Good Advice from Bobby Knight. Really!

With an open mind, even referees can learn from Bob Knight.

We know he’s thrown a chair. We knows he’s berated officials for decades. We know he’s the prototypical bad boy among high-profile coaches. But he has a message worth listening to that can be applied to officiating.

Knight, the Texas Tech men’s basketball coach, has had a lot of success. While the coach at Indiana, he won three national championships and 11 Big Ten titles. He also led the U.S. Olympians to gold in 1984.

In an ESPN televised interview aired in January 1998, Knight talked extensively about selfish societal attitudes and how they relate to athletics. He also talked about how to fix the problems.

He said: "Language is important. We need to change our language and our way of thinking. We need to stop using words like ‘I,’ ‘My’ and ‘Mine’ and start using words like ‘We,’ ‘Ours’ and ‘Us.’ Our attitudes need adjusting."

A referee’s perspective. Think about that quote and how it pertains to your officiating career.

‘I.’ People who start most sentences with the word "I" send strong signals and they’re not usually good. When you constantly hear things like, "I did this," or "I did that," you’re likely hearing from a person who is tilted a bit too far toward self-centered.

There’s nothing wrong with confidence; it’s a necessary ingredient in officiating. But the next time you start telling stories to your fellow officials, think of how many times you start using the word "I." Then think about the perception that generates.

Certainly, if you’re asked for your opinion, you’re going to give it, usually starting with, "Here’s what I think." That’s logical and acceptable.

Consider whether you’re being asked for your opinion or are giving it. It’s a critical difference.

‘My’ and ‘mine.’ "I can’t believe that ref got assigned that game. That should have been my game." Sense an attitude problem?

Assignments can turn some referees into selfish back-stabbers. Too often, we feel slighted instead of feeling happy for the other official. Our own insecurities are the root of the problem.

The next time you want to criticize, ask yourself, "Would I have turned the game down? How excited would I be if I’d received that assignment?" Try supporting that referee instead.

‘We.’ "I hear you coach, but it wasn’t my call." That statement can send shock waves of negativity into a situation. If you’re constantly trying to cover your rear with coaches, evaluators and assignors, your reputation with other officials will suffer. Would you want to "go to war" with someone who you don’t trust? The answer is obvious.

Think like a team at all times. You may not agree with your partner’s call or the way your partner handled a situation. But that’s not license to hang your partner either. Don’t make excuses for you or your partner. If it’s worth talking about, it’s best to sort it out in the locker room after the game, not in front of coaches, athletic directors, etc.

Remember this: Good evaluators are looking for much more than people who understand rules and mechanics. They’re looking for team players.

‘Ours’ and ‘us.’ This is our avocation. Take pride in what you do and share good thoughts with other officials.

When a member of your local association does something wonderful, tell others about it. Recognize someone’s first game, first playoff assignment, first college game, etc. It doesn’t have to be formal recognition, either. A simple mention at the postgame watering hole goes a long way.

Help others. Put yourself in a position to ensure other referees’ successes. Give back to officiating and be a positive person. Share in those successes and you in turn will feel better about officiating. After all, it is our avocation. It’s up to us to make a difference.

NBA’s Delaney Wins Gold Whistle Award

National Basketball Association referee Bob Delaney has been named by the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) as the recipient of its 2003 Gold Whistle Award.

The NASO Gold Whistle Award is presented annually to an official recognized for community involvement, achievement in officiating and a reputation of strong integrity and ethics. Delaney is the second NBA referee to receive the award since its inception in 1987. Tommy Nuñez received the honor in 1999.

The award will be presented during a banquet honoring Delaney on June 23, at the Portland Marriott Downtown in Portland, Ore. Fox 40 International will host the banquet, and several past Gold Whistle Award honorees will be present. The banquet is part of the activities surrounding the NASO "Sports Officiating 2003" Conference.

NASO President Barry Mano will present the award to Delaney, along with representatives from the NBA offices. Delaney’s accomplishments will be featured in the 7/03 issue of Referee magazine.

Pick a charity, almost any charity, in the communities surrounding Sarasota, Fla., and Bob Delaney is involved. Accolades come from such organizations as Easter Seals of Southwest Florida; Girls Inc., an outreach center for girls ages six to 14; a local cancer research project and more.

Delaney has his hand in a variety of charitable causes and it seems that no one in need is turned away. Despite his grueling travel schedule as an NBA official, every Christmas Delaney presents NBA-purchased gifts to the boys at Manatee County Prison Boot Camp. Sometimes those are the only presents the kids receive. When his schedule permits, Delaney speaks at the camp’s holiday dinner. He encourages the young men to accept their failures and challenges them to make a difference with their lives.

Delaney also serves as chairman of The Meadows Cup Golf Tournament benefiting Easter Seals of Southwest Florida. In 2002, more than $70,000 was raised for disabled children.

Still another special charity close to Delaney is "Project Heart." That program involves not only a financial contribution, but Delaney oversees a local campaign to provide gifts of school supplies and clothing to the homeless students of Manatee County.

In January 2003, Delaney began serving a term on the board of directors for the Lakewood Ranch Charitable Funds Foundation.

Delaney’s past experience as a law enforcement officer has brought him close to other causes outside his own community. As a leader of the NBA Referees Association, Delaney initiated contributions that provided travel expenses for families of the victims of Oklahoma City’s Murrah Federal Building bombing to attend the trial in Denver, and he recently coordinated efforts with the NBA to have members of the officiating staff visit rescue workers at Ground Zero in New York City. Fifty-nine NBA officials made the visit and stopped at two New York City fire stations, donating shirts, hats and jackets to firefighters involved in the rescue efforts. The referees also provided financial support to the Twin Towers Fund on behalf of their association.

