OFFICIATING LEADERS NETWORKED

MARCH 2014 Trouble in Paradise How to Deal With Dissension in Your Association By Lawrence Tomei

he role of leader requires much capture the full intellectual capital of presenting yet another potential for Tmore than just being elected into our membership, perhaps we should disagreement. the position. It is a safe wager that most demand dissent as well. Chapter officers are concerned have experienced some fairly significant The challenge for the leadership, about the training agenda, board struggles before maturing as an then, is how to recognize it, control it members grapple with bylaws and effective leader. Sports chapter officers and actively seek it out. dues, assigning secretaries balance often encounter a clash of personalities. Effective chapter leadership begins game assignments with personal Most officials, by their very nature, with a personal commitment to set schedules and the general membership come with heavy-duty personalities and goals and objectives, and then do what want games. Those distinctive roles often unequivocal opinions of right and you said you would do. Certainly, will assuredly produce conflicting wrong, both on and off the court and leaders must be adaptable to change. perceptions, goals and pressures — and field, in and outside the meeting room. However, in most cases, you were perhaps even more dissension. Dissension, disagreement and discord elected because of a shared desire to Effective leaders often find are unavoidable and, in some cases, instigate change; leaving some members themselves pressured to meet even desirable. impatient (“how come it’s taking so guidelines or major milestones. A Too much harmony can stifle any long?”) and others reluctant (“because capable leader must be able to deal organization. And while we do not we’ve always done it that way.”) Either with the inevitable conflicts that want our chapter meetings interrupted perspective spawns opportunities for arise as the team seeks agreement by flying chairs, a culture that dissension in the ranks. or consensus and struggles to put emphasizes professional courtesy (the Unless you are in the enviable together a plan of action that allows kind we demand during games) at the position of an unlimited treasury, everyone to reach consensual ground expense of genuine dialog and healthy leaders must constantly battle the in order to get the job accomplished. A dissent can be just as bad (and certainly question of conflicting resources. leader must possess facilitation skills not as much fun to watch). Chapter Whether to reduce chapter dues or fund to conduct meetings and interpersonal training sessions and board meetings the end-of-the-season mixer, chapters skills to reduce the conflict between demand civility. But if we want to must operate with limited funds, (See “Paradise” p.5)

Improving Your Association Starts Here ‘Whole New Ballgame’ The 2014 Sports Officiating Summit in Albuquerque, N.M., is approaching fast. Have in Albuquerque you registered yet? If not, don’t forget that when you register ike it or not, the role of the sports “Whole New Ballgame: Safe, Secure, to attend with a group of three or more, Lofficial is changing. Officials are By the Rules.” The Summit will take you’ll all get the best possible price on being instructed to strongly enforce the place at the Hyatt Regency July 27-29 in registration. No one gets a better deal than a rules that attempt to keep athletes safer. Albuquerque, N.M. group of NASO members. Officials and associations need to “buy in” Here is a sampling of the many The Summit is the premier event in the to that philosophy to be successful. Yes, it sessions that have been scheduled for the officiating industry and is sure to change and benefit your officiating career and help you may be a new way of thinking and added 2014 Summit: improve your association in profound ways. responsibility, but it is where sports are Gather your top officials and attend together. headed. The topic of safety, along with a Whole New Ballgame Don’t miss out this year. host of others, will be explored at the 2014 Sport and the culture of sport are changing Visit sportsofficiatingsummit.com or call at Sports Officiating Summit. at a pace few could have imagined. 262-632-5448 x124. The 32nd annual industry event of In the maelstrom of those changes is the year, presented by NASO, is titled, (See “Albuquerque” p.3)

Newsletter of the National Association of Sports Officials – Organizations Network

ONBoard 03_14.indd 1 1/21/14 8:57 AM Great Expectations: Meetings With League and School Administrators

