The Real Coach D, Phil Diasparra, is back for his 3rd installment as he gives us 7 Qualities of a Great Official. We hope you enjoy!

Integrity – great officials are the guardians of honesty in athletics. He must maintain a complete absence of bias. An official holds the position in the world of sports not unlike a judge in a court of law. If you aspire to be a great official you never put yourself in a position where your integrity could be questioned. The integrity of the game must always be upheld.⁣

Hustle- Officiating is a game of angles and positioning, officiating hustle describes movement and court position. There is no connection to speed and meaningless motion. Every great official moves efficiently to be in the right place at the right time. It’s the only way to see the entire play and make the correct call.⁣

Judgment- Great judgment is a byproduct of effort and experience. It goes beyond the rule book and includes an almost instinctive ability to apply the critical principle of advantage/disadvantage. This is at the heart of officiating that no team or player gets an unfair advantage or is placed at an unfair disadvantage.⁣

Communication-90% of officiating is being a people person, know how to deal with people. Listening is important that’s why we have two ears and one mouth, listen twice as much as we speak.⁣

Communication means “can you deal with people?” Can you deal with coaches, players during a game? Communication can be accomplished in many ways and in most cases, the situation will dictate your appropriate response. Sometimes a simple response to the question, a one-word answer, or a look can communicate what is needed at a particular time. Saying the right thing to the right person at the right time can help one avoid potential problems in a game. Communication is also the knowledge of when it’s best not to say anything.⁣

Consistency- Young officials have more difficulty with consistency than any other quality, mainly because they lack the experience to realize when their decisions are inconsistent. Everyone has some difficulty in this regard, but the great officials are unrelenting in their judgment. They see and call a game better than their colleagues. The key is to make the same call on the same kind of play whether it’s the first minute of the game or the score is tied with one minute left to play. If they believe an official is consistent, coaches and players will adjust accordingly. Inconsistent decisions on similar plays trigger negative behavior and poor sportsmanship among players and invite criticism from coaches. If you try and fail it’s a mistake, if you repeat the mistake it’s a decision.⁣

Confidence- There is a fine line between confidence and arrogance. Regardless of the situation, personalities involved, pressures from the crowd, or possible repercussions, great officials place fairness above all other concerns. They act confidently and according to the dictates of that value. You should hold yourself to a Higher than normal ethical standard. Be a legacy leader.⁣

Common Sense - I’ve saved this one for last. Of the qualities listed, common sense is the most important. That which is fair and right must take precedence throughout each game. Common sense ensures that fairness, understanding, and the best interests of the game are foremost in the mind of a great official. If you truly understand the spirit and intent of the rules, common sense will guide you well.⁣

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