PROFESSIONAL EXPECTATIONS

[Larks]

Friend of mine sent me this....its basically the expectations of one of the college assignors that he works for. Some good stuff in here.

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PROFESSIONAL EXPECTATIONS:

A minimum of ONE WEEK before each game the assigned Referee will coordinate with his/her partners the date and the time of the game, including expected travel and arrival plans, please exchange cell phone numbers at this time. If within 72 hours of the game the U1 and/or U2 has not heard from the Referee, they are both required to call the Referee and the Supervisor. Email is fine for this process, but you MUST receive a RESPONSE back for the process to be complete… Failure to adhere to this procedure could result in the loss of a game for the whole crew! Please help double-check me.

SITE REPORTS – The Referee, with input from their partners, will submit a site report after any game with unusual circumstances. Unusual would include, all unporting technical fouls and any other situation that may generate a phone call from the schools. Unsporting technical fouls should also be reported by phone immediately. These reports can be submitted in writing or through the website.

CLOSED DATES – Closed dates and other pertinent information changes need to be communicated via the website, with an email confirmation. For the website to be used properly this is ESSENTIAL! Games will be assigned using this information. Failure to update the website can result in unnecessary and frustrating communication!! I am relying on the website to complete ALL further game assignments.

PRE-GAME/GAME ADMINISTRATION PROCEDURES

1. Business casual is the most desirable dress to wear to the game. NO warm-ups, sweats, jeans or running suits.

2. You must be in the locker room 1 hour and 15 minutes prior to game time. Late arrival causes unnecessary stress for management and partners, and is a serious breach of the official’s obligation. Please be proactive concerning travel issues. A few minutes late does not need to be reported. Habitual tardiness or more than 5 minutes should be reported! If your partner has not arrived by 45 minutes prior to the game, please try to CALL your partner, alert the administrator, and me.

3. Pre-game includes, rest, travel, meals, physical conditioning and the right mind-set to officiate. It is to be conducted by the referee, with input from the partners. The Referee may designate the U1 or U2 to conduct. Referee should have 2 questions for their partners. Officials assigned to the game should be the only personnel in the locker room at this time (exception – other officials may listen).

4. You are expected to be on the floor 15 minutes prior to game time.

5. Please be cordial and professional to all site support personnel. Any complaints about support personnel should be directed to me.

6. A post-game conference is mandatory! Please discuss atypical situations, mechanics issues and any other problems. This should be done in an honest, positive, constructive environment. The mission should be improvement for the “team”! A good partner helps make the game & their partners better.

7. Gray shirts are ok in XXX and XXXX Games only. Everyone brings the black and white shirt just in case.

Recommended Reduced Crew Policy

1. In the event that one of the three officials in basketball, fails to appear and there is insufficient time to advise the conference office or coordinator of officials so as to obtain a substitute, the official(s) present shall officiate the contest unless there is an experienced, qualified official available who is approved by the coaches of the teams participating. If, for any reason, an official is prevented from appearing at an assigned contest, the following procedures are to be followed in seeking a qualified substitute.

a. The institutional administrator and/or the coordinator of officials or conference office representative on site shall attempt to contact the assigned official by telephone.

b. If the situation is not resolved by the action in (a), the acceptable list of officials shall be reviewed to identify a conference official within a reasonable proximity who may be substituted for the missing official and that official shall be contacted as to their availability to officiate the contest.

c. If the situation is not resolved by the action in (b), the institutional administrator shall identify and contact a qualified local official to substitute for the missing official. Such an individual may be utilized ONLY if agreed upon by both coaches.

d. If the situation is not resolved by the action in (c), the contest shall be conducted as scheduled. The absence of one official does not permit the postponement or cancellation of a contest.


Some specific 2005-06 Points of Emphasis:

1. Promote positive atmosphere through positive behavior for the benefit of the athletes and all involved. Our job is to create an environment of “fair” play and consistency. Every coach, every team, every game is deserving of our best effort. There will be many decisions that will create conflict and raise the level of emotions. The most successful officials are able deal with conflict resolution.

2. Professional approach to all communication and interaction. Nothing should ever be taken to the personal level. This also should not be confrontational. Officials are facilitators not adversaries. Any issue of a sensitive nature should be discussed in private.

3. Display respect for ALL involved – players, coaches, fans, administrators and partners. Never question integrity or disrespectfully address fellow officials, coaches or players. Continually questioning or belittling an official’s calls would be an example of inappropriate coach’s behavior. Gossiping or in any way undermining a fellow official is an example of inappropriate official's behavior.

4. Allow ALL involved to be human and keep the focus of the match on the athletes. Keep mistakes to a minimum, but allow recovery with poise, speed and resolve. Dwelling on a mistake or perceived mistake for a great length of time draws focus from the next task. It does not improve the quality of officiating for the athletes and actually may promote more errors. When analyzing a “gray area” call: 1) did it fit the game/match; 2) was it effective; 3) can it be defended by the supervisor.

5. Legitimate questions need to be answered briefly and concisely, no clinics. Acknowledge others point of view. Stay on the action, not the person.

6. Realize that the smooth administration of any contest is a cooperative effort among all. Thorough rules knowledge, understanding correct application and ability to communicate decisions are critical to success. Misapplication of a rule is not acceptable.


The ultimate mission with all of this is to have highly competitive games officiated as well as possible in a positive, professional atmosphere – allowing coaches to coach, players to play and officials to officiate! The most effective level of accountability comes from within. By controlling what we can control, owning what we do, accepting responsibility for all our actions we are “honoring” ourselves and the game.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR MOST IMPORTANT EFFORTS FOR THE GAME AND FOR THESE CONFERENCES……..


HARD WORK BEATS TALENT WHEN TALENT DOESN’T WORK HARD!!!

[ThickSkin]

A little bit of organization will go a long way!

[Jurassic Referee]

Good informative post, Larks.

[crazy voyager]

I agree, I should say officials should be on the floor 20 minutes before the game start. Unless NCAA/NFHS/other american rules differ from FIBA, we are required to be on the court 20 minutes before due to that being the first time we can penalise anyone (like Fighting, Unsportsmanloike conduct, dunking when player's are not allowed to do that).
Otherwise very good post