By Todd Korth

ports officials must communicate administrators to air out concerns have the same kind of goals. It’s good to Son and off the field to be successful. over issues that are not rules-based or hear about some of the things going on The same goes with sports officiating mechanics-based. Those committees in sports that I don’t officiate.” leaders, league leaders and school often go by the name of officials New Mexico also has sports-specific administrators. That board room/round advisory committee or officials review committees that consist of coaches and table interaction is essential to be sure committee. at least one official for each sport that that expectations of league leaders “It has really served as a good meet periodically. and school administrators match those vehicle for us to discuss and dive into “It’s a little more informal and expectations of sports officials. officiating issues,” says Mark Uyl, everybody has their input,” says Jim That often begins with officials assistant director for the Michigan High Sayre, former president of the New committees that are established by School Athletic Association (MHSAA), Mexico Officials Association. “Officials state associations. Those committees and leaders of its officials review have more of a say or more input at generally consist of officiating leaders, committee. that level than on the other bigger school administrators, conference The MHSAA’s officials review committee.” commissioners and state association committee has been in existence for Any issues or proposals that leaders. They may meet once or a few about 15 years. “It’s been a very are agreed upon by members of the times a year, but they serve as a starting positive change,” Uyl says. “It is our officials committees will serve as point of sorts for officials and school only committee that includes the recommendations that typically go to officiating world. The other (MHSAA) a state association’s board of directors committees require that you be a full- or a representative council for further March 2014. NASO ONBoard is published monthly by the National Association of Sports Officials, 2017 Lathrop Ave., time school employee to serve on the consideration and review. Racine, Wis. 53405. NASO-ON, the National Association of committee.” The MHSAA also actively seeks Sports Officials-Organizations Network, is a service affiliate The MHSAA committee meets issues from various officials associations of NASO providing educational services and benefits to local associations of sports officials, their officers and members. annually, usually in September. The in each of its eight statewide zones to Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic discuss at its review committee meeting. Editor: Julie Sternberg Association (WIAA) officials advisory “Whenever we meet with officials email: [email protected] committee meets annually, usually near groups we are constantly soliciting the end of November, while a New ideas or proposals that we want folks Graphic Designer: Ross Bray Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) to send in here to the (MHSAA) office,” email: [email protected] officials committee meets twice in the says Uyl. “Anything that we receive fall and twice in the spring. Members goes on the agenda of the officials Contributors: Tim Sloan, Don Collins, Patrick Rosenow, Alan Goldberger, often serve two- or three-year terms and review committee. Those include items Patrick Indivero, Lawrence Tomei, Brian Goodlander, Jerry they are from various parts of the state. such as tournament selection or ratings Grunska, Bob Masucci, Todd Korth, Ken Koester, Jeffrey Stern, Matt Moore, David Uyl Committees often consist of about 15 questions. It could be things as simple members. as officiating uniforms, if someone NASO Board of Directors: Officiating-related issues vary wants to propose a change. It really Jeff Triplette, Oxford, Miss., Chair with each committee, such as officials’ is the clearing house for all things Mark Uyl, DeWitt, Mich., Vice-Chair recruitment and retention, tournament officiating.” Barry Mano, Racine, Wis., President Jim Hoefgen, Wauwatosa, Wis., Secretary pay, tournament selection process, Todd Korth is a Referee associate editor and Bill Carollo, Shorewood, Wis., Treasurer background checks, rules exams and multisport official. * Ron Foxcroft, Hamilton, Ontario, Special Adviser officiating business practices. Rich Fetchiet, Ann Arbor, Mich. “It gives all of us an opportunity Mike Pereira, Sacramento, Calif. to take things that we not only see and Now ONBoard Joan Powell, Colorado Springs, Colo. experience ourselves, but things that we Sandra Serafini, Bahama, N.C. hear from our (officiating) peers and try NASO-ON currently has more than 1,000 members. Ralph Swearngin, Thomaston, Ga. to get action on it,” says Mike Brewer, In all, those groups represent more than 100,000 Julian Tackett, Lexington, Ky. a multisport official and association individual officials. We welcome our newest NASO-ON Tom Washington, Atlanta member associations, listed below along with their leader from Milwaukee, and member of home cities and contact persons: Copyright © 2014 by the National Association of Sports Officials. the WIAA officials advisory committee. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced in any medium without California: Southern California Rugby Referees written permission of the National Association of Sports Officials, “It is quite interesting for me to hear Society, Culver City (William Caulfield) 2017 Lathrop Ave., Racine, WI 53405. Phone 262/632-5448. FAX about things happening in Spooner or New York: Unity in the Community Sports, 262/632-5460. Email [email protected]. Website www. Brooklyn (Johnny Reed) naso-on.org Florence, and how things are different in various parts of the state, but we also

