Who is Worth Watching?

Officials, like anyone else, are never too old or experienced to learn. And sometimes the best way to do that is through observing others. Not only can you get better by watching other officials, it often gives you the chance to help other officials to improve.

Watch newer officials. Go to a game prior to your own varsity game. Get there early enough to watch a quarter or a half. Watch how other officials work with their partners, players, coaches and even fans. Seeing how they respond to situations or calls may help you either give them suggestions or come up with ways to handle similar situations yourself.

Then after the game, if the officials are able to spend a few minutes with you, give them some feedback. By caring enough to confront a fellow official, make suggestions and give pats on the back, it will help that official and yourself as well.

Watch experienced crews at your level. Don’t only watch the younger officials. Get out and watch the experienced crews as well. On a Friday night last football season, I helped out with a crew that included several younger officials along with an official being groomed to become a referee. Following the game, we sat down and recapped what went well and what needed improvement.

After those officials left, I observed the varsity crew for a half. It was not much of a game, but I was still able to pick up some things to work on. Then I drove over to where a crew that worked the state finals the season before was working. I watched them for their second half and talk with them following the game.

In each case, I was able to pick up things from the officials I observed to incorporate into my own mechanics and philosophy of officiating.

Watch officials in other sports. You can learn from officials, even if you don’t work the sport they work. If you’re a basketball official, for example, watch baseball umpires handle confrontations with players or managers. Seeing their game management techniques can help you to decide what you can do.

Watch how officials in other sports handle out-of-the-ordinary situations that come up. If something unusual happens, do they get together and talk about it? Do you see them discuss situations and then give an explanation to not only the coaches, but to the players as well? Good communication skills are very important and can help to calm potential problems. Officials in other sports may be able to help you improve yours.

Watch higher-level officials on TV. Watching how professional officials work, whether it be in person or on television, can help you improve. They are working at that level for a reason. See where they position themselves, how they use different mechanics and how they work together. Incorporate some of their techniques into your own officiating.

Be aware of what you are doing as well as others are doing on the field or court. Be open minded enough to accept suggestions and compliments. Go that extra mile or stay to watch that experienced crew. After observing others, make adjustments and changes for the better.

Michael Babicz has been a high school basketball and football official for more than 25 years. He lives in Gurnee, Ill.

Register for the 2006 Sports Officiating Summit Today and Get Great Discounts

The 2006 NASO Sports Officiating Summit will be held in Memphis, Tenn., July 30-Aug. 1. For information on how to sign up, go to www.naso.org/summit2006.

Group registration discounts are available when three or more officials or administrators from the same association, league or conference sign up for the Summit on the same registration form. The discount allows each attendee to receive $70 off the normal registration fee — saving a total of $210 in registration fees. Check out the registration form for additional information.

Individual NASO members save $50 with a reduced membership rate. Register by June 16 for an additional $50 savings.

The Memphis Peabody is the host location for the 2006 Summit and offers unbeatable room rates of $119 per night.

Without a doubt, NASO has made the Sports Officiating Summit affordable to all NASO members. Visit the Summit website and then register for the NASO Sports Officiating Summit today. We’ll confirm your registration and then send you an informative packet of information now and then again just before the Summit event.

For additional information about the NASO Sports Officiating Summit, contact NASO Summit Coordinator Jodi Schmidt at 800/733-6100 or jschmidt@naso.org. We look forward to seeing you in July.

Tales From the Trenches …

Real stories by officials, for officials.

You might second-guess yourself on some ejections — “Should I have given that coach a little more leash?” — but some ejections couldn't be more deserved. What was the clearest, easiest, no-brainer ejection you ever administered? NASO LockerRoom readers had a few tales to tell.

There’s Easy …

Several years ago I was on the bases in a men’s fast-pitch league game in Blue Springs, Mo. The home plate umpire made a close call. The offended team kept arguing the call for several innings. Finally as that team was taking the field, the center fielder kept up the argument. As he reached his position my partner (the home plate umpire) requested that the center fielder come to the plate for a discussion. When the player met my partner in front of home plate, he thanked him for coming in and said, “Since you are now much closer to the parking lot you should just keep on going.” Kenyon never raised his voice or made a demonstrative ejection; he just requested that the player keep on going. The player quietly left the field and the game was finished with no further comment.

There’s Really Easy …

A varsity baseball coach told me that I didn’t have the “balls” to make a tough call and shouldn’t be working such an important baseball game. That was in the ninth inning of a 1-1 game. Fortunately for him, his team continued to play well without him and his team won the league title in the 12th.

There’s Really, Really Easy …

In a Pop Warner football game, a penalty flag was thrown against the visiting team near its sideline. The assistant coach picked up the flag and threw it at the head official. The coach was ejected.

… And Sometimes They Even Beg For It

Coordinator of Football Officials

Big 12 Conference

The Big 12 Conference seeks nominations and applications for the position of coordinator of football officials.  The coordinator will manage the Big 12 Conference football officiating program including the recruitment, selection, training and evaluation of roster officials, replay officials, clock operators and a video tape evaluation staff.  The coordinator may also be required to consult with conference office administration on matters related to the management and supervision of other conference officiating programs.  A minimum of 10 years of experience as a Division I-A football official, an NFL official, a coordinator of officials or an individual with demonstrated knowledge of or oversight responsibility for a major collegiate officiating program is required.  Extensive knowledge of NCAA football playing rules and evaluation and training techniques for officials is required.  Excellent organizational and communication skills required.  The salary and benefit structure is negotiable.   Send applications and/or nominations to:

Robert Beaudine
Eastman & Beaudine, Inc.
7201 Bishop Road , Suite 220
Plano, TX 75024
(972) 312-1012
reb@eastman-beaudine.com

Nominations and applications must be received by March 31, 2006.

Anticipated appointment date is May 15, 2006

The Big 12 Conference office is located in Dallas, Texas.  The member institutions of the conference are:  Baylor, Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech.

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