9 Ways to Master Any Sport's Rulebook

The rulebook is an official’s bible. It provides the “nuts and bolts” basics that each official must master before he or she steps onto the playing surface. Rules knowledge and understanding are essential ingredients to become a well-rounded official.

The problem is that most rulebooks are written more like legal texts, making them tough to read and difficult to understand. Plus, related sections are often separated, forcing officials to hopscotch through various parts of the book to amass several references needed to find just one answer.

While other aspects of officiating are critical, solid rules knowledge and understanding form the root system from which an official will branch out, grow and prosper. Regardless of the sport or level you officiate, here are nine tips that will help you move closer to mastering the rulebook.

1. Speed-read the entire book. Read through the book as if you’re cruising through a novel. You will not remember everything you read, but don’t worry about that now. Familiarize yourself with different sections so you don’t need to rely on the index.

2. Categorize the rules. Some rules have more game-to-game impact than others. For example, the “equipment and court specifications” rule, often near the front of the book, is not necessarily one you should read first. While important, it is not the most important for someone who is trying to learn the rules. What’s more important, a basketball player’s legal-guarding position or the radius of the jump-ball circle?

Read the “good” book in the following order: 1) Definitions. Mastering the definitions not only helps you on the court or field, it helps you study the rest of the book. 2) Live ball, dead ball. 3) Other game-specific chapters, such as out-of-bounds, pitching, kicks, etc. 4) Fouls and penalties. 5) Violations and penalties. 6) Scoring and timing regulations, related chapters. 7) Players and substitutions. 8) Officials and their duties. 9) Court and equipment. 10) Rule changes, points of emphasis.

3. Chapter breakdown. Now the real studying begins. There are many options, including:
• For each sentence, visualize several plays that relate to what’s discussed. That helps take what you’ve read and applies it to real-game situations.
• Create a quiz. Read a sentence in the rulebook, then write it down without looking at the book. If you’ve correctly written the core of the sentence, write two related true-false questions, with correct answers and rule references. Move to the next sentence. Quiz writing aids memory retention and provides an effective preseason or pregame review.

4. Have several copies of the same rulebook. For convenience, it’s a good idea to have more than one copy of each rulebook. Keep them wherever you spend a great deal of time, such as in your living room, bedroom, bathroom, office, etc. That way, one copy is always accessible when time permits.

5. Read in short increments of time. After the initial reading of the entire rulebook, study in increments of 15-20 minutes per sitting. Digest the material in bite-sized pieces.

6. Review the book each day. Read some part of the rulebook each day, including during the offseason. Make it as much a part of your daily routine as brushing your teeth. Back when he was officiating, former NFL referee Red Cashion said: “I don’t like a day to go by, not during the season but during the year, where I don’t spend at least 15 minutes looking at that book.”

7. Study just before falling asleep. USA Today reported that a study proved memory retention is enhanced by studying right before sleeping. Instead of watching TV as you begin to fall asleep, read the rulebook.

8. Check related casebook plays. Once you’ve grasped a rule, read related casebooks and manuals before moving to the next rule. Casebooks enhance knowledge by taking rules and placing them into game situations. However, the casebook cannot replace the rulebook. Also, take quizzes and tests, which reinforce what you already know or emphasize what you don’t know.

9. Talk with rules experts. Attend local association meetings and confide in a few rules “experts.” Those meetings often entail vigorous rules discussions that can be helpful. Note: Don’t always take the local guru’s word as gospel. If you’re not sure about a ruling, look it up, talk to you “experts” and find an answer. On occasion, the local veterans apply incorrect rulings, which are passed on to the next generation of officials. Don’t get caught in the loop.

Finally, remember the old saying “Just when I thought I knew it all. …” There is always more to learn.

Hear the Call

NASO’s annual Sports Officiating Summit program will spotlight a focused theme in 2005 — “Leadership Officiating.” Each year the Summit theme changes and is indicative and timely to the needs of the officiating industry. Previous Summit themes included “Evaluating Officiating Performance,” “Accountability in Officiating,” and “The Official’s Role in Improving Sportsmanship.”

Officiating leaders are hearing the call. Last year NASO’s Sports Officiating Summit attendance included representatives from 20 different state associations, and scores of local association board members, assigners and trainers were in attendance.

NASO’s 2005 Summit theme “Leadership Officiating” was created with decision makers, problem solvers and association leadership in mind.

Join other officiating leaders in Salt Lake City July 30-Aug. 1 at the Salt Lake City Marriott Downtown.

The 2005 Summit is being conducted in cooperation with the NFHS. A full brochure will be available in the April Referee magazine. For immediate information regarding Summit registration and accommodations at the Salt Lake City Marriott Downtown, contact NASO Special Events and Program Manager Tina Sagal at 800/733-6100 or tsagal@naso.org.

Is Your Local Association 'ON'?

The National Association of Sports Officials-Organizations Network (NASO-ON) is a service affiliate of NASO. NASO-ON effectively provides educational resources, opportunity and protection to leaders of officiating organizations.

Educational Resources:
• Guidebook — Filled with chapters relating to association management.
• Referee magazine — 12 monthly issues that educate, challenge and inspire officials at all levels.
• Free books and educational material — Worth more than the price of your annual dues by itself. Your association is eligible to receive a free copy of every new publication from Referee and NASO.
• ONBoard newsletter — Published monthly, ONBoard contains articles and tips on association management from meeting presentations to legal issues.
• Members-only website — Members have exclusive access to previously published information and resources.

Opportunity: There is no other association management program that offers proven solutions to association matters, tips that help leaders run associations and management tools at your fingertips.

• Associations share proven solutions to association management challenges.
• Inside views of what other associations are doing.

Protection: Two forms of optional insurance coverage for non-profit officials associations

• General liability provides coverage for claims for bodily injury, property damage and personal injury and extends for typical activities of a local officials association including the assigning of game officials, meetings and the conducting of seminars and similar meetings to improve officiating knowledge. General liability coverage also includes unintentional errors and omissions.
• Directors and Officers provides coverage for wrongful acts including actual or alleged errors or misstatements, omissions, negligent acts, misleading statements.
For more information, visit us online at www.naso.org or contact NASO-ON coordinator Tina Sagal at 800/733-6100 or email tsagal@naso.org.

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