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Albuquerque Continued from page 1

Dean Blandino, NFL’s vice president that can be learned and enacted, even with of officiating. He’ll cover player safety, very limited resources. Take away: How shrinking rules-based gray areas, ever- officials can improve their own security increasing use of technology in officiating, and that of the games they work. management transparency, and the limitations inherent in officiating. Take Calls Worth Talking About away: Understand how our dynamic sport Let’s celebrate some really terrific calls! culture impacts officiating at all levels. Supervisors and coordinators showcase great calls made by staff members. It is What I Learned From That Play more than just getting the play right … Your call, your explanation. Each presenter though that sure helps. This session bears breaks down video of a noteworthy witness to officials at their very best. It’s a personal call. It is first-hand learning writ wonderful way for us to enjoy the fruits large! Learn what actually happened, of our labors. Take away: You will want to why the call was made or not, and the stand up and cheer these plays! ramifications. Frame-by-frame analysis. Take away: The Summit’s dose of “reality The Lawsuit Liability Landscape officiating” served up to you. This session is presented every year and it is one of the most popular of each Player Safety Rules and Enforcement: Summit. Legal liability and risk exposure Are They Working? are two things every official is familiar with Player safety is Job #1. Concussions and today. The best defense is a good offense. other player safety issues have been under Alan Goldberger and Drew Smith play intense scrutiny in recent years. Officials offense for you. Goldberger is the most are required to enforce unfailingly. It is our widely known and respected officiating- mandate. Now, what does the evidence law attorney in the country. Smith, with show? Have the tightened rules and American Specialty Insurance, is without heightened focus on enforcements yielded parallel in his knowledge of officiating and results? Is it a safer game and one with less risk. Take away: They talk. You listen. You liability exposure for schools, governing get to have your questions answered. bodies and the officials? Take away: Learn if officials are having an impact on safety. Case Study: Louisiana Lockup Two high school football officials were What Are We Afraid Of? handcuffed and led from the field while a Some officials like the path of lesser game was in progress. They were booked, resistance. The fewer waves created the fingerprinted and mugshots were taken better. But often such a path conflicts with and posted. Then law enforcement realized primary responsibilities: to enforce the it had made a serious error. Now we get rules as written; to keep boorish behavior to hear from the officials. The cooperative in check; to provide credible after-action effort of the officials, their association, their reports. Officiating takes courage — to do state high school association and NASO the right thing when all pressures lobby is now the playbook. Take away: “It can’t against it. It takes a frame of mind that happen,” but just in case it does again the transcends a full schedule. It takes restraint ground will be familiar. and personal discipline. Take away: You will see yourself and your officials in the And That’s Not All! mirror this session displays. In addition, the Officiating Industry Luncheon will feature the leaders of NASO Out of Harm’s Way: The Security and the NFHS providing a “state of the Chiefs’ Approach to Game Security union” update on the issues of the industry The major professional leagues have during the past year. There will also be invested serious resources aimed at several workshops for attendees to engage providing state-of-art security for in and let their voices be heard. participants, officials, fans and the gamesite For more information on the Summit itself. Concern about security transcends program, hotel and how to register, visit one level or sport and officials are integral sportsofficiatingsummit.com. You can also to the security of any game. There is much contact NASO at 800-733-6100. *

ONBoard | March 2014 3

ONBoard 03_14.indd 3 1/21/14 8:57 AM Email Solution: Make Communication a Tool and Not a Weapon

