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By Carl Smith Think of mentorship as an advanced step of training, which gets to be one-on-one, instead of training in a group atmosphere. It involves dedicated, detailed attention to one or possibly two young officials. It is as much a privilege to be a mentor as it is a benefit to be mentored. It is truly a “win-win” situation. Why then is it so difficult to start and maintain a mentorship program? Let’s break it down. Get Started As a member of the board, you must back the program.Read More
No matter how well you lead your association, you’re going to hear some complaints. It comes with the position. Reviewing the volume and legitimacy of the complaints will help you determine how to deal with the griping members properly. Here are some points to consider when encountering negative feedback. Step 1 — Who is complaining? There are some members who will complain about just about everything. If that is the case, you might have to learn to tune out some of the grumbling (or get a good pair of earplugs).Read More
By Jeffrey Stern Planning and executing an officiating clinic isn’t the easiest of tasks. A lot of things can go wrong; things that no amount of preparation can prevent. Still, there is a lot that can go right. Here are some ways you can keep Mr. Murphy and his law as far away as possible. 1. Pick the right leader. It takes an individual with special skills to be out front of a clinic. He or she must be organized, respected, creative and able to delegate. Having the time toRead More
Just as the U.S. Constitution is a living, breathing document, so too are your association’s bylaws. A periodic review to ensure the rules that govern your group are up-to-date is essential if the bylaws are to be effective. Step 1 — Are they current? If sections of the bylaws were properly amended, have those amendments been incorporated? Remember to note at the top of the bylaws the fact they were amended and the date the approval took place. If any addresses (postal, website or email) or phone numbers have changedRead More
The venue for your meetings is as important as the content. Here are some points to consider when choosing a new site or evaluating your current one. Step 1 — Is it convenient? The larger the association, the wider the geographic area your members represent. Try to find a place as close to the center of that area as possible. The less distance people have to travel, the more likely they are to attend meetings. Another consideration is access. Is the location off the beaten path or close to majorRead More
A great mentoring program is only possible with quality mentors. Just as great officials have superior skills and instincts, great mentors have certain attributes that make them right for the job. Here are recommendations to help you identify the right people. Step 1 — Do your homework. Check out other mentoring programs that have been successful. Find out the types of individuals that are a part of those programs. You obviously won’t be able to use the same people, but you will be able to find out from other associationRead More
By Tim Sloan There used to be a comic strip called, The Far Side, by Gary Larsen, which many of you may remember. He was fond of making light of improbable situations and sight gags. One of my favorites showed a man in his back yard, scolding his dog. The dog, despite apparently considerable training, was pushing the lawnmower around randomly, leaving large areas of the grass uncut. “Bad dog, Trixie: No biscuit!” This was funny, of course, because the dog wasn’t wearing safety glasses. But really, the master inRead More
If leaders want members to attend association meetings, the key is to run them efficiently. Time is precious. With officiating, family and work commitments, association members can’t spend endless hours on association business and training. Keep the meetings on track and you’re more likely to fill the seats. Step 1 — Start on time. Instruct members to find their seats and begin to get them settled a few minutes before the scheduled start time. Regardless of who isn’t there, start the meeting on time. If you start a little bitRead More
By Carl Smith First off, let’s get one thing straight … there is no evaluation system that is the magical answer to “make” officials better. Officials have to want to improve. It’s our job as association members or officers to be ready to help those officials improve, by offering our experience. We need to maintain dialogue and feedback with those officials to determine their personal goals — both short term and long range. Those officials should be assured that we’re committed to making them the best official they’re capable ofRead More
By Jeffrey Stern Keep someone interested in officiating for five years, the saying goes, and they will be an official for life. Half the battle for local associations is getting fresh faces on the roster. The other half is getting them to stick around. When newer officials decide they’ve had enough, it may well be for good reasons: change in job or family responsibilities; harassment from coaches, players, parents and spectators; or they simply found that officiating wasn’t their cup of tea. If so, there is not much an associationRead More
Polls
Does your officials association do exit interviews/surveys with members who leave your group?
- Yes (10%, 5 Votes)
- No (90%, 45 Votes)
Total Voters: 50
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