The #AAAA series wraps up with one of the most important attritubues of officiating – and that’s application.
“I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being wiling is not enough; we must do.”
– Leonardo da Vinci
From a mathematical point of view, officiating is the strangest racket of all. In a normal job, on the job training is par for the course – you follow a person that is experienced, and accrue their knowledge to your own experience. But it’s training wheels. Refereeing requires being able to ride a unicycle on a tightrope with burning fire beneath ready for you to perish.
Absurd is the fruits of the labor, that comes well after you think you’ve mastered it. I think back to the first time I ever officiated a Basketball game. Luckily I had experience officiating Softball and Flag Football, but that was far from a saving grace.
Unfortunately you have when your on, your on – and you have to act like you ready, even though you ain’t. That’s where application comes in.
“Be right here, be right here
No fear (no fear) have no fear
No tears, love is here.” – SWV
In a previous post, I mentioned that I watched a championship game.
“Change is inevitable, change will always happen, but you have to apply direction to the change, and that’s when it’s progress.”
– Doug Baldwin
Self-reflection, and that self-reflection in officiating are intertwined parts of each other. Since you have to look like you mastered the skill, but nowhere near mastered damn near anything, we find ourselves in a dilemma. Aside from all the aforementioned A’s, we must apply information, and mistakes that have been set for us.
OFF THE FIELD
SELF-REFLECTION – At first, tape was too taboo and hardly sweet to be considered. “Watch yourself on film – that way you can see how you really look.” As confident as I am in my abilities, I thought it too difficult to see what I really was. But the quicker that reluctance turns into enthusiasm, the quicker the process becomes in pursuits of individual improvement. In terms of application, you’ll be able to see your deficiencies: whether it be play-calling, rule application, mechanics application and demeanor. You see what you look like on tape. Do you want to continue that trend? The choice is yours.
“This. Or that.” – Tres
COMMIT TO BE BETTER THE NEXT TIME – Learn how to break down film, but more importantly, learn how to break yourself down. Are you being honest with your own self-assessment? The next time you are on the court, is another OPPORTUNITY TO right those wrongs; to rewrite your history. Make. It. Count.
ON THE CLOCK
ARE YOU COACHABLE? – I’ll never forget my first college camp, where I was trying to earn a contract to officiate at the collegiate level. Instead, I wasn’t ready, even though I thought I was more than. Like Rihanna, I felt nekked, nekked, nekked, for I was undressed:
– You aren’t looking back when you run from trail to lead
– You are too jumpy
– Too much ball watching
– Administering a throw in without communicating with your partner
– Unclear in administering infractions
Just to name a few.
That information, I wasn’t ready to apply in real time, since I didn’t think I was doing that bad. Well, instead of earning a contract for a college conference, I earned the right to let all that information aforementioned ruminate in me for the next 365 days.
“You can start right where you stand and apply the habit of going the extra mile by rendering more service and better service than you are now being paid for.” – Napoleon Hill
CAN YOU APPLY IN REAL TIME, AND QUICKLY? – 365 days elapsed, now 365 days ago. It was a year later, but in real time a year ago, when I attended the same camp. I was more ready, but not ready enough. Not. Yet. My attitude changed when I was getting feedback from observers. Instead of being overwhelmed by the information I received, I was able to apply them moving forward. I may not have earned a contract last camp season go round, but now I’m equipped to be ready, in a deep way, to receive all the opportunities that will come my way.
“The results you achieve will be in direct proportion to the effort you apply.” – Dennis Whitley
This concludes the #AAAA series. Another pod, tomorrow.
“Never let anyone define what you are capable of by using parameters that don’t apply to you.” – Chuck Close