By Tim Sloan

n a previous job assignment, I the original by inter-office mail to my By contrast, today, the use of email Iworked for a plant manager who was pen pal, keep one copy for myself, give is a huge electronic crutch: You can among the smartest people I’ve ever another to my boss and, I surmised, skate on almost any issue by pounding met. He had probably forgotten more line my garbage pail with the other out a scathing missive, hitting Send about chemical processing than most two. Usually, after pondering awhile and crawling safely into your foxhole people know. Like all superheroes, how to get that big idea onto that until the air raid abates. If you copy however, he had one or two mortal small a sheet of paper, I’d throw up the correct people, they will form a weaknesses and, in Jim’s case, his my hands, toss the whole bundle in the cordon around you to protect you kryptonite was his typing skills. garbage, bite the bullet and talk to the from someone whose feelings have I’d step into his office to talk to person anyway. been hurt. And, when you receive him about something and find him Let us review: In the old days, no response to your dispatch, it spouting colorful nouns and adjectives the deck was stacked in favor of me means (Check One) 1) People are in while reading his email and trying having to go face-to-face, and possibly full agreement, or 2) People are too to respond. “Hunt-and-peck,” at his toe-to-toe, with someone to get my apoplectic to form words, or 3) You keyboard would have been breakneck point across or find out what I needed. didn’t pay your internet bill, or 4) You speed. I could send him a two-page It might have taken longer to impart have too many “Jims” out there who treatise on some vital subject and he that personal touch but, in the long can’t mount a suitable rebuttal because would write back, “OK.” If he had a run, discussion would be faster and they were born with 10 thumbs. more lengthy answer, he’d be at my more efficient. Relationships would be If you use electronic communication door, giving it to me verbally: The more personal. Truth and justice would as a central part of your organizational man had all his marbles but electronic prevail in the world. … I also had little activities, it’s important to follow communication was an ordeal for him. doubt that my message had reached the Shackle Principle: Your success When he didn’t respond to an email … its intended receiver and, as evidenced is based on the success of the group; I wasn’t sure what to think. by a combination of nods, responses, only when the organization responds Do any of your members handle respirations and checking questions, to and fulfills your wishes is everyone email like that? Is silence consent, or had been understood. (See “Email” p.8) not? Whatever your answer is, are you sure? Don’t get me wrong; the advent On Your Side of computers, i-gadgets, email and — yes — sliced bread have simplified life so much and I’m all for them. I also believe they’ve taken the human Your Officials Are in More element out of a lot of important Danger Than You May Know activities. After I started working at my company, it was probably five years Every year more officials are faced with the make sure you look before we were given computers at our challenge of defending themselves in a lawsuit into what they are or from an assault during their officiating. Every covered for. desks. Prior to that, communication time your members step on the court, field As an NASO-ON association, was barbaric: If I needed to address a or diamond they put themselves at risk. They you already recognize the benefits of having complicated/contentious/critical issue also put your association at risk, as perceived support from the nation’s oldest and largest with someone in the office, I’d often be misconduct can escalate from the individual to officials group serving all sports and levels. All forced to pick up the phone and call the assigner to the association quickly. your officials should have that support as well. him or her. That was if it was actually No official, regardless of level, should take That’s why NASO is offering special discounts too far to walk down to their office a game without some form of liability and for associations whose officials sign up as a and visit. I know; personal contact — assault insurance. The best coverage available group. We’re not talking small discounts either. anywhere is from the National Association of The best possible price anyone can get on who knows what might happen? If the Sports Officials. Not only is it the best, but it NASO membership is when you join as a group issue was something I really wanted a is the only insurance that covers officials Any through their association. record of, I would resort to preparing Game, Any Time, Anywhere. If your officials work Make sure every one of your members has the a SpeedyMemo. That was about a high school and youth, or do AAU, church league best coverage, and make sure they get it at the five-sheet carbonless paper form that or college, NASO covers them for every game best possible price. For group membership details, I would write my thoughts on as they do. No other insurance offers that level of contact Ken Koester, business development cogently as the limited space would protection. If your officials have other insurance, specialist, at 262-632-5448, ext. 132. allow. Then I was supposed to send

