Customer Service ??????

[tref]

Originally Posted by bainsey

This sounds to me like a man who seriously gives a damn about his performance, and is willing to take the extra step to succeed.

Extra steps to succeed in the officiating field should be attending quality camps to be critiqued by people who know what they are talking about. Honest self assessment through film breakdown improves ones skillset as well. JMO

Originally Posted by bainsey

A lot of companies have become successful by asking for feedback, evaluating it, and applying the correct information that will cause growth. It sounds to me like this guy is taking a page from that book.

Those businesses differ from officiating as they dont service them in contests where one client is sure to win & the other is sure to lose. Big difference!
The customer is always right, doesnt apply on my 94x50... sorry!

Originally Posted by bainsey

As much as some of us like to make broad-brush statements about coaches and what they don't know, the truth is do indeed serve them, among others on the court/field. Those that serve better, in any field, typically get to serve more. The tricky balance, though, is serving the game, while satisfying those associated with it.

Which one is it & do you coach???

I serve in this order:

1. The GAME
2. Partners
3. Myself

while satisfying ALL associated with The GAME (until one team loses or doesn't get their way or gets a bad call or etc, etc)

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by tref

The customer is always right, doesnt apply on my 94x50... sorry!

No need to apologize, and I certainly don't disagree. (The customer isn't always right, anyway, but that's another story.)

Which one is it ["The tricky balance, though, is serving the game, while satisfying those associated with it"] & do you coach???

To the latter, no. To the former, like it or not, the two aren't mutually exclusive.

From my perspective, this isn't about worrying about if your calls are making people happy. (If you worry about such things, get out of officiating.) This has more to do with interpersonal relations, and effectively dealing with people who question what you do. In many fields, those with better interpersonal relations (often times, "working the system") tend to be more successful.

That's the brilliance of Rich's friend's approach. Those that don't ask tend to come across as apathetic. When it comes time for those in power to decide who gets what assignments, those that appear to serve better will typically get the nod. It may not be fair in some minds, but few things are in the business world. And when we want those assignments, we are looking to do business.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by bainsey

To the latter, no. To the former, like it or not, the two aren't mutually exclusive.
That's the brilliance of Rich's friend's approach. Those that don't ask tend to come across as apathetic. When it comes time for those in power to decide who gets what assignments, those that appear to serve better will typically get the nod. It may not be fair in some minds, but few things are in the business world. And when we want those assignments, we are looking to do business.

Sorry, I am never asking a person that has never officiating a single game in their life what they think of my performance. Even if they tell me I did a good job I still take it with a big grain of salt as they are not in a position to evaluate my performance as an official/umpire. And there is something wrong with a system that encourages that or assumes that the coaches should have the say. They are often clueless and do not have to do the things we have to do just to know basic rules. Unless I have not read something somewhere, but what test or clinics must they attend to be a coach? Heck in my state it still is a running joke that the varsity coaches send the freshman coach to the rules meeting so that the schools fulfill the requirement for the school. Officials cannot pass of that responsibility in most cases so why would I ask a person that has not been through the fire how I did? If you believe them when they tell you that you are good, you must believe them when they tell you are terrible.

Peace

[MD Longhorn]

Coaches opinions about officials are completely worthless regarding gameplay. The only occasional useful commentary from coaches deals with demeanor or appearance. Those are important, and if demeanor or appearance comments are constantly coming in about the same official, that official may need to have a discussion, but NOTHING that comes from a coach, in any sport, should be used to rate an official.