Communication is one of the most important aspects of officiating. But it doesn’t begin and end with communicating with players and coaches during games. Sharing information away from the field or court can go a long way in improving understanding between coaches, players, fans and officials. An informational meeting before the season gives an association an opportunity to explain why officials do what they do.
Determine which group you want to address. Perhaps it’s the coaches of the schools your association services. It could be the local booster club. Or it could be the players and coaches of a local team. Choose a day that offers the maximum number of attendees. Many coaches will be agreeable to setting aside time at a preseason scrimmage in order to accommodate an informational meeting.
Step 1 — Accentuate the positive. Position the meeting as one that will prove mutually beneficial. Avoid the, “We took a lot of abuse last year and we’re not going to take it again this year” approach. Try the soft-sell instead. “It’s understandable that there are misconceptions and misunderstandings about the rules because no one has bothered to explain them to you. Our goal is to provide information that will clear up some of those mysteries.”
Step 2 — Keep it simple. Remember that you’re talking to non-officials. While players have a passion and knowledge for their games, many parents have never played or are totally in the dark about the sports their children play. Just as officials don’t use or understand coach-speak, coaches don’t speak “official-ese.” Stick with the simple approach and avoid technical terms or officiating-specific jargon.
Step 3 — Support the presentation with visuals. Something as simple as a printed handout that compares pro or college rules with the rules used by the teams involved can be beneficial. Video not only prevents monotony, it can be a powerful tool to illustrate your points. It’s one thing to describe why an action is a foul or violation; it’s quite another to provide a visual demonstration.
Step 4 — Be prepared for complaints. Allow time for questions but be prepared for the audience member who has an ax to grind. Many an inquiry will begin with the phrase, “There was a play last year and we got called for (insert violation or foul here). Was that the right call?” It may be that the questioner provides an accurate description of what really occurred, but it is more likely key elements of the situation are intentionally or unintentionally omitted. Don’t sell out another official by saying, “Yup, the official blew that one.” Better to say, “If it happened exactly as you say it did, the call might have been incorrect.”
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