Maximize Crew Effectiveness and Harmony

Both on and off the field, effective communication among crewmates is a key component to a group’s success. But within each crew are people who have different personalities, some compatible with other members, some incompatible. Due to that, maintaining crew harmony may take some work.

Each team of officials has (or should have) a leader, usually the crew chief. Often he or she is designated by position or by the game assigner. For example, in baseball, the plate umpire is usually the crew chief; in football, the referee assumes the role.

In some situations crew chiefs are not designated; instead, they evolve. For various reasons, groups seek people who should be "in charge." If four officials are on hand to work a game and no one is sure who is in charge, the group may select a crew chief based on any number of factors, including age, years of experience, reputation, etc.

Once a crew chief has been identified, he or she must be willing to assign to the others specific responsibilities. A crew chief who does another’s work may get the job done, but the crew suffers because its chief is not concentrating enough on his or her own responsibilities.

When crew chief Bob does the work for crewmember John, often that’s because John is unable or unwilling to perform the task to Bob’s standard. But when Bob takes over, he provides only a Band-Aid solution to the problem: Do John’s job and get through the game. In the long run, crew credibility and harmony are damaged. A critical decision has to be made by Bob, the crew chief: Lower the standards he has set for John or replace him.

Get all crewmembers involved. Of course, getting crewmembers to do what the chief wants can be awkward, especially if there’s resistance. Most effective crews allow for some "give and take." The crew chief seeks input from the others and the crew reaches a consensus. That way, each member is part of the decision-making process, a crucial element in developing a genuine team feeling.

Mechanics, philosophies, rules applications, even uniform preference must be worked out by the crew to ensure everyone is on the same page. For example, in basketball, if one official has a let ’em play attitude and the other won’t allow players to breathe, the game will be negatively impacted, with problems likely to abound. To avoid that, you need to talk about philosophy before the game starts. Then agree on the course of action you’ll both follow, with neither of you having to compromise your principles.

When you’re the crew chief, pay special attention to the way you communicate with your partners. Be direct, but never embarrass or talk down to a partner. Here’s an example of a situation that really happened.

On a veteran high school football crew, three of the four members, including the crew chief, wore fitted caps. Appearance and professionalism were of utmost importance to the crew chief. He felt very strongly that an adjustable cap was inappropriate attire on the football field. The official who wore the adjustable, mesh-backed cap was professional in all aspects of his officiating and was well-respected among his crewmates, except for that dang cap.

The crew chief wanted the official to change caps, but instead of asking him directly, the chief joked, making off-handed remarks about how bad the cap looked. A good laugh was had by all, except the official with the adjustable cap.

One day before the season, the crew decided to present the meshed-hat official with a new, sized cap. That day, he phoned the crew chief, saying in no uncertain terms that he had been "railroaded" into getting a new cap. He said several other things, including, "If you wanted me to get a new cap, why didn’t you just say so instead of embarrassing me?"

The crew chief learned a valuable lesson. Now, on that crew if anybody has a problem, no matter how small, it is aired out upfront and directly. The lines of communication are much better and the crew is working together.

Pull Up a Chair ...

Everyone who’s ever stepped onto a field, court or rink to officiate a game has a story to tell. Here’s one about the simple act of tossing up a jump ball….

Fifth Time’s the Charm

By Monty McCutchen

The ball went true and straight and fluttered for just a moment at the apex. It was a thing of beauty. Or so says my memory.

The players participating in the jump on the other hand were a tangle of arms, legs and bodies more interested in keeping the other from reaching the ball (as it fluttered there in its own beauty) than they were in getting to it themselves.

We were late in the fourth quarter of a preseason contest in 1992. The game had been decided several minutes earlier when the home team went on a run that effectively turned the last minutes of the game into an opportunity to exercise some of the hopefuls who wouldn’t make the team. But that mattered little to me. I was on an NBA court with an opportunity to turn officiating into a career, and I wanted my game to be perfect. Even though I had blown that possibility of perfection to the winds somewhere in the vicinity of the 11:30 mark of the first quarter, this thing of beauty that was my jump ball (or so says my memory) was being severely handicapped by these two miscreants. You couldn’t slide a razor blade under their feet on the jump. In the split seconds before the ball came crashing down to earth unencumbered by human intervention, I knew the whistle would come loud and clear, as well it should.

Not to worry. After all, the first jump ball lingered on the doorstep of immortality – its beauty was so great. A second would be no problem to repeat. But as I lined up for another toss, a fan yelled out that maybe they should get someone in there who knew how to throw a jump ball. Surely he jested. Had that fan not realized he had witnessed an act as close to perfection as we get in this world (or so says my memory)? A whiff of doubt crept into the center circle. Was it possible? Could it be? That I was the reason another ball had to be sent up? No! for it was a thing of beauty. Or so says my memory.

But duty called and the second jump ball was soon to be commenced albeit with a tad more tension than the first. I entered the circle and promptly short-armed the next one so bad that two fourth graders could have tapped it with their elbows. But fortunately my two adversaries continued their mano a mano battle and promptly created such a scene that my shoddy efforts were widely ignored. I wanted to kiss them both. Whistle number two came much more quickly than the first, as well it should.

