PROFESSIONALISM

SIX BASIC PRINCIPLES  GOAL SETTING - PERSONAL GROWTH  FITNESS/HEALTH  APPEARANCE  RULE KNOWLEDGE & APPLICATION  RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES  CONTRACTING CONTEST

GOAL SETTING - PERSONAL GROWTH  UNDERSTAND THAT IT TAKES TIME TO MOVE UP (FROSH- JV-VAR)  SET YOUR STANDARDS HIGH -ADVANCEMENT AND PROMOTION  WORK HARD TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS  CONTINUE YOUR EDUCATION - CAMPS, CLINICS, ASK QUESTIONS AND FIND A MENTOR  SELF EVALUATION IS CRITICAL - WHAT COULD I DO BETTER?  BECOME AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF AN OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION

FITNESS/HEALTH  BEING IN TOP SHAPE IS CRITICAL - ATHLETES ARE MUCH BIGGER, FASTER AND STRONGER TODAY  PARTICIPANTS ARE TRAINING YEAR ROUND  YOU NEED TO MAKE A YEAR ROUND COMMITMENT TO CONDITIONING  PHYSICAL EXAM YEARLY FOR YOUR OWN PROTECTION  IF YOU ARE INJURED/ILL, DO NOT OFFICIATE - ATHLETES NEED 100%

APPEARANCE  LOOK THE PART - PRESSED AND POLISHED  FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE CRITICAL  WEAR PROPER UNIFORM AND PATCHES  MAKE SURE YOU HAVE EXTRA UNIFORM  BRING PROPER EQUIPMENT FOR EACH SPORT  YOU NEED TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF

RULE KNOWLEDGE  KNOW AND STUDY THE RULES - FREQUENTLY  DO NOT ASSUME YOU KNOW EVERYTHING - READ THE RULE BOOK AND CASE BOOK COVER TO COVER  QUIZ YOURSELF AND FELLOW OFFICIALS ABOUT SITUATIONS  REVIEW ALL RULE CHANGES  MOST OFFICIAL ASSOCIATIONS REVIEW THE RULES AT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETINGS  STUDY PART 1 AND PART 2 EXAMS

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES  UNDERSTAND YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS AN OFFICIAL - PRE-CONTEST AND POST-CONTEST  BE HONEST WITH ALL PARTIES (COACHES, PARTICIPANTS, ASSIGNERS)  ADMIT WHEN YOU MADE A MISTAKE - BUT IF THE MISTAKE KEEPS HAPPENING, SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE  BE FAIR - EVERYONE DESERVES IT  DO NOT BE A SHOWBOAT - THE BEST OFFICIALS ARE NOT NOTICED.

DUTIES CONTINUED  COMMUNICATE WITH PARTNER(S), COACHES AND PARTICIPANTS - IF NEEDED INVITE ALL PARTIES TO CONFERENCE  KEEP QUIET IF YOU CAN NOT SAY ANYTHING NICE - YOU CAN’T QUOTE SILENCE  BE REALISTIC ABOUT YOUR OWN TALENTS - SEEK OUT OFFICIALS TO OBSERVE AND CRITIQUE YOUR PERFORMANCE  BE A GOOD ROLE MODEL

DUTIES CONTINUED  KNOW NEW STRATEGIES AND SKILLS BEING USED  PRACTICE PROPER MECHANICS  BE COURTEOUS, BUT DETACHED  MAINTAIN CONSISTENCY IN INTERPRETING AND ENFORCING RULES  WORK AS A TEAM WITH FELLOW OFFICIALS - YOUR BEST FRIEND IS YOUR PARTNER(S)  ALWAYS USE APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE - CREATE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE

CONTRACTING CONTEST  BE GRACIOUS ACCEPTING CONTESTS  MAKE SURE YOU HAVE CONTRACTS FOR ALL CONTESTS  HONOR YOUR CONTRACTS - DO NOT BREAK A CONTRACT FOR A HIGHER CONTEST  BE PROMPT  DO NOT ASK FOR FAVORS  BE ORGANIZED - RUN YOUR OFFICIATING LIKE A BUSINESS

CONTRACTING CONTEST  CALL SCHOOL IF YOU CAN NOT MAKE A CONTEST - CALL AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE - OFFER TO HELP GET A REPLACEMENT  SOME SCHOOLS USE ASSIGNERS - TREAT THEM LIKE THEY WORK FOR THE SCHOOL  REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR - WORKING FOR THE SCHOOL  EACH CONTEST IS IMPORTANT

A CREED FOR OFFICIALS  TO KNOW FULLY THE RULES AND ACCEPT OFFICIATING PROCEDURES FOR EACH SPORT IN WHICH I SERVE AS ARBITER.  TO BUILD MY GAME SCHEDULE THROUGH MY ACCEPTED WORTH, POTENTIAL POSSIBILITIES AND INHERENT CHARACTER RATHER THAN THROUGH TRANSITORY ACQUAINTANCE OR TRADING OF FAVORS OR ATTEMPTED PRESSURES.  TO HONOR EVERY CONTRACT, EVEN THOUGH THIS MAY OCCASIONALLY RESULT IN FINANCIAL LOSS OR LOSS OF OPPORTUNITY TO WORK FOR A LARGER SCHOOL OR ONE INVOLVING LESS TRAVEL  TO KEEP MYSELF PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY FIT

A CREED FOR OFFICIALS  TO BE SYSTEMATIC, PROMPT AND BUSINESS-LIKE IN ALL MY DEALINGS WITH THOSE I SERVE  TO WEAR ACCEPTED OFFICIAL’S ATTIRE AND TO MAINTAIN A NEAT AND CREDIBLE APPEARANCE  TO ACT IN SUCH A WAY AS TO BE A WORTHY EXAMPLE TO THOSE UNDER MY SUPERVISION  TO REMEMBER THAT MY RESPONSIBILITY ALSO EXTENDS TO MY FELLOW OFFICIALS AND THAT I MUST WORK AS ONE MEMBER OF THE TEAM

A CREED FOR OFFICIALS  TO MAKE MY DECISIONS PROMPTLY BUT WITHOUT SNAP JUDGMENT, FIRMLY BUT WITHOUT ARROGANCE, FAIRLY BUT WITHOUT OFFICIOUSNESS; AND TO BASE THEM UPON THE RULES REGARDLESS OF THE TYPE OF SCHOOL, THE CLOSENESS OF THE SCORE OR THE OPINIONS OF PARTISAN SPECTATORS  TO KEEP IN MIND THAT MY FIRST CHARGE IS THE SAFETY AND GENERAL WELFARE OF THOSE UNDER MY SUPERVISION