Behind the Whistle

So, you've decided you want to become a sports official.

Rick and I dive into the 40 reasons to love officiating from the book "What to expect in the first 12 month of your officiating". sayyestoofficiating.com

1. Camaraderie

2. Boos

3. Reverence for the rules

4. Escape

5. Passion

6. Addiction

7. Fitness

8. Never the same

9. Personalities

10. Adrenaline

11. Community

12. Love of sports

13. Discomfort

14. Movin' on up

15. Others think we're crazy

16. Impartiality

17. Money Talks

18 In the game

19. All five of the senses

20. Focus

Easton, apparently won their dual meet versus Nazereth 27-26 after their 215 pounder won by technical fall, which was the last bout of the dualmeet.

Traditionally, Easton and Nazereth are two of the top four teams in the state of Pennsylvania the last 50 years.

The Easton 215 pounder mildly, and softly, tossed his headgear towards his teammates on the bench after the bout

The official, who stated, he was not aware of the team score at the time, called “unsportsmanlike conduct” for throwing the headgear.

The unsportsmanlike conduct penalty tied the dual meet 26-26

The first criteria to break a duel meet criteria is first team penalized for an sportsman light conduct penalty by a contestant or a coach

Nazereth ended up winning the match, they had no business winning.

Bottom line!

Officials must always know the entire circumstance and situation in a dual meet situation

-Pre-Season tournament officiating, and two man mechanics

-review the shoelace rule and shoe coming off, and when should you allow scoring to continue, and when a Wrestler should not take advantage of the shoe coming off?

-Potentially Dangerous versus illegal holds

-Cautions, False and when to stay out of the match when it’s not giving either Wrestler an advantage

1-Private school versus public school

Good for the sport, or bad for the sport ?

Recruiting New Officials

Working with Younger

Officials

Invite them to assist

Allowing officials to cross overstate lines, to support our lack of numbers, because we all have to have clearances anyway

We need more effective open door policy to speak to rules committee, during the year, with discrepancies of some of the rules from state to state

1- Review Rule Changes

Take-Down, Near Fall, Ultimate Tie Breaker, Stalemate vs Stalling, Holding Near Fall Points and Coming Out of Criteria, and Holding Near Fall Criteria in a Technical Fall situation

2- Pre-Meet, and New Rules, as well Questioning Judgement vs Judgement situation versus Time & Score and consequences

3- Working together as partners, as we will have that opportunity this year on January 29th

In high school wrestling, stalling is a penalty violation that occurs when a wrestler intentionally avoids wrestling action or fails to make genuine attempts to score points. This can include backing away without attacking, staying on the edge of the mat to avoid engagement, maintaining locked hands without working toward a scoring move, or holding a position without attempting to improve it. Referees typically issue warnings before assessing penalty points, though blatant stalling can result in immediate penalties. Good wrestlers maintain an aggressive style and continuously work for advantageous positions to avoid stalling calls, which not only cost points but can swing match momentum to their opponent.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

This lecture outlines the key attributes and best practices for wrestling referees, emphasizing the importance of consistency, confidence, rule knowledge, judgment, humility, and fitness. It also covers pre-match preparation, effective communication between officials, and the use of tools like Zebra for managing assignments. The goal is to ensure referees maintain respect and credibility while making accurate and decisive calls to benefit the athletes.

## Takeaways

1. The organization has 450 referees, but only 120 are active.

2. Consistency is crucial for referees to gain respect from coaches, crowds, and wrestlers.

3. Confidence is essential for referees, but it should not be confused with arrogance.

4. Knowledge of the rules is fundamental for referees.

5. Strong judgment is important and can be developed by watching high-quality referees.

6. Humility is valued by coaches and fans over arrogance.

7. Making split-second decisions is a key skill for referees.

8. Good mechanics differentiate a good referee from a great one.

9. Referees should be fit to handle long seasons and tournaments.

10. Referees should keep their calendars up to date and communicate with schools before matches.

## Highlights

- ` "If you're a referee that's arrogant, and then you have the same match called by a guy that's humble, humble will always win in the coaches' and fans' hearts." `

- ` "Sign the book and get the hell out of here." `

- ` "As officials, we all do this because we believe in really wanting to get it right for the kids." `

## Chapters & Topics

### Consistency

> Consistency in officiating is crucial for maintaining respect and credibility.

* **Keypoints**

* Consistency in calls throughout the match is essential.

* Inconsistent calls can lead to loss of respect from coaches, crowds, and wrestlers.

### Confidence

> Confidence is necessary for referees to perform effectively.

* **Keypoints**

* Confidence should not be mistaken for arrogance.

* Confidence helps in making decisive calls.

### Knowledge of Rules

> A thorough understanding of the rules is fundamental for referees.

* **Keypoints**

* Knowledge of the rule book is essential.

* Lack of knowledge can lead to mistakes.

### Judgment

> Strong judgment is a key attribute for referees.

* **Keypoints**

* Judgment can be improved by watching high-quality referees.

* Judgment is often inherent but can be developed.

### Humility

> Humility is valued over arrogance in referees.

* **Keypoints**

* Humble referees are preferred by coaches and fans.

* Arrogance can undermine a referee's credibility.

### Split-Second Decisions

> The ability to make split-second decisions is crucial for referees.

* **Keypoints**

* Referees do not have the luxury of video replays.

* Quick decision-making is essential for maintaining control of the match.

### Mechanics

> Good mechanics are essential for effective refereeing.

* **Keypoints**

* Mechanics help in clearly communicating decisions to spectators.

* Developing good mechanics involves observing and learning from experienced referees.

### Fitness

> Physical fitness is important for referees to handle long seasons and tournaments.

* **Keypoints**

* Referees should stay fit to endure long matches and tournaments.

* Fitness helps in maintaining focus and performance throughout the season.

### Preparation

> Proper preparation is essential for referees before matches.

* **Keypoints**

* Referees should keep their calendars up to date.

* Communication with schools before matches is important.

* Knowing the location of the school and having contact information is crucial.

### Pre-Match Preparation

> Steps and considerations for referees before a wrestling match.

* **Keypoints**

* Arrive 45 minutes early.

* Identify the person in charge.

* Check the mat area for obstructions and proper setup.

* Ensure safety by maintaining a 10-foot clearance around the mat.

and much more.

KISS

“Keep It Simple Stupid”

Recruitment and retention is critical to the future of our sport

When there is testing needed for an officiating roster, there are common sense ways of expediting the process

Test in groups with an open book versus taking a test by yourself in solitary confinement

You learn so much more with discussions, versus being concerned about passing the test

Questions should be practical versus tricky

Questions should be understandable, versus guessing games

We have a very diverse rulebook, with thousands and thousands of situations versus most other sports

The NCAA could learn something from this podcast

High schools that require passing a test in order to officiate, understands these philosophies

Paul’s officiating journey has been both extensive and fulfilling. With 42 years as an OHSAA wrestling official, he has officiated at all levels, from youth leagues to high school competitions. While he no longer officiates at the college level, he has valuable experience from working in NCAA Divisions I, II, and III.

Throughout his career with OHSAA, Paul has had the privilege of officiating at 30 sectional tournaments, 29 district tournaments, and 20 state tournaments. These experiences have enriched his understanding of the sport and have allowed him to contribute meaningfully to the wrestling community.