We were now squarely in the twilight zone of jump balls. There was a buzz in the stands from those who were left. I entered the circle for the third jump ball with but one goal – don’t short-arm it. Mission accomplished. To say that no NBA player could reach this ball with a step ladder might be an exaggeration, but then it might not. Or so says my memory.

The third whistle came down well before the ball did. No such luck in escaping blame on this effort. The two jumpers didn’t even know I was going to throw it up. They merely stood there as this eruption of a jump ball began to gain height, and gain height, and gain height. Now the players were staring at me like I had two heads. Louder this time: "Hey! How about a ref who has at least seen a jump ball before!" At that point, I was quite sure my career was over and that I would be seeking work in Estonia where I could throw jump balls up to these two for all eternity. I entered the circle for jump ball number four with all the confidence of a mouse going for the cheese. Thankfully it was a jump ball that didn’t hit the rafters, but the two players jumped into each other in a conglomeration of confusion that made it hard to tell one from the other. We had been here before and had now come full circle. The fourth whistle sounded clear.

I entered the circle to throw that fifth jump ball with a calmness that would have made Hannibal Lecter envious and threw it up true and straight, watching as it lingered there for just a moment, flirting with the laws of nature, flirting with perfection itself – almost as if to say we can all approach the door of perfection from fleeting time to time. The players jumped clean and effortlessly and higher than they ever had or ever will, and reached that true and straight jump ball in a marriage of athletic achievement not seen since. The crowd roared louder than any other time in the night and all was right in the world. Or so says my memory.

Monty McCutchen has been an NBA referee since 1992. He lives in Pipe Creek, Texas.

You’ve probably been giving your best officiating stories away for free at any number of postgame crew gatherings. Referee magazine will pay you $100 to publish your favorite war story from the officiating trenches. Type up your story in 1,000 words or less and e-mail it to LastCall@Referee.com. Sure, you might lose the opportunity to tell your story to your buddies, but face it, your friends are tired of hearing that old chestnut. Share it with a new – and far-reaching – audience.

A Helping Hand in Business Administration

The National Association of Sports Officials-Organizations Network (NASO-ON) is an affiliate association of NASO and is the only organization that exists for the sole purpose of helping local officials association conduct business administration.

Portland Basketball Officials Association Commissioner Howard Mayo said, "Our officials association was established in 1937. Currently we have over 325 members. The monthly information from NASO-ON in the ONBoard newsletter, ONLine enewsletter and Referee magazine provides immense help as we deal with the current struggles and specific issues of running an officiating association. Our Board often references articles pertaining to legal issues that are on our plate. We’ve also utilized the free-educational materials provided as an NASO-ON benefit. NASO-ON is a great addition to our officials association."

NASO-ON benefits include the Guide to Local Association Management; the official newsletter for NASO-ON members, ONBoard; a full year subscription of Referee magazine – NASO member edition; optional general liability and directors and officers insurance; the opportunity to receive a free copy of every publication produced by Referee; members-only website access and NASO membership discounts for your association members. NASO-ON membership is only $99 per year – a wise investment for the well-being of your association.

Join NASO-ON today and begin receiving those exceptional benefits. Log onto www.naso-on.org or contact Tina Sagal, NASO-ON coordinator, at 800/733-6100 or tsagal@naso.org for additional information.

NASO Summit Offers Unique Networking Opportunities

There’s only one place where you can talk shop with other officiating leaders from around the nation. NASO’s 2005 Sports Officiating Summit held July 30 - Aug.1 features some of the best and brightest officiating organization leaders from the NFHS, NCAA, various state associations and the professional leagues, too.

The Summit theme is "Leadership Officiating." At the gathering you’ll learn how to maximize your leadership potential, and you’ll also meet and create long-term relationships with some of the best and brightest people in the officiating world.

During the social events, rub elbows and enjoy hors d’oeuvres with Summit presenters, like NBA referee Bob Delaney, NFL referee Bill Carollo, retired MLB umpire Rich Garcia and FIFA referee Brian Hall.

Gather with other officials and administrators at the State of Officiating Luncheon. You will hear first hand from Barry Mano, NASO president, and Bob Kanaby, NFHS executive director, on the state officiating today.

Meet with old friends and make new ones at the free-flowing happy-hour session, Officiating on Tap. You will take part in conversations relating to hot officiating topics such as sportsmanship, recruiting and retention, selecting postseason officials and local association management.

Experience the celebration as we honor John W. Keys, 18th Gold Whistle Award winner, Dick Honig, winner of the NASO Mel Narol Medallion award, and acknowledge NASO’s silver anniversary Aug.1 at the 25th Anniversary and Gold Whistle Award Luncheon.

Get down to the nuts and bolts of officiating and take a seat with a roomful of officials from your chosen sports. Talk rules, mechanics, philosophy, hot issues – anything having to do with baseball, football, softball, soccer, basketball and volleyball.

Join other NASO members, NASO-ON officers, assigners, local association officers, officiating supervisors, officiating coordinators, sport administrators, conference administrators and sports officials for this premier officiating event that provides excellent networking opportunities that you will find no where else. Attend the NASO Summit and be part of a dynamic experience. Summit registration and a full program brochure is available at www.naso.org/summit2005 or contact Tina Sagal, NASO special events manager, at 800/733-6100 or tsagal@naso.org.

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