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Paradise Continued from page 1 How to ...

team members. The challenges of acceptable solution (e.g., splitting the communication present even further difference, exchanging concessions or Make Decisions You opportunities for dissension. seeking a middle-ground solution) that Won’t Regret And finally, and perhaps above partially satisfies both parties. all, to fully utilize the skill sets of a • Evasion ignores the conflict, We’ve all had at least one “Geez, I wish I had good leader, the leader must be able avoiding the concerns of the that to do over again” moment in our lives. to adapt to any given situation in an membership and discounting the Likely it was something we said or didn’t effort to engender trust, respect, loyalty, dissension among members. Doing so say, did or failed to do. But since there are credibility and a motivated membership. is done at your own peril as dissension few mulligans in life, we are stuck with the The common thread in each of can turn into desertion, even in a large consequences. Here are some tips to help ensure you don’t add to the list of regrettable those characteristics is the invariable and successful chapter. moments. likelihood of dissension within your Keep in mind that no group is chapter, beginning at the top with the perfect. The best way to recognize, Step 1 — Take your time. board of directors and filtering down counteract or seek out dissension is for Officials are used to making snap judgments through the chapter to the individual members to practice common courtesies in pressure-filled situations. But away from member. with each other, support each other, the court or field, we generally have the There are different ways to encourage and trust in each other’s benefit of time on our side. It’s a luxury and handle conflict. Once you have an abilities as individuals and members. you should take advantage of it. While some understanding of the root cause(s) of the Sports chapters, in particular, knee-jerk reactions ultimately prove correct, dissension, you may choose to handle should become the “poster child” more often haste does indeed make waste. the conflict by: for an environment that encourages Consider all of the aspects of the issue and • Directive, using your position openness and idea-sharing among its all of the implications before you react. of power to enforce a resolution to the members without the fear of ridicule conflict. That is often the fastest route to or reciprocity. Everyone has something Step 2 — Practice before you act. You may be tempted to fire off an angry a solution but usually at the expense of to contribute; the best course is to letter or email. Sometimes it’s necessary to others. Using directives too often may listen to those individual’s ideas before make your feelings known. Other situations also find you on the outside looking in discounting their worth or discarding call for diplomacy, or at least more reason come next elections. them as irrelevant. than vitriol. Write the letter or email you’d • Accommodation, the opposite of a Lawrence Tomei is the vice provost of like to send and get all of that bile out of directive, yields to other’s points of view academic affairs and a professor of education your system. Then delete it without sending or accepts an arbitrated decision from a at Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh. it and write the message you need to send. third party. He has been a member of the West Penn If you are going to have a face-to-face, try • Discernment pursues a mutually Football Officials Association since 1994. * plotting your strategy and bouncing ideas off a spouse, friend or trusted colleague before that meeting. You may find it saves you from future fallout or embarrassment. 3 Ways to Recruit Young Officials Step 3 — Check around. Another local association or individual may ecruiting young officials is way to find younger officials is through have faced a similar or identical situation. Rimportant to every association. It college intramural organizations. Contact the appropriate person to see how helps to energize the group and build Students might be assigned to officiate they handled it and how it worked out for it for the future. Here are a few ways to through a financial aid package and them. You may learn from their error or find help you find young prospects for your have never considered officiating the answer is at hand. Self-help books and officiating group. before. Getting them trained properly internet sites also offer problem-solving tips. 1. Work with your local schools. increases the chance they might stick Set up partnerships with local schools around. And finding officials who were Step 4 — Know who else is affected. to recruit young officials. Have an athletes in high school can lead to even Every decision we make in life affects association member speak at end-of- greater participation in an effort to stay somebody other than ourselves, whether it’s season athletic banquets, career days or involved with the game. where we choose to have lunch or who we any other opportunities to let students 3. Hold an association “new vote for at election time. We are entitled to a certain amount of “looking out for Number know of the ways that exist to become officials” clinic. Another way to One,” but if your decision will dramatically an official any a variety of sports. promote your group is to invite officials change someone else’s situation, give it extra Develop a pipeline and share success to attend a free clinic. It will give those thought. Is it best for everyone (or at least a stories to help others follow. prospective officials a chance to see large majority) and not just yourself? Let your 2. Work with religious if they might be cut out for such an conscience be your guide at those times. organizations, youth groups and endeavor without a lot of pressure intramural organizations. Another involved. *

