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October 15, 2001
When a fight erupts in a game, the officials are often held accountable and blamed – sometimes from a legal aspect, other times with an equally damaging ruined reputation. It’s hard for even the most competent and respected officials to bounce back from a "can’t control a tough game" label.
Obviously, the best way to handle a fight is to not have one in the first place. You must:
1. Acquire total knowledge of history. Knowing the past is very helpful when sorting out future problems. The more information you have at your disposal – without formulating bias about the game or its participants – the better prepared you will be. If you know about cross-town rivalry history between two teams, make that a part of your pregame conference.
Know the records of the teams playing. If both teams are vying for a conference title, bank on emotions running high. Plan for those emotions to escalate what may normally be a minor problem into a major one.
The same theory applies if a winning team is facing a losing team or if two losing teams square off. If one team is destroying the other, frustrations quickly grow. The losing team is embarrassed and mad, igniting small problems into bigger ones. The winning team may be rubbing it in and talking trash, a sure sign of problems ahead.
Plus, some teams with losing records have the "we’ve got nothing to lose" attitude which fuels fight situations. That attitude can come from individuals too. Graduating seniors can have that attitude and feel they can’t be severely penalized because it’s their last season anyway.
To acquire important knowledge, talk to other officials. If you’ve had a fight break out, consider spreading the word about how it happened and why you think it happened. Not only will other officials learn from your situation, it gives proper perspective to future situations – especially if those two teams meet again.
In extreme situations, warn players and coaches before the game even starts. That’s not a threat; it’s simply a reminder that the officials are aware of a potentially bad situation. It’s okay to let them think you’re going to call the game tighter or be tougher on them, then go out and call your normal game. When addressing players or coaches before the game, end with a positive thought. Tell them that if they play the game the way it’s meant to be played, there won’t be any problems. Assure them you will do everything you can to protect them and prevent a situation from escalating.
2. Read the signs. To successfully prevent a fight, you’ve got to pick up on the little things that grow into big problems. What are they? The most obvious is verbal. Trash talking or any type of intimidating or threatening words designed to embarrass or incite the opponent is the first obvious clue to problems.
When you hear it, you’ve got a few options. The worst option is ignoring it and hoping it will go away. The smart players are testing you to see how much you’ll let go. If you let them go, they will. One option if you deem the talk a "minor" problem in an otherwise good game is to deal with the player verbally without calling a penalty. By addressing the player and letting him know his actions won’t be tolerated, you’ve likely prevented a future problem. It’s sometimes good to give that verbal warning loud enough so teammates and opponents can hear you, but without embarrassing the player.
Another option is to go directly to the coach or captain and ask for their assistance in quieting the player. Most coaches appreciate your attempt at preventive officiating. By saying things like, "Coach, #23 is talking out here a bit. Could you please talk to him?", you’ve given the coach a chance to handle it. If he chooses not to or the player doesn’t respond, now you’ve got no choice but to penalize – while knowing you tried to prevent it.
The most punitive option is calling penalties right away. Certain situations – based on history, game flow, emotion level, showmanship – warrant penalties without warning. The old school of thought was when in doubt, warn. Now, rulesmakers and governing bodies say when in doubt in this situation, penalize.
To prevent fights, you must become an expert in reading body language. Often, body language is the first sign of problems. If a player tenses muscles or you see a look of anger or frustration, that means something negative. Players throwing out their chest or pointing to an opponent are showboating and need to be dealt with right away. Players who are constantly looking around for officials usually means they are looking for when you’re not looking so they can get away with something illegal. Players who hang their heads or look sluggish become frustrated quickly.
3. Be prepared. Prepare for the worst and you will be prepared for it when it happens. That doesn’t mean overreacting; it means knowing what you will do when certain things happen. Talk about team history/chemistry before every game. Map out your preventive plan of action. Discuss what you will do if a fight breaks out. By talking it out with partners, you will be better prepared and more confident on how to handle it.
4. Learn from it. If a fight does break out, learn from it. It’s not always your fault, contrary to what most people think. Take the time to think about what led up to the fight. You’ll likely come up with things that led to it, which equates to things you could have done to possibly prevent it. Few fights explode out of nowhere. You may have missed some signs at the time. By taking the time to review, you won’t miss them again. Don’t blame yourself. Coaches, administrators and players must accept responsibility too.
