I.              game preparation

 

We begin preparing for the game on Monday.  We must review:

A.            Rules

B.           Films

C.           Positions and Mechanics

D.           Signals

Think about communication.  How will I communicate -

A.            Official to Official

B.           Official to Player

C.           Official to Coach

Our communication is vital to the success of the officiating crew.  If we communicate effectively, we will be able to avoid problems.

We must play the “What if” game:  What are the possible situations I might face on the field.

We must think about the game situations and responsibilities.

A.            Kick Offs:

         Deep kick                                                           Kicks into the side zones

         Onside kicks                                                      Pooch kicks

         Kicks down the middle

B.           Running Plays:

         Into the middle of the line                                   The man in motion

         Into the side zone away from me                      Fumbles

         Into the side zone on my side                            Goal line plays

         Runner breaking loose in the secondary           Runner spinning off a tackle

 

 

C.           Pass Plays:

         Pass in the middle of the field, deep                  Interceptions

         Pass in the middle of the field, short                 Fumbles

         Pass in the side zone, short                              Catches

         Pass in the side zone, long                               Coverage, side zones

         Pass on my side                                                Coverage, end zones

         Pass away from me

D.           Scrimmage Kicks:

         Long punts                                                         Short punts

         Long field goals                                                  Short field goals

         PATs

There are many play situations that prepare us for the game.  Each one of us has problem areas that we need to think about.  Work those situations through the entire game.

 

II.            The day of the game

 

A.            Review Rules

B.           Review Signals

C.           Review Play Situations

D.           Review the “What ifs”

E.           Check your Uniform

F.            Review the Pre-game Conference

1.         Am I ready to discuss Rules?

2.         Am I ready to discuss Mechanics?

3.         Am I ready to discuss Enforcements?

4.         Am I ready to take the field?

We must always put Friday night behind us.  It is over!!!

 

III.          Officiating is an advocation, not an occupation

 

We must never forget that sports officiating is an Advocation not an Occupation.  We must ask ourselves two questions:

A.            Am I ready to put family, job, and problems away to get into the game?

B.           Am I prepared to focus for 180 minutes?

 

IV.          focus – getting your head in the game

 

It is a proven fact that you can only think about one thing at a time.  We can concentrate or focus on football, or other things.  We cannot do both.  The human brain physiologically cannot do more than one thing at a time.

You must block out everything but football.  When the game starts:

A.      Kick Offs:                          What situations might I see?

B.      Running Plays:                  What situations might I see?

C.     Pass Plays:                       What situations might I see?

D.     Scrimmage Kicks:            What situations might I see?

Down and Distance on every play will help to determine what we might see.  Be thinking all the time.

NEVER STOP OFFICIATING!!!!!

 

 

 

We all know that confidence is vital to sports officiating.  Confidence begins with the 6 P’s:

Proper Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance!!!

 

I.              look the part

 

A.            Shined Shoes

B.           Clean, good looking uniform

C.           Hair, Mustache, and Hat look good

If you look good, you will feel good!!!!!

 

II.            Your are ready

 

A.      If you know the rules,                                   You are Ready!

B.      If you know the mechanics,                         You are Ready!

C.     If you carry yourself in a professionally

         assured manner,                                         You are Ready!

D.     If you know what you need to do;                 You are Ready!

 

III.          confidence is an attitude

 

A.            I am assertive and never hostile or angry

B.           I look good and look the part

C.           I feel good and am prepared

D.           I will do the job

When things go wrong, and they will, we must rely on what we know.  We must be confident that we have prepared and are able to officiate the game.

If you can’t develop the attitude – GET OUT!!

 

 

IV.          ball watching

 

The very simple cast of ball watching is a lack of concentration.  We need to cover our position assuring that no one gains an unfair advantage.

If we are watching the ball, we are not concentrating or maintaining our focus.  Simply put, ball watchers hurt the entire crew.  If you can’t break the habit – GET OUT!