WCSC Season Kickoff ISC Held September 7, 2011 - Meeting Minutes

Provided by Sal Crispi

Attended by 40 WCSC Referees; great turnout!

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MINUTES: Ref quiz & short discussion; Administrative Update, Keys to Success for a Center Referee Presentation and Discussion, Keys to Success for an Assistant Referee Presentation and Discussion, Pass Out Hand Outs and Discuss, Wrap Up, Raffle Prize drawing; Adjournment

Next Referee Meetings will held on October 5th and November 2nd. MARK your calendars!

Ibuprofen & Other "NSAIDs" - You Decide
Memo from Sal Crispi

A very interesting article from the New York Times regarding non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers (or NSAIDs, which include ibuprofen). Link provided by Bill Crisafulli, District III. CLICK HERE

It's safe to assume that there are few groups who enjoy taking a "Busman's Holiday" as much as officials. Officials love to go to games, or sit at home and watch them. In fact, some of us have likely been told by a buddy that it's no fun to go to games with us because all we do is "watch the officials." Watching other officials is one of the best ways to improve. Sitting in the stands, even at lower level games, gives officials a fresh perspective on the little things they do every game. How do the officials look and move? How do they handle controversy? You can sometimes learn as much from bad examples as good ones. But are there tricks to watching other officials? How can you maximize the benefits of watching others officiate? Follow these tips:

• Don't view games at lower levels as uninteresting, or the officials as being rookies. Not far from where I live, there is an official calling youth football who officiated in the NFL! Could you learn something from him?
• Don't criticize the game officials. You know better than anyone how different the game looks on the field. Second-guessing is natural, but if you're in the stands, keep it to yourself. Nothing can make things ugly faster than someone saying, "I'm an official, and I can tell you they blew that call!"
• See the whole play. Before you pass judgment on a call, make sure you saw exactly what happened. If someone passing a cold one past you diverted your attention, you might have missed a key element of the play.
• Don't watch the game as a fan. Labeling yourself a "fan" removes any semblance of impartiality. Don't overlook a great call by a fellow official just because it went against your team.
• Watch for rule interpretations as well as mechanics. Was their interpretation the same one you'd have come up with? Are you aware of any rules differences that might apply?
• Watch how experienced officials move. Watch their signals and observe their rapport with players and coaches. What do they do differently from you? Is there a technique or "trick" they employed to make the game go more smoothly? Observation can show the way toward personal improvement.
• Watch for tough calls and controversy. Were the officials in position? How did they handle an irate player or coach? Did they seek help from a partner? Did the game get unduly delayed while matters got sorted out? What did they do well to resolve the matter?

• Avoid pre-conceived notions about the officials. They will affect how you interpret the officials' calls and evaluate their mechanics. Be as impartial as you are during your own games. Every official at every level is just as capable of calling a great game - or a stinker - as any of you. -

Written by Dave Sabaini, a freelance writer and official who lives in Terre Haute, Indiana