Delaney is an admired official in his community, often helping at clinics and speaking to youth groups encouraging young people to become officials. One of his speaking themes is "Never Be Average" – a presentation centered on life skills, both on the court and in everyday life.

Delaney has certainly walked the walk by being an example not only to his fellow citizens in Sarasota and surrounding communities, but also to his officiating partners in the NBA.

"Bob is involved in numerous charities," says Ed T. Rush, NBA director of officiating. "He devotes lots of time and energy to numerous causes. He’s a very solid guy who has recently given up his union leadership position to devote more time to his family and charity work. I’m very happy for him. He’s a very deserving honoree."

The NASO Gold Whistle Award was created in 1987 by the NASO board of directors. It recognizes the efforts of outstanding citizens who also happen to be sports officials. The award’s criteria emphasize a candidate’s sports career, overall integrity and service to the community.

To learn more about the NASO Gold Whistle Award, click here.

Still Time to Get a Bobblehead and Help Grow NASO

The NASO Bobblehead deadline is April 10. You can submit your nominees right now by simply completing the on-line entry below.

Submit the names of two people you think will be good NASO members, prioritize your choice of bobblehead on the form before April 10, 2003. From all nomination forms received, NASO will give away 500 baseball, 500 basketball and 500 football bobblehead dolls. These are exclusive, limited-edition dolls that stand eight inches high.

Do it now!

Click here to complete nomination form.

Evaluating Officiating Performance Published This Month

Who should have responsibility for evaluating officials? How can better evaluation models be built? What are the best ways to reward officials? What do successful evaluation programs have in common? What evaluation tools are most likely to make an immediate difference in your organization?

Respected officials, clinicians and speakers from youth, high school, college and professional ranks provided a broad-based perspective of these issues at Sports Officiating 2002 in Albuquerque, N.M. The result: the sharing of practical insight and a wealth of experience and knowledge in evaluating officiating performance.

Now, longtime sports official and Referee writer Jerry Grunska has written a book based on these discussions. Evaluating Officiating Performance takes the very best of that information and presents it in a one-of-a-kind, get-the-job-done-right book for officials, evaluators, and association administrators alike.

Chapters include information gleaned from more than ten separate sessions all focused on various aspects of the evaluation process: the purposes and goals of an evaluation program; deciding who should do the evaluating; what evaluators need to look for; defining "excellence" in officiating; guidelines and tools evaluators can use. A model evaluation form was developed from these sessions and can be implemented by any officials’ association.

For officials, Evaluating Officiating Performance will provide details about how you’re being evaluated and the things you need to do to improve your evaluations. Evaluators can consider this the textbook on evaluating. Association administrators can use this book to improve your association’s evaluation system and develop a fair and organized system that can be handed off to future administrators.

Evaluating Officiating Performance will be available for delivery this month. To order, see this month’s issue of Referee or call toll free 800/733-6100. To order online, visit http://naso.org. The product code is BGEO-1 and the NASO-member price is $10.35.

Stars Come Out in Portland

NASO’s 2003 Officiating Conference will take on the issue of accountability in Portland, Ore., June 21-23, and even though the conference is indoors, the stars will be out. If you are involved in officiating at any level, this is one event you should not miss.

You should have received a promotional mailing recently with registration information and details on each session, but here’s a brief look at those who will be participating in educational sessions:

• Sandy Alderson, Major League Baseball’s vice president of baseball operations.

• Barry Mano, NASO founder and president.

• Bob Delaney, NBA official and 2003 NASO Gold Whistle Award honoree.

• Bill Carollo, NFLRA executive director and Super Bowl XXXVII referee.

• Mike Pereira, NFL director of officiating.

• Stu Jackson, NBA senior vice president of basketball operations.

• Marcy Weston, NCAA women’s basketball coordinator and NASO chair.

• Bob Gardner, chief operating officer at the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

• Jerry McGee, president of Wingate University and an Atlantic Coast Conference football official.

• Larry Boucher, assistant commissioner of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.

• Randy Christal, NASO board member and referee of the 2003 BCS Championship Game.

• Bill Dwyre, LA Times sports editor.

• Steve Bamford, assistant commissioner of the Eastern College Athletic Conference.

• Mary Struckhoff, NFHS associate director.

• Jack Roberts, executive director of the Michigan High School Athletic Association and NASO board member.

• Jerry Seeman, former NFL senior director of officiating and NASO board member.

• Bill Topp, Referee editor.

• Esse Baharmast, United States Soccer Federation (USSF) director of advanced and international referee development.

• Tom Herre, Referee Enterprises vice president.

• Bill Saum, NCAA director of agent, gambling and amateurism activities.

• Julie Ilacqua, managing director of federation services at the USSF.

• Marc Ratner, Nevada Boxing Commission executive director and NASO board member.

• Howard Mayo, Portland basketball officials commissioner.

• Bob Still, NASO communication and development manager.

• Alan Goldberger, sports attorney and official.

• Jeff Stern, Referee associate editor.

• Jerry Grunska, longtime Referee author.

• Stephen Keating, president of AllSports Officiating.

• Steven Ellinger, collegiate basketball official and Referee contributor.

• Jim Arehart, Referee associate editor.

• Surprise guests too!

Note: Several other officiating-related meetings will be occurring in conjunction with the 2003 Conference. For more details on how to register, visit www.naso.org/conference or call Hiedi Petersen at 262/632-5448.

April Issue Mailed

The April issue of REFEREE has been mailed and has lots of important news and information.

Here’s a preview:

Look for your issue of REFEREE any day. www.referee.com