FHumpires.com
How to have fun umpiring: 5 tips to enjoy the toughest job in sports.
February 06 2010
We’ve all been there. No matter how hard you try, the players are on your back, each decision is being questioned by both sides and you are not having fun. By the end of the match you just want to sign the game sheet and leave the pitch as quickly as possible and without incident. You then spend the rest of the evening going over in your mind what you should have done, what you’d like to have said, and how much you dislike umpiring those types of games.
I can’t tell you how often I have gone through this situation. It has even caused me to question why I continue to put myself through it. It’s definitely not the money; no umpire has ever made a living doing games (and if you have can you give me a call? I can provide references). Trying to keep the fun in the game is a challenging task, but if you can do it your umpiring will improve and there will be fewer moments where you question why you are out there in the first place.
So what revelations have I had that allow me to enjoy every game and leave all the baggage behind me?
1. It’s not personal. Whether it is a part of sport culture or just society in general, the official in a sport is not usually accorded much respect right off the bat. Respect has to be earned rather than accorded and lost. We will always be the target of frustration until we have proved ourselves and, brothers and sisters, we always have someone else to prove it to no matter how long you work or how high up the ladder you get. Someone, somewhere will take issue with your decision and it doesn’t even matter if you are 100% correct. Just remember that it isn’t you, per se, that they are angry with. They are angry with the umpire, and the umpire is a part you play for games. While you should always be yourself never forget that you are part of the show and that who you are when you umpire is not who you are on the street.
2. Be prepared. Getting into the right mindset well before your match and showing up prepared is the single greatest thing you can do to be successful when you umpire. When you are unprepared you start the game reactive instead of proactive. That puts you behind the play from the get go and makes it difficult to regain control. Ensuring that your have your uniform, whistle, cards, pen and whatever you need to umpire a match means that is one less thing to distract you from your task. I would also include visualization in your preparation, but that is a subject for another blog.
3. Be cheerful. You’ve driven 30 minutes to get to your match in plenty of time and been cut off 4 times, the last one dangerously close to being an accident. You then go in to the coin toss hot headed and speaking in short, sharp commands. This is not the right mindset to be in. I have now adopted a new strategy that regardless of what may have transpired prior to the match I take 10 cleansing breaths. I put myself in the moment and remember what a gift it is to be involved in sport and that I truly love the game. When I call the captains over I feel blessed to be there and I am happy. This puts myself, at least, in the right frame of mind.
4. You can’t control what other people think. People are strange, and their behaviour doubly so. When you realize that the only person to whom you can please is yourself you will have reached an important milestone. It is irrelevant what others think of your calls. What is important is that you do your absolute best every match you officiate and that you try to improve every game.
5. Remain calm. A very wise mentor of mine once told me as the tempers of the players rise around you your whistle must get calmer. As a human being it is difficult not to get caught up in the moment, but as an umpire it is crucial that you do not. There are many tools in the tool box, and your demeanour is one of the first ones that should come out. Even when things are going well try to understand where the players are coming from and empathize as much as possible. You might not be in agreement with the players, but if you are doing your job it doesn’t matter. Sometimes hammering the point home with loud whistles and stern looks will have the opposite effect of what you want to achieve. You don’t have to be a doormat, but you do need to exercise some tolerance.
Try to approach your next match using these tips and see if you don’t have a little more fun umpiring. After all, it’s just a game.
Comments
- Tim Rutter
07:38pm, 02/08/2010
Great advice and applies to work as well as hockey
