My youngest brother is a retired Air Force fighter pilot and Weapons Officer (think Maverick and Iceman in “Top Gun”). The US Air Force’s Weapons School’s motto is “humble, credible, approachable.”
As high school football officials, we should endeavor to exemplify these qualities.
Humble:
We have positional authority because we wear stripes and carry a flag and whistle. We should not abuse this authority. Although we are correctly called “Guardians of the Game” (the title of the song I’ve posted on the Art of Officiating home page), we can’t inappropriately wield power over the game’s participants. We exist to serve the coaches and players. As a crew chief, I ask crew members to act like Chick-fil-A employees. We can’t be arrogant or conceited.
On the field, decisions are often made collaboratively. An arrogant official might ignore the input of their colleagues, overrule their decisions without proper justification, or refuse to consult with them, undermining the team’s effectiveness.
Everyone makes mistakes, but an official who lets his authority go to his head might refuse to acknowledge errors, even when they are obvious. This refusal can lead to mistrust and frustration.
An arrogant official might speak down to players or coaches, using their authority to belittle or intimidate them. This behavior can create an environment of hostility rather than respect, detracting from the sportsmanship of the game.
Credible:
We need to know the rules! We shouldn’t walk onto the field with incomplete rules knowledge. We can’t make correct decisions about the plays we observe if we don’t know the rules.
Imagine you were stopped by a law enforcement officer who didn’t know the law. You’d be super ticked if you were improperly treated or wrongfully detained. A coach might feel the same way if he had to interact with an official who didn’t know the rules. He’d be frustrated, resentful, angry, confused; all because we were too lazy to study. The players and coaches work hard all week to prepare for the game. We need to match their preparation and passion.
Approachable:
One of our primary responsibilities is to manage and facilitate the game. Interacting with coaches is a significant component of that obligation. We must foster a positive environment where coaches know they can communicate with us without resistance.
Also, think of all the new(er) officials you have in your association. Do you make those officials feel welcome, or are you aloof or distant? Are officials drawn to you because they know you care about their development? At a sub-varsity game, do you spend time before, during, and after the game to encourage and mentor new officials?
The only difference between me and a rookie official is I started 17 years ago, and he just started this year. In 17 years, the rookie could be a crew chief, the association’s president, a championship game official, an effective trainer, or a reliable veteran.
Veterans, we must be approachable and available to the new officials.
Quiz
Read the quiz stem and then choose the best answer(s).
2/7 from the A-40. A15 takes the snap and pitches from the A-39 back to A27 who muffs the ball forward and out of bounds on the A-41. During the play, A80 holds B15 on the A-38. Team B elects to enforce A80’s foul. Enforce the foul from the _______.
- A-41 (out of bounds spot)
- A-40 (previous spot)
- A-39 (spot of A15’s pitch)
- A-38 (spot of the hold)
Review Rule 10-4-2d