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ONBoard 03_14.indd 5 1/21/14 8:57 AM The Pulse Four Questions: Clinic Training Local Association News Nationwide Associations have a variety of training LEINART: We use clips that come Three Soccer Referees methods and techniques. Three through ArbiterSports and our trainer Honored by Association association leaders weigh in on how they works with a different group. We use Three referees from the Eastern New York State are educating officials. college and high school, men’s and Adult Soccer Association and Eastern New York Youth women’s play, to break down. We have Soccer Association were honored by their peers at MICHAEL PICKARSKI asked the schools to send us full games on The New York Metro Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Secretary/treasurer, Southwestern Ohio video and we are starting to do full-game Association’s awards dinner on Nov. 11, 2013, in Football Association, football, 85 members breakdown sessions. Bethpage, N.Y., for their contributions to soccer. Sima Draguca of Levittown was selected as the official of the year. Brooklyn’s Ivan Castillo was named the CHARLIE LONG How much oncourt/onfield training assistant referee of the year. Robyn Crawford-Smith Executive director and assigner, Joplin do you employ in your group? of the Bronx, the webmaster of the Eastern New York (Mo.) Officials Association, baseball and State Adult Soccer Association and Eastern New York softball, 100 members LONG: We work with some schools on referee program, was the new official of the year. their scrimmages. We try encourage the TOM LEINART rookies and new people to participate. Arriola Honored at New Mexico Basketball Tourney Assigning secretary, North Olympic The late Reynaldo “Ray” Arriola was honored Dec. Basketball Officials Association, Port PICKARSKI: There are onfield training 13, 2013, before a Mel Otero Invitational girls’ Angeles, Wash., basketball, 40 members clinics through the state where you can basketball tournament game, played at Rio Rancho sign up to work drills. You can work (N.M.) High School. Arriola, a member of the New as a crew or individuals. There’s not a Mexico Officials Association, was tragically killed Does your group have one person in lot of chances for us to do it at night in in a traffic accident last September. Dana Pappas, charge of training or does the board conjunction with our meetings. We try to commissioner of officials and a deputy director of collectively come up with clinic the New Mexico Activities Association, said Arriola go through new mechanics on the field officiated high school basketball for 18 years and topics? instead of just talking in the classroom. was first registered in the 1993-94 season. He also officiated volleyball from 2005-12. “Ray was a really LONG: Our board collectively does our LEINART: At the beginning of the year good man,” Pappas said. “He was always pleasant training. The board members will take for new officials, we have two three- and always had a smile on his face. He is missed by turns going through rules and mechanics hour sessions. We use the first AAU the officiating community.” at the meetings. tournament as a camp in which we put officials in games and do evaluations. SDHSOA Honors Award Recipient The South Dakota High School Officials Association PICKARSKI: The trainers in Ohio go (SDHSOA) recognized Reggie Olson, Nunda, S.D., through the state training course and Do you encourage your members to with the Doug Koester Award during the Class 11B those instructors teach the classes for attend camps in the offseason run state football championship game in November newer officials. Our association has three by higher level officials and bring 2013. The award was developed in memory of certified trainers and they work together. back what they learn to your group? Koester, who died in 1988 while officiating the 11B final. The award recognizes the contributions officials LEINART: LONG: make not only to high school sports but to their We have two trainers who do We encourage them if they want community as a whole. Olson, a longtime multisport presentations every meeting. I then do to go and try to give them information official, has officiated the nine-man football a section from the mechanics manual as about clinics. They don’t have to go. championship three years. During the presentation, well each time. If they want to better themselves, we Olson, who is battling cancer, was in surgery so his promote that. children accepted the award on his behalf. How much video do you employ at your clinics? Where do you get the PICKARSKI: Our association has had WMVOA Awards Scholarship Money video you display? guys who have made the NFL; we always The West Michigan Volleyball Officials Association (WMVOA) awarded five Grand Rapids area senior have guest speakers come back and teach volleyball players with a $1,500 scholarship at LONG: We have the ability to use us what’s expected and how they got to its annual banquet. The recipients included South video and use it when we can. We have the level they got. We put all the camps Christian’s Emily Blankespoor, Hudsonville’s Summer recorded some games and use what the and clinics that are in our area on our Besteman, Unity Christian’s Madison Rae Jongekrijg, Missouri State High School Activities website. East Grand Rapids’ Caroline Knooihuizen and Association puts out. Middleville’s Erin Scheidel. Players were honored for LEINART: We give stipends in the their contributions on and off the volleyball court. The WMVOA has been issuing scholarships since 1985. PICKARSKI: Video is not provided by summer to officials to go to camps, In all, the association has awarded nearly $100,000 the state, but our members will bring in depending on how many officials want in scholarships. clips from their games to discuss. We’ll to go. It can be $200 to $400 each official SOURCES: BIGAPPLESOCCER.COM, RIO RANCHO (N.M.) OBSERVER, pull clips off TV, no matter what level, and we’ve probably sent 50 officials to (S.D.) , MLIVE.COM MADISON DAILY LEADER and look at it how we would officiate it at different camps. We try to offer about 10 our level. per year. *

