THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX TO ADVANCE OFFICIATINGJulian Tackett, KHSAA

BRIEF BACKGROUND

• Individual History and Experience – One person’s story

• 1980, 1982

• Changing Dynamics

• Recognize Role as Custodians of the Game

FROM WHENCE WE CAME

• Old Model of Recruiting• Word of mouth• Old Guard recruited friends and family• Old Guard protect assignments from “outsiders”

OLD TRAINING AND ORGANIZATIONAL MODEL

• Old Association Training Model• Old Guard Started Organized• Started with Rule by Rule Breakdown• Old Guard transitioned to war stories• Misinformation easily spread by veterans who over years, became somewhat lax

• Old Training start and Ended with Rule Books• RB is foundation

• Cyclical Trends – Rules Focus, Mechanics Focus, Uniform Focus

• How about Broader picture? WHY NOT?

WAYS TO ADVANCE OFFICIATING

• Stop Whining! We are our own worst enemy..

• Never Miss a Good Opportunity to Shut Up…

• Old pyramid• 3000• 256• 192• 64• 48• 16• 12• 4• 3• 1

CHANGE STOPPERS/PREVENTERS

• Lack of Turnover in Leadership

• Lack of National Change (Slow and many times reactive, 60 Minutes)

• Lack of National Input (Low levels of participation from officials and coaches on surveys, NFHS policies on rules compliance)

HOW DO WE CHANGE AND ADVANCE AND PROTECT SCHOOL SPORT

• Will it come from NFHS?

• Will it come from AHSAA?

• Will it come from assigners and leaders?

• Why would it? If successful, it will likely start from officials.

• Keep in mind State Offices DO NOT CARE who gets the credit for positive change.

MEN High School Participants

NCAA Participants

Overall % HS to NCAA

% HS to NCAA Division I

% HS to NCAA Division II

% HS to NCAA Division III

Baseball 482,629 33,431 6.9% 2.1% 2.1% 2.7%Basketball 541,054 18,320 3.4% 1.0% 1.0% 1.4%Cross Country

252,547 14,218 5.6% 1.9% 1.4% 2.4%

Football 1,093,234 71,291 6.5% 2.5% 1.7% 2.3%Golf 152,647 8,654 5.7% 1.9% 1.6% 2.1%Ice Hockey 35,393 3,976 11.2% 4.6% 0.5% 6.1%

Lacrosse 106,720 12,682 11.9% 2.9% 2.1% 6.9%Soccer 417,419 23,602 5.7% 1.4% 1.4% 2.8%Swimming 138,373 9,630 7.0% 2.8% 1.0% 3.2%Tennis 160,545 8,081 5.0% 1.7% 1.1% 2.3%Track 580,321 27,514 4.7% 1.9% 1.1% 1.7%Volleyball 52,149 1,720 3.3% 0.9% 0.7% 1.7%Water Polo

21,451 1,051 4.9% 2.7% 0.7% 1.5%

Wrestling 269,514 6,982 2.6% 0.9% 0.7% 1.0%

WOMEN High School Participants

NCAA Participants

Overall % HS to NCAA

% HS to NCAA Division I

% HS to NCAA Division II

% HS to NCAA Division III

Basketball 433,344 16,319 3.8% 1.1% 1.1% 1.5%Cross Country 218,121 15,922 7.3% 2.8% 1.7% 2.8%Field Hockey 61,471 5,902 9.6% 2.9% 1.1% 5.6%

Golf 72,172 5,076 7.0% 3.0% 2.0% 2.0%Ice Hockey 9,150 2,140 23.4% 8.7% 1.2% 13.5%Lacrosse 81,969 10,330 12.6% 3.7% 2.4% 6.5%

