Are You in The Homecoming Spirit?

Your crew is coming in off the field around 9:30 after a double header, home team is jubilant after a big homecoming win. It seems the Homecoming Dance is about to begin in the gym just adjacent to where your locker room is located.

In the far corner of the gym, you see the photographer and his assistant are setup with an elaborate backdrop and lighting, one of them shouts, “Hey, thanks refs — want a Homecoming picture?”

That’s an easy answer.

Front: U Micah Hagerman, BJ Kyle Martin
Back: Yours truly at R, LJ Bill Huxford, L Bob Hoeg (we decided the young dudes get to kneel).
Photo credit: Stalzer Photography, Marshalltown, Iowa.

The point is, does your crew look for opportunities to interact positively with players, coaches and fans? I’ve always thought it’s important for all the stakeholders to understand that my crew is there not just to officiate, but also to have fun! Sure, we might have to throw a flag and adminster a penalty now and then, but underneath all that we’re football fans and appreciate the big plays each team makes throughout the game. Are you telling big 55, “Hey, nice job of laying off there” when he could’ve easily put a nasty hit on the quarterback who just released a pass? I know how tempting that is, played defensive tackle myself (though I wasn’t much good) and it’s important to reinforce good sportsmanship in subtle ways. BTW – that same big 55 had an amazing 40-yard pick-six touchdown late in the 3rd quarter. PA announcer says, “It’s a lineman’s dream!” We laughed in between plays as I asked 55, “Don’t you get to take the rest of the night off after a play like that?”

As part of the pregame conference with captains, I like to take a moment to introduce crew members and tell the players why we’re there: to have fun, this is a game, we’re all priviledged to be here tonight! And that only happens when we can maintain mutual respect between opponents, fellow players, coaches, fans and the crew here in stripes.

Don’t forget to have a blast out there and enjoy the spirit of the game. Smile! In some cases, that’s how we’ll get more players and fans interested in stepping forward to become officials someday.