Not surprisingly, the number one concern heard from coaches each year is the topic of “consistency”. Yet, if you were to ask 100 coaches how to define consistency you might be surprised at the variety of answers you would receive. Combine that with the fact that each official is different and you can have a wide range of results. So what one coach looks for in an official versus another coach is compounded by how one official differs from another. This can obviously lead to some frustrations from time to time.
The goal for any official is to be consistent throughout a match. That is what a coach wants to see. Did the official call the match the same for both sides throughout the duration of the match? I heard a coach remark about an official’s consistency in a match one time. The coach said, “He was very consistent. He was consistent at not making any calls.” Now, that’s not the kind of consistency we’re looking for to be sure. Being consistent from start to finish is important. That is the type of officiating most coaches are looking for from an official.
I recall when I first started in volleyball officiating. I was told the best way to call a game is “to let the game come to you.” In other words, there is a flow to a game and you need to learn how to recognize it, settle into it, and don’t get ahead of yourself. That is also great advice for learning how to be consistent. Inconsistency can quickly show up when we interject ourselves into a game at the wrong times. I once read a quote from NFL Hall of Fame Quarterback, Ron Jaworski: “There’s a way you have to play the quarterback position in the NFL. Maybe I’m a little bit old school, but I think you have to play the game in the pocket with consistency.” There is a lesson to be learned even from ‘Jaws”. Find your pocket as an official. Learn to stay in it and you will benefit from the discipline and consistency it produces.
How do you get there? What are some key principles to becoming a more consistent official? Across professions, consistency is a direct product of work ethic. You have to work hard at it. It doesn’t come easy! Stay with it, maintain your focus, and you will begin to recognize more and more what to call and what not to call.
This Weeks Updates & Reminders
Tournaments
We are in tournament season. A couple of items to remember:
- Schedules can change so be flexible.
- Double check your assignments throughout the week.
- Read the “site” column carefully. Know which school you are scheduled. Many tournaments use Middle Schools and 9th grade facilities.
- Be EARLY, especially if you work the afternoon shift. Morning matches can move ahead of schedule and the tournaments often like to move the matches as quickly as possible. An hour early is NOT too early –especially if you want to be sure you do not miss out on any assigned matches.
- Don’t talk…….around the courts and in the hospitality rooms keep opinions and comments to yourself. Coaches hear things. Players and table personnel hear things. All too often what they hear is something that should have never been said by an official.
- DO NOT leave a tournament until your replacement is on the court to replace you.
- Complete your paperwork correctly.
- Travel pay for tournaments is a $10 flat fee per day.
- If you have a discrepancy with an assignment, contact Don Melton for clarification.
- Be professional!
Call Your Partner
Call your co-officials for any assignments you have each week and confirm the game, time, and location of the game you are scheduled to work.
A message left IS NOT a confirmation.
- A conversation about your assignment with your co-official IS a confirmation.
- An email sent is NOT a confirmation.
- An email sent AND replied to IS a confirmation.
If your co-official has not replied to your attempts to confirm 24 hours (preferably 48 hours) before your assignment you need to contact Don Melton and let him know. It could be that the match needs to be filled with another official.
Uniforms
There is a difference in a uniform being “illegal” and “non-compliant”. Please review your Rules Book on uniforms and know what is compliant and what is not. Know what is legal and what. The Varsity Level is where we should be most watchful about uniform compliancy issues. It is at the Varsity Level where we really want to help coaches. We don’t want them to make it through the season with a non-compliant uniform and in the playoffs face a penalty or sanction of some sort and say we have been playing with these all year and nothing has been said. Here is the procedure:
- If you KNOW the uniform is non-compliant mention it to the coach and let the coach know why it is non-compliant.
- Play the match.
- Send an email to John Bernard and Don Melton and let us know about the issue (define for us what was non-complaint).
- Do NOT take a photo of the player in uniform (don’t take your camera out in a gym).
- We will contact the school and work with them on getting the uniform compliant.
The bottom line is we want to follow and administer the rules. We don’t want to affect a match negatively or create a problem with a coach in the way we handle a situation. Allow the chapter’s administration to work “with” you in resolving the matter and we all come out ahead.
The Common Sense Rule applies here: Levels below Varsity are not as critical when it comes to uniform compliancy (and in some instances “legal” standards). Uniforms are handed down (budgets) and it may take a year or two for all levels to meet compliancy standards related to uniforms.
Schedules
Please be sure to look at Zebra-Ware and your emails regularly. You will be notified of scheduling changes and additions. As you see these come through your email please “accept” your assignments in a timely manner on Zebra-Ware. If there is a conflict contact Don and see if he can help resolve the conflict. If you “decline” the assignment you close out the day and he can not assign you to a different match.
The “7 Day Schedule” on Zebra-Ware is the most correct part of your schedule. Beyond 7 days things can and often will change.
New Officials: Observation Opportunities
If you have not received an assignment yet please consider attending some matches and observe. It can be a great time to see live action, make some notes and visit with the officials working the match at its conclusion to ask your questions.
Opportunities are posted on our website under the Members Area on the Education & Training Resources page.
State Test
Each official is required to take the state test to officiate at any level. TASO has had issues with the test and they will be extending the date for completing the test. You will be notified of the new deadline. Until that time you will be permitted to officiate in matches.
Please go ahead and take the test.
Zebra-Ware
Please be sure you have checked your Zebra-Ware profile and/or updated your information to make sure it is correct. You can’t be reached to confirm schedules by your fellow officials if we do not have correct information.
Pay Sheets Reminder
You can avoid problems if you will do the following:
- Print copies of each form and have them with you when you go to an assignment. All forms are available on our web-site under “Game Payment Resources”
How do you know which one to use?
UIL Schools & Non-TAPPS Private school for UIL and private NON-TAPPS schools
TAPPS Pay Sheet for TAPPS schools
Carrying extra copies of both can and will save you trouble.
- Most schools use some version of their own Pay Sheet and request you complete their version. PLEASE accommodate them and complete their form. THEN, leave your TASO approved form with theirs.
- If you have any questions about the forms you are being asked to fill out at schools clarify with the coach or administrator before you leave. If you are still in question, communicate in an email to Don Melton afterward so he is aware. Some issues are NOT ours to resolve with school personnel at a game site.
- Leave a copy of your W-9 with your paperwork (one time per school district per season. If in doubt leave one). EXCEPT for DISD: You DO NOT need to leave a W-9. Your vendor application resolves that issue. They do not want you to leave a W-9!
Mileage
We are using Metro Mileage this season. This means any school within a 30-mile radius from the center point of 1350 Main St., Dallas pays a flat $15 travel fee. There are ONLY a handful of schools that are NOT within the 30-mile radius.
Tournaments Travel is $10 per official per day.
Let Us Know
Your input and active participation in communicating situations and issues concerning our chapter are both needed and solicited. EVERYTHING we do should be for the benefit of all. Your eyes, ears, and ideas will move us forward to where we need to be. your Board is in place to serve you and help in any way possible. If you to contact anyone of them their contact information is on our website under the Members Area
Make this season your best season ever! Work hard. Be professional in all areas. Set goals and find at least one area you can improve upon. Help one another become better along the way. Have a great season!