Soccer 374,564 26,358 7.0% 2.4% 1.8% 2.8%Softball 371,891 19,047 5.1% 1.6% 1.5% 2.0%Swimming 165,779 12,333 7.4% 3.3% 1.1% 3.1%Tennis 184,080 9,028 4.9% 1.6% 1.1% 2.2%Track 478,885 27,752 5.8% 2.7% 1.3% 1.8%Volleyball 429,634 16,647 3.9% 1.2% 1.1% 1.6%Water Polo 18,899 1,201 6.4% 3.8% 1.1% 1.5%

HOW DO WE CHANGE AND ADVANCE

• Officials and Officials Associations Must Stop Rationalizing NonCompliance

• Use NCAA chart - Why are we protecting them like they are NFL players, Call the game

SPECIFIC SAMPLE-BASEBALL

• Extended concerns about length of games• Timing of batter, staying in box, etc. – Do we really need a visible clock, are

we that unaware?• Are we really thinking safety all the time if we apply different standards?

• Coaches Outside of Dugouts (not just in state games)

• Get ready for pitch count discussions and push. And know that its different on every level.

SPECIFIC SAMPLE-FOOTBALL

• We can no longer say “that’s football”

• Illegal Blocking • Example of restrictive interpretations (BBW, CLIP)

• Hits away from the ball• Use latest Athletic Business Article - http://

www.athleticbusiness.com/athlete-safety/study-football-helmet-tests-may-need-a-change.html

• Why? Because the latest research continues to show that it isn’t the “big” hit, it’s the cumulative little hits, and it’s the blind side hit away from the ball that jars the brain …

• Changing Thought and Key for 2015 – An excessive or unnecessary (and therefore illegal block) may occur using otherwise legal technique ….

SPECIFIC SAMPLE-FOOTBALL

• Game officials are now being ask to determine the difference between a block that is necessary for successful execution of a play versus one that is intended to punish an opponent

• 2015 Emphasis is on Blindside Blocks, Peel-Back Blocks, and Receivers attempting to secure a ball• Identifying and taking aim on a player whose focus of concentration and/or

physical positions prohibits the player from preparing for the imminent contact• Unnecessary contact in any form with a player who is clearly not in a position to

make a play• Initiating Blind side block, tackle on a defenseless player, using Shoulder dip,

Shoulder Dive, Shoulder Thrust, Shoulder Launch

• The “lookout” block is headed to extinction

SPECIFIC EXAMPLES - BASKETBALL

• Rough Play

• Post Play

• Even have re-written rules

HOW DO WE CHANGE AND ADVANCE

• Must enforce coaching box and team restrictions in all sports

• Must enforce other safety rules at all levels, WITH OR WITHOUT DIRECT SUPERVISOR SUPPORT

• Must communicate

• Must not worry about public commentary

HOW DO WE CHANGE AND ADVANCE

• Supervisors – Must support proper rules enforcement. Period.

• Supervisors – Must not condone or recommend deviation

• Officials HAVE to realize that sports rules and enforcement are not a democracy, they have been handed down with expectations of enforcement

HOW DO WE CHANGE AND ADVANCE

Avoid the career Torpedoes –

• Lack of Manners

• Speaking without thinking

• Inefficiency

• Temper Tantrums

• Lone Wolf Syndrome

• Poor Grammar

• Inactiveness

• Bad Body Language

• Social Media Addiction

• Poor email Communication

• Tardiness

• Negativity

• Lying

• Procrastination

NEW CHALLENGES

• Drones

• Though states will decide, most are rapidly coming on board with restrictions, especially since most liability policies WON’T protect individuals. (Remedy?)

• Replay

• Social Media

• Other technology

REPLAY

• Truly, we all want to “get it right”

• Reality is, not applicable across the Board at our level

• Devil is in the details

• Simply leaves open a new type of second guessing (i.e. SEC headset discussion)

SOCIAL MEDIA

• A land mine for officials

• Know its privacy (or lack thereof)

• Supervisors checking twitter/facebook feeds

• Remember that social media has empowered the village idiot.

• At least before, you knew who they were. Now its “bigfan101whohatesrefs” or something like that

• Messages boards for fans, are cesspools for officials. Stay out!

GADGETS, ETC.