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ONBoard 03_14.indd 7 1/21/14 8:57 AM NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SPORTS OFFICIALS – ORGANIZATIONS NETWORK

Email Continued from page 4

served. That means if you’re basing a I send them about this week’s game, any of those complicated/contentious/ lot of your communication on email I ask them to acknowledge they’ve critical issues I described above, do you have to be certain they’re all in the read it. Even replying with a “k” it only on a full stomach and a good loop. It helps to think of your members is sufficient; that way there are no night’s sleep. Getting the word out as standing shoulder-to-shoulder, fatal assumptions. Similarly, when faster can be a bad thing, too. shackled together in leg irons. Despite you’re communicating with your While email and the like can make individual strengths and weaknesses organization, keep an accurate record life simpler for you as an association with the available tools, they all shuffle of your To: list and check off the names leader, it can also make it simpler for along at the same pace; the quick ones as they respond. Then only pester the people to oppose you. Treat electronic are held back a bit by the center of stragglers; that avoids “penalizing” the communication in any form as a tool mass but, optimistically, some of the responders with more “spam” but still and not a weapon and things will plodders can be dragged along by same makes everyone more likely to believe generally be better for you. — to a point. all your messages are important. Tim Sloan, Davenport, Iowa, is a high school In reality, some of those plodders • When you implement new football, basketball and volleyball official, and can drag down everyone: Only one forms, software, apps, etc., remember former college football and soccer official. * person has to miss the email on the Shackle Principle. Beta-test concussion management. Only one the thing! Try to break it before has to botch the website update and a member(s) breaks it for you. ON ... Code of Conduct miss an assignment. Only one has Amazingly, some members will admit to misconstrue a weakly worded to being technophobes but also don’t For officials more than most others, high comment and turn it into a mini- want to be a problem to you; you can quality character is essential. We say we viral travesty for you. On the upside, often get them to tool around with hold ourselves to a higher standard because phone bills and office supply costs your new toy and give some useful of our positions. It takes hard work and are way down. You often only get one feedback about how it will work for commitment to develop character, but it chance to get it right with electronic the rest. can be done — you just have to start with some directions. That’s where a code of communication. Here are some tips to • Think twice; write once. Don’t conduct can come in handy. By adopting make life easier: trust a waiter’s recommendation after a set of guidelines groups can help their • If you want to be sure people 10 p.m. Don’t trust your emotions at officials structure their behavior to exhibit have received your message, ask for that time of night, either — or right sound character and maintain that important a response. With my football crew, after any event where someone was “higher standard.” no matter how trivial a text message mean to someone. If you must address

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8 ONBoard | March 2014

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