Why Professionalism in High School Refereeing?

Each official must approach his job armed with a professional attitude. Here are a series of things you can do and things you should avoid in order to enhance your image as a professional. 1.Arrive on time for your assignment. 2. Always honor your commitments. 3. Remember that no game is beneath you. 4. Never bad-mouth a fellow official. It’s better to keep your mouth shut. 5. Work hard WITH your partner, who is your only on-field friend. 6. Have a solid pre-game conference. 7. Don’t brag about your games, quality or quantity. Nobody really cares anyway. Each official must approach his job armed with a professional attitude. Here are a series of things you can do and things you should avoid in order to enhance your image as a professional. 1.Arrive on time for your assignment. 2. Always honor your commitments. 3. Remember that no game is beneath you. 4. Never bad-mouth a fellow official. It’s better to keep your mouth shut. 5. Work hard WITH your partner, who is your only on-field friend. 6. Have a solid pre-game conference. 7. Don’t brag about your games, quality or quantity. Nobody really cares anyway. Keeping a Professional Attitude

8. Utilize proper, crisp signals. 9. Earn a reputation as an official who hustles. 10. Be a communicator. Coaches want to know you will listen. 11. Don’t ever say to a coach; “Shut Up”. 12. Don’t bad mouth your association. 13. Listen to people whom you respect as officials and try to change based on constructive criticism. 14. Don’t make a younger official feel uneasy because you’re the vet. 15. If you are an up-and-coming official, don’t turn off people by being too cocky: Let your whistle and hustle do the “talking”. 16. When you are in a position of authority within your local officials group, Help newer officials and those who are struggling. 8. Utilize proper, crisp signals. 9. Earn a reputation as an official who hustles. 10. Be a communicator. Coaches want to know you will listen. 11. Don’t ever say to a coach; “Shut Up”. 12. Don’t bad mouth your association. 13. Listen to people whom you respect as officials and try to change based on constructive criticism. 14. Don’t make a younger official feel uneasy because you’re the vet. 15. If you are an up-and-coming official, don’t turn off people by being too cocky: Let your whistle and hustle do the “talking”. 16. When you are in a position of authority within your local officials group, Help newer officials and those who are struggling.

Be A Positive Force 17. Make your partner feel as if they BELONGS with you on the field. They will work a better game and so will you. 18. Always keep your composure. Don’t let them get to you. 17. Make your partner feel as if they BELONGS with you on the field. They will work a better game and so will you. 18. Always keep your composure. Don’t let them get to you.

Referee Checklist All referees should have a good working knowledge of the rules of the game and the mechanics required to make the match an enjoyable experience. Consider the following points when you do your next game and have fun. Let the Players be Competitive The players give their maximum effort and should be allowed to demonstrate their skill. If the game starts to get out of hand tell yourself “ I’m not going to let this game get away from me, I’m better than that”. We are paid to do the games as professionals, make calls that control the game and enforce mandatory discipline. Be consistent, fair and impartial. Have your Head on Right Don’t think that the referee shirt and whistle exempts you from a little criticism. This is part of officiating, and officials know how to deal with it. Plan on it happening. Criticism is just part of the game. All referees should have a good working knowledge of the rules of the game and the mechanics required to make the match an enjoyable experience. Consider the following points when you do your next game and have fun. Let the Players be Competitive The players give their maximum effort and should be allowed to demonstrate their skill. If the game starts to get out of hand tell yourself “ I’m not going to let this game get away from me, I’m better than that”. We are paid to do the games as professionals, make calls that control the game and enforce mandatory discipline. Be consistent, fair and impartial. Have your Head on Right Don’t think that the referee shirt and whistle exempts you from a little criticism. This is part of officiating, and officials know how to deal with it. Plan on it happening. Criticism is just part of the game.

