When it comes to officiating, taking a backseat when your voice needs to be heard can be detrimental. I learned this lesson early on in my career as a high school basketball official. At the time, I was eager to prove myself to my local association and attain “level 3 certified” status, which would allow me to work higher level games and be considered for postseason assignments.
During a highly competitive senior boys' high school basketball game, I was paired with a transfer official who had moved into our association from a nearby board. Unfortunately, we had a tough night on the court. My partner's eagerness to prove himself led him to take control of our performance, overruling me on some calls and reaching outside his primary area to make others. Frustrated, I took a backseat, unwilling to stand my ground.
After the game, our local assignor/evaluator reprimanded my partner for over-officiating and stressing the importance of adhering to officiating guidelines and proper rule applications. Then he turned to me and said, “If you want to advance, you need to step up and prove to me that you can be a lead official. I need to know that you are someone who can step up and lead.” He stressed the importance of officials who were willing to step forward and take responsibility, saying that in a game that turns chaotic or when something is wrong, he needed to know that he could rely on someone who could step up, be confident, apply the proper rule application and lead.
That moment had a profound impact on my officiating philosophy. I understand that not every game will be harmonious, and issues will arise. When that happens, it's crucial for someone on the crew to step forward and take charge. Stepping up doesn't mean being a control freak or belittling your crew mates. It means being willing to say, "I know this rule, 100 percent, and this is how we need to administer it." It means being able to say, "This is the right way to handle this situation, so I'm suggestion we handle it in this manner." It means being the example and saying, “This is the rule, and this is how we need to apply this rule and this is how we communicate it."
Whether you're the Umpire or a U2 on a three-person basketball crew, if you have the ability and knowledge to be a lead, then be the lead. Be willing to step up and be a crew saver. Those are the officials who will always be in demand. So let's embrace the opportunity to take charge and show our worth as officials.
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