• Be careful. While the latest shiny object may seem helpful, it could always backfire.

• i.e. Tipex (whiteout for oldtimers) – finger tips – good for catches, but … what if he moves to pitcher, are we paying attention?

• Football Equipment

• Soccer Shin guards, etc., reasons for rules

• Officiating Gadgets – Be careful about the latest shiny object. How is it perceived

• Be aware that because its cool to fans, it will be pushed on officials. Make sure we have looked at the backside trap

HOW DO WE ADVANCE

• Another remedy – AWARENESS

• Be aware of what schools are doing• Hudl• Drones• Communication between coaches

WATCH OVER THE HORIZON

• Youtube

• Search “high school replay”

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e11m6jTVAZs or https://goo.gl/i2WGXo

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twFIdaddDNc or https://goo.gl/e7T5Wb

BUT IN MANY CASES, THE OLD RULES REMAIN THE NEW RULES

• Emphasize to young officials that to be a good official, you must continue to learn and improve with every game.

• Experience is the best teacher and confidence builder. 

• The more games you do the more comfortable and confident you'll be. 

• If something occurs in a game and you aren't sure if you made the correct decision, go back to the rules and double check. 

• Talk to more experienced rofficials about the decision you made and whether or not you should have done something differently, or email an experienced referee with the question.

• Watch experienced referees and notice how they deal with specific situations that cause you trouble in a game. 

• Have experienced referees watch and critique you and then remember to try the suggestions they give you.

• Seek out experienced referees to work with.

• Go slow in advancing to more difficult matches - don't rush it, but also challenge yourself to keep growing as an official by taking more challenging assignments once you have reached a comfort level where you are currently being assigned. 

• Attend seminars, workshops and clinics.

• Watch games of every level whenever possible. This helps you to not only watch skilled referees work; it also helps you to learn more about the game.

ORGANIZATION IMPROVEMENT

• “A rising tide lifts all boats”. Truly as officials, you are your only friends. Don’t screw that up.

• Help others even if it costs you games!!

• The years ahead belong to those who set their goals sky high and blend their new ideas with the best of years gone by.

• Lead, Follow or Just get the Hell out of the way

MAKE YOUR MEETINGS DYNAMIC!

• Limit discussion about the “the organization”

• Is it all about fees and money? Really?

• Where are your meetings? Good AV and internet access? If not, MOVE

• Challenge each other. Show the good ones. AND THE BAD ONES!

• If it’s all “talking head” it won’t be “open eared”

• You have two ears but only one mouth, for a reason.

IDENTIFY YOUR BUILDERS, PLAQUE YOUR WRECKERS

I watched them tearing a building down,

A gang of men in a busy town.

With a heave and a ho and a mighty yell,

They swung a crane and a sidewall fell.

I asked the foreman, “Are these men as skilled

As the men you hire when you have to build?”

He gave me a laugh and said, “No, indeed!

Just common labor is all I need.

I can easily wreck in a day or two

What builders have taken years to do.”

And I thought to myself as I went my way,

Which of these roles have I tried to play?

Am I a builder who works with care,

Measuring life with a ruler and square?

Am I shaping my deeds by a well-laid plan,

Patiently doing the best I can?

Or am I a wrecker who walks the town,

Content with the labor of tearing down?

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

• “Never grow a wishbone where your backbone ought to be” – Clementine Padford

• In a moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing. – Theodore Roosevelt

• Status Quo is not leadership, Status Quo Leadership Is The Biggest Impediment To Innovation 

• The pace of events is moving so fast that unless we can find some way to keep our sights on tomorrow, we cannot expect to be in touch with today – Dean Rusk

• What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you – Ralph Waldo Emerson

• Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret”

• Communication is essential- The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right time, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment - - Dorothy Nevill

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

• Good things come to those who wait but great things come to those who are willing to get up and get stuff done.

• Abe once said, “My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure”

• Be the change you are trying to create, Gandhi

THANK YOU!

• Julian Tackett• jtackett@khsaa.org