Guys,
We are now entering into the most important part of the season. Teams will be playing very important district games that will determine whether they go to the play-offs or not and where they will be seated in the play-offs. Here are some things for you to remember…
Tempers and emotions will be running high, so just expect it and accept it. Do not let it change the way you work the game. Call every game the same and do not give the perception that you are being partial. Yeah, I know, the coaches and fans always think we’re partial, but be as fair as you can. We can’t control what they think. We can only control how we prepare and how we work. Give the players, coaches, fans and your crewmates 100% plus some. They deserve it.
Make your calls big. No, MAKE THEM HUGE!!! The bigger you make the calls, the more consistent you will be. Calling “ticky-tacky” things only disrupts the game. Worse than that, you will call some and miss some. When you make the calls big, you will be much more accurate.
Don’t be over-officious on Unsportsmanlike Conduct (UNS). Let the kids show honest emotion when the score or make a big play. If the act isn’t prolonged and/or directed at an opponent, it is probably legal. However, choreographed acts and prolonged acts that draw attention to oneself, are illegal. Just don’t alter the game with
“C’mon Man” calls. That’s a call that they put on ESPN and say, “C’mon man!”
Be professional! No matter how bad things get, stay in control of your emotions. Do not yell at coaches or players.
Communicate with your crewmates, the coaches and the players. Give an explanation to every reasonable question. For the unreasonable questions, don’t be a jerk. Just handle it in a businesslike manner. When you think somebody on the crew is making a mistake, talk it out. Don’t figure out you screwed something up when you’re sitting in the dressing room. All of us make mistakes, so just fix them as they occur.
If you boot one, don’t dwell on it. Not letting it go will only cause you to lose focus. It’s done and it can’t be undone, so concentrate that much harder and move on.
It seems we are doing a great job all across Texas, so keep it up.
Cooper