Don’t take on the Enforcer Role Use the ladder of control in dealing with players and coaches ( T,W,W,C,D,S,T ) ( Talk, Whistle, Warn, Caution, Disqualify, Suspend, and Terminate ). Don’t get close to them when you don’t need to, just to “show them who’s the boss”. Use stoppage in play to ease tension and manage the game. Try not to be irritating. Be calm and stay in control. Get into the Flow of the Game Each game is different and how you enforce the laws may differ depending on the level of competition, and player skill/attitude. The top level referee will develop the skill to know the difference and react to the flow of the game. The tempos of the game will constantly change as will the reaction of the players. A very ragged game will call for a different style of control than a smooth, well played game. Don’t take on the Enforcer Role Use the ladder of control in dealing with players and coaches ( T,W,W,C,D,S,T ) ( Talk, Whistle, Warn, Caution, Disqualify, Suspend, and Terminate ). Don’t get close to them when you don’t need to, just to “show them who’s the boss”. Use stoppage in play to ease tension and manage the game. Try not to be irritating. Be calm and stay in control. Get into the Flow of the Game Each game is different and how you enforce the laws may differ depending on the level of competition, and player skill/attitude. The top level referee will develop the skill to know the difference and react to the flow of the game. The tempos of the game will constantly change as will the reaction of the players. A very ragged game will call for a different style of control than a smooth, well played game.

Don’t Yell and don’t use Foul Language If you wouldn’t like it, then don’t do it to someone else. Try to be firm (not sarcastic) with a relaxed voice. If the referee shouts and uses profanity it will indicate to others that control is lost, not only for the referee, but also for the game. Human emotions can run high and this is a highly emotional game. Show Competence/Confidence and Commitment The referee should not be cocky, but should exude confidence. The presence of the referee team should command respect from players, substitutes, coaches, and spectators. Always try and present a proper image. The professionalism of the referee team starts with the first impression and continues to the completion of all required paperwork. Don’t Yell and don’t use Foul Language If you wouldn’t like it, then don’t do it to someone else. Try to be firm (not sarcastic) with a relaxed voice. If the referee shouts and uses profanity it will indicate to others that control is lost, not only for the referee, but also for the game. Human emotions can run high and this is a highly emotional game. Show Competence/Confidence and Commitment The referee should not be cocky, but should exude confidence. The presence of the referee team should command respect from players, substitutes, coaches, and spectators. Always try and present a proper image. The professionalism of the referee team starts with the first impression and continues to the completion of all required paperwork.

Forget the Spectators and Touchline The spectators delight in displaying their ignorance of the rules of the game and are usually partisan to their favored team. They take great delight in antagonizing the referees. This just as true of the touchline. Ignore bench personnel unless they significantly interfere with game control and the rules of the game. Spectators are a “fact of life”. In some levels of competition the conduct of the spectators is not within your control as a referee. Answer Reasonable Questions Be courteous to coaches and players. If they ask you a reasonable question in a courteous manner, respond in a polite way. Be firm, but relaxed. Forget the Spectators and Touchline The spectators delight in displaying their ignorance of the rules of the game and are usually partisan to their favored team. They take great delight in antagonizing the referees. This just as true of the touchline. Ignore bench personnel unless they significantly interfere with game control and the rules of the game. Spectators are a “fact of life”. In some levels of competition the conduct of the spectators is not within your control as a referee. Answer Reasonable Questions Be courteous to coaches and players. If they ask you a reasonable question in a courteous manner, respond in a polite way. Be firm, but relaxed.

Choose Your Words Wisely Don’t obviously threaten a coach, player or substitute. The referee should try to not put himself/herself on the spot and enforce the threat. Penalize misconduct wisely and take time to think. Using the proper words can be a subtle method to diffuse a situation. Never shake your finger in the face of a player or coach. Stay Cool The referee needs to look cool, calm, and in control of the game. If the referee gets nervous and on edge the players and spectators will spot the behavior. Don’t pace around and try to avoid the display of a wide range of emotions. Don’t be vulnerable to pressure. As the referee, you are the one in control of the game. Enjoy yourself and have fun. Choose Your Words Wisely Don’t obviously threaten a coach, player or substitute. The referee should try to not put himself/herself on the spot and enforce the threat. Penalize misconduct wisely and take time to think. Using the proper words can be a subtle method to diffuse a situation. Never shake your finger in the face of a player or coach. Stay Cool The referee needs to look cool, calm, and in control of the game. If the referee gets nervous and on edge the players and spectators will spot the behavior. Don’t pace around and try to avoid the display of a wide range of emotions. Don’t be vulnerable to pressure. As the referee, you are the one in control of the game. Enjoy yourself and have fun.

Referee Signals

Assistant Referee Signals

You must be the calming influence on the field!