By Carl Smith
For the most part, officials are good at their assigner dealings. The “problem children” are fortunately only a small portion you have to deal with. By letting all officials know the expectations up front, it’ll help the season’s assigning progress run more smoothly, and keep that “problem” percentage at a manageable level. It’s also imperative to let new officials know what’s expected of them. Here are some expectations:
1. Be professional (on and off the court and field).
On the court and field, always bring your A game. It’s never just a “rec game,” or just a “youth game.” Every game you officiate is important to the players, and to the administrators who are responsible for you getting paid. No assigner/supervisor wants to see an official giving a mediocre effort. You never know when assigners might show up to observe you. Hustle, work hard, have integrity with your calls, be a good partner and be dependable. You should always appear to the coaches and players that you want to be there. You’re not just representing yourself, you’re representing your association and officiating in general.
Off the court and field, call or email your partners a couple days in advance of the games you’re working together. Make sure you’re going to be at the “right place, right date, right time” together. If you don’t get a reply to your email, call. Be the one to initiate contact. Don’t wait till the last-minute expecting someone else to do it. Never assume. Be on time! Our association requires one hour in advance for high school games and at least 15 minutes on rec games. Abide by whatever your association or contract requires. Don’t leave your partners hanging. Always have the cell numbers of your partners, and your assigner, in case of an accident, or other circumstances that are delaying you. Don’t be the one who always has an excuse for why you’re late repeatedly. That gets old fast!
If you run into an irate parent or coach after the game, get away from them as quickly as possible. You’re not going to improve your standing by arguing with them. They just want to vent. You just happen to be the current target. Anything you say can and will be used against you. Never talk to reporters without association approval.
2. Be honest.
Expectations 2-5 all build on the number-one professional point. That’s the root. All else grows out of that. When you fill out your availability calendar, you’ll always expect to get a great schedule. When you receive your schedule, it may not be quite as great as you thought it would be. There are circumstances that contribute: number of games, officials available, level of contests, etc. The assigner has the big picture and knows what has to be covered.
If you feel your schedule is not what you expected or what you’re capable of covering, don’t gripe to other officials. Call or email your assigner with your concerns. There’s usually a good reason why they have you on the games you’re assigned. The assigner will be honest with you as well. Don’t look at lower level games as beneath you. Maybe you’re working with a newer official that needs your experience and mentorship. Look at each game as an opportunity to improve your craft.
Griping about your schedule to others will not improve your game schedule. Working every game as assigned to the best of your ability will! Let your assigner know in the preseason if you have any personality conflicts with other officials or coaches. They can keep you away from those games, if necessary. If you have a student playing at one of the schools your association contracts with, or you work there, let your assigner know. There’s no reason to have a “suspected” conflict of interest if it can be avoided.
3. Be accurate.
When you fill out your availability calendar, any means any. Don’t open yourself up to all games, then turn them back in when they’re not the games you want. That reputation will get around fast, and you’ll be unpopular with both the assigner and the partners you keep turning games back in on. That also creates a lot of extra work for the assigner. Trust me, that isn’t the “popularity” contest you want to win. You’ll find yourself on a “short” list, and not in a positive way. When you do have to turn a game back in, immediately block the day on your availability calendar. That will keep the assigner from reassigning you to a game when someone else has a turnback. Remember, you’re just dealing with one schedule. The assigner is dealing with many.
4. Be flexible.
By nature, officials that are more available will get more games, though not necessarily better games. If you find you have an afternoon off and are available earlier than stated on your schedule, let your assigner know. If you have a flexible work schedule and can get off, if necessary, let your assigner know and carry your ready bag in your vehicle with you. If you become one of the assigner’s “go to” officials, you’ll be on the good “short” list. You may find yourself getting higher level games as the assigner finds you more dependable, and able to manage different levels of games on short notice.
5. Be a volunteer.
As a new or newer official, let the assigner know you’re available to work some youth or rec games, just to improve your ability. It’ll help you be more competent and confident, and you’ll get to be known as a good partner. If you’re an experienced official, volunteer for the same type of games, but to help mentor newer officials. Pass on the good things that the game and your experience have taught you. You could have a hand in the advancement of younger officials, and they’ll appreciate it. Also as a veteran, you can volunteer to lead clinics, observe or evaluate officials or film officials. Those are all necessary steps in the improvement of all officials. Your volunteering to help may lead other “senior” officials to get involved. Be an example of what’s right about your association.
6. Be patient.
Assigners will make mistakes. They’re assigning a lot of people to a lot of games. If you find something that doesn’t look right on your schedule (wrong dates, times, etc.), it probably isn’t. Call the assigner and help him or her out. Don’t wait to see if it’ll fix itself.
As a new or newer official, don’t expect to jet to the top, even if you think you’re great. Chances are, you’re not. Trust your assigner and your supervisory board to keep track of your advancement and move you along as they think you’re ready. Work on your rules knowledge, your relationships with other officials, coaches and players. Become known as a solid official, who does his or her best, and doesn’t make excuses. Learn what works and what doesn’t when managing games at all levels. Sit in on pregame and postgame discussions with higher level officials who are working the schedule you desire. Learn from their experiences. Officials that are moved along too fast usually “crash and burn.” That’s not a good representation of the official or the association. You’ll get there. It just takes time.
It all goes back to the first point — be professional. Treat your assigner how you want to be treated. The assigner can be a good friend who will honestly try to help your career along. The assigner can also be the person that doesn’t have time for you, if you don’t have the time to adhere to the simple, yet essential, principles.
Carl Smith, Anchorage, Alaska, is the treasurer and assigner for the Anchorage Sports Officials Association.
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