle Murray Lisa Burchell

Editorial Contributors Jon Bible, Mark Bradley, George Demetriou, Alan Goldberger, Judson Howard, Peter Jackel, Luke Modrovsky, Steven L. Tietz, Tim Sloan

These organizations offer ongoing assistance to Referee: Collegiate Commissioners Association, MLB, MLS, NBA, NCAA, NFHS, NISOA, NFL, NHL, Minor League Baseball Umpire Development and U.S. Soccer. Their input is appreciated.

Contributing Photographers Ralph Echtinaw, Dale Garvey, Carin Goodall-Gosnell, Bill Greenblatt, Jann Hendry, Jack Kapenstein, Ken Kassens, Bob Messina, Bill Nichols, Ted Oppegard, Heston Quan, Dean Reid, VIP

Editorial Board Mark Baltz, Jeff Cluff, Ben Glass, Reggie Greenwood, Tony Haire, John O’Neill, George Toliver, Ellen Townsend

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