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The editors of REFEREE magazine have put together a new, challenging quiz for high school and college basketball officials based on the new rule changes for the upcoming 2001-02 season. Sponsored by NASO, the quiz is free and can be downloaded and shared with your fellow officiating friends at your next association meeting. Help your fellow officials improve their rules knowledge with great educational materials from NASO! Simply click below to go directly to the NASO/REFEREE Basketball Quiz.
The NASO membership campaign for 2001 is in its final days but members still have time to participate in the campaign and be eligible to win a $300 gift certificate from Honig’s Whistle Stop.
The 2001 campaign, called "Gear Up," encourages members to send in the names of two or more officials that they believe will make good NASO members. In exchange for participating in the program, the nominating NASO member receives the publication, Great Officials Tell You What Works.
NASO headquarters follows up on every nomination by sending a personal letter of invitation along with a complimentary copy of the NASO "Members Only" edition of REFEREE and an NASO membership brochure. Nominees can then return the application along with their check or call NASO’s toll-free number and join with a credit card. Dues are $79. The new brochure outlines the many benefits of NASO membership, including educational publications, insurance and more.
However, the membership campaign in 2001 has a very special twist. If a nominee joins the association in 2001, the nominating member will receive a $25 gift certificate from Honig’s Whistle Stop, one of America’s premier officiating equipment suppliers. The certificate can be applied toward the invoice total on any order between now and Dec. 31, 2002, at any of Honig’s six regional locations. (Specific details of the program are outlined in the NASO Membership 2001 campaign literature and on redemption certificates.) Qualifying members will receive an authorized redemption certificate from NASO once their nominee has officially joined NASO.
Best of all, the nominee who joins will also receive a $25 gift certificate from Honig’s. There is no limitation to the number of certificates a member can earn by recommending new members to NASO.
"If they join, you win," explains NASO board member Gary Gullet. "It’s that simple. You nominate the official and then NASO does the necessary work to bring that nominee into the membership fold. But to really make this program successful, it helps if you personally talk to the official and encourage them to join, too."
Also, every member who participates will be eligible for a random sweepstakes drawing in November 2001 for a $300 Honig’s gift certificate.
"You could say that NASO is giving every member a $25 discount on their membership if they go out and get a new member for the association," adds longtime NASO member and NCAA Division I football referee Dick Honig. "This program is putting money back into the members pocket for needed equipment and products – that’s a wonderful way to say ‘thank you.’"?
Send your nominations via the Internet by going to the NASO home page at www.naso.org/2001membershipcampaign.
In this month’s REFEREE magazine’s IT’S OFFICIAL we share with you information about the Michael Josephson Institute of Ethics "Character Counts" program. The program is a school-based initiative emphasizing to children the six pillars of ethical behavior: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.
The United States Congress has declared Oct. 21-27 as "Character Counts Week" across the nation. The Josephson Institute provides these sports-related ways you can help celebrate…
• Get local ballparks and arenas to display the "Six Pillars of Character" on signs, banners and billboards. (Permission to use the CC! logo is required.)
• Distribute "Pursuing Victory With Honor" sportsmanship wallet cards (for youth coaches, Olympic/intercollegiate coaches or athletes) to local sports organizations and schools.
• Distribute the Arizona Sports Summit Accord to local youth sports leagues. Encourage the leagues to formally endorse the accord and to discuss it with parents, coaches, players, referees, etc.
• Encourage local youth sports leagues to sponsor a Pursuing Victory With Honor two-day training seminar or one-day awareness seminar for coaches, parents and other adults involved in youth athletics.
• Arrange for all participants in community sports leagues to create and sign a "CHARACTER COUNTS! in Sports" contract, committing them to practice good sportsmanship and the Six Pillars of Character.
• Organize Father vs. Son and/or Mother vs. Daughter sporting events (basketball, baseball, volleyball, etc.). Give ribbons and prizes for good sportsmanship. Discuss the importance of good sportsmanship.
For more information about the "CHARACTER COUNTS!" program, contact them at 310/306-1868.
