Set the Tone

 “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.”

1 Corinthians 16:13–14

How you show up matters more than you think. As officials, people are watching us. Players are watching. Coaches are watching. And probably most importantly, our crewmates are watching us. Our attitude affects the crew. Our communication affects the crew. Our composure affects the crew.

We can't control everything that's going to happen on the field or court. We can't control the coaches, players, crowd, weather, or the difficult plays that come our way. But we can control how we respond and our effort.

There may be a call today we'd like to have back. There may be a difficult conversation with a coach. There may be a moment when one of us needs help from another crew member. When that happens, remember this: The next play still needs our best. Don't let one play become two. Don't allow frustration to change your attitude. Don't let a mistake keep you from doing your job on the next snap. And when you see a crewmate struggling, be the person who helps pick him up.

Our challenge: Set the tone. Be calm when things get chaotic. Be professional when emotions get high. Have courage when the difficult call has to be made. Support one another. Trust one another.  Every person on a crew has influence.

Prayer

Father, thank You for the opportunity to be together and officiate this game. Thank You for the abilities and opportunities You have given each of us. Help us not to waste them.

Give us clear minds, good judgment, courage, and composure. Help us communicate well, support one another, and respond with grace when difficult situations come. If we make a mistake, give us the discipline to put it behind us and be ready for the next play.

Help us remember that how we show up matters. May our attitude and actions set a tone worth following. And whatever we do today, help us do it with all our hearts and in a way that honors You.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Set the tone. Expect the best. Give God your best. Then move on to the next play.

Why Not?

Scripture: Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord...”

Before your next game, think about one simple question: Why not your best? Not perfection. Not somebody else's best. Your best.

Remember the Wins

Think about the best games you've officiated. Chances are, everything wasn't perfect. But you communicated, trusted your crewmates and stayed focused. When something didn't go exactly right, you moved on to the next play. Psalm 77:11 says: “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old.”

There's value in remembering.

·        Remember what God has already brought you through.

·        Remember the difficult games you've handled.

·        Remember the lessons you've learned.

Choose Optimism

The second challenge is to Choose Optimism. Our mindset matters and we decide how we're going to show up. We can decide that in pregame and before the first whistle. We can decide to communicate, to hustle, to respect players and coaches and to trust our partners.

And we can decide that if we miss something, we're going to learn from it and officiate the next play. The most important play isn't the one you just officiated. It's the next one.

·        Remember the wins.

·        Choose optimism.

·        Trust your crew.

·        Forget the last play and officiate the next one.

And above all...Give God your best.

Prayer

Dear God our Father,

Thank You for giving us an opportunity to do something we love. Help us trust one another, communicate well, and support each other throughout this game. When pressure comes, help us remain calm. When mistakes happen, give us the humility to correct them and the discipline to move on to the next play. Remind us that You aren't asking us to be perfect. You're asking us to be faithful.  Help us work with all our heart and use the abilities You've given us in a way that honors You. When this game is over, whatever happened on the scoreboard, let us walk off the field knowing We gave You our best. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Remember the wins. Choose optimism. Trust your crew. Officiate the next play. Give God your best.

Expectations

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." - Ephesians 4:2

Devotional Thought

Officials carry expectations. We expect coaches to behave professionally, players to play with discipline and fellow officials to be prepared and focused. We should expect the best from others. Expecting the best creates an environment where people can grow, give grace when mistakes happen, and help others become better through challenges rather than being defined by them.

Every game includes mistakes. A coach may say something in frustration. A player may react emotionally. A partner may miss a mechanic or make an incorrect call. When we expect the best, we assume positive intent. We recognize that most people are trying their best under pressure. We offer correction without condemnation and lead with grace instead of criticism. Extending grace doesn't mean ignoring problems or lowering standards. It means maintaining high standards while extending the same grace God extends to us every day.

Ephesians 4:2 calls us to be humble, patient, and willing to bear with one another. To bear with others means enduring faults, mistakes, and differences—not with resentment, but with love. As 1 Peter 4:8 (NIV) reminds us, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” This is what godly leadership looks like on the football field. Our attitude during the pregame conference, our response to adversity, and our communication in difficult moments influences the entire crew. When we expect the best from others, we help bring out their best—and set a positive tone for everyone around us.

Application

• Am I expecting the best from myself and my crewmates?
• When mistakes occur, do I respond with grace or frustration?
• Does my attitude set a positive tone for the entire officiating crew?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the grace You show us every day. Help us to lead like Christ by expecting the best in others while maintaining excellence in our work. Give us patience when mistakes happen, wisdom when correction is needed, and a positive spirit that encourages those around us. May our leadership on the field reflect Your love, Your grace, and Your faithfulness. Help us set a tone that honors You and serves our fellow officials well.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Reaction Matters

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:6 (NIV)

REFLECTION

A major part of officiating is obviously understanding rules, mechanics, and positioning. Yet some of the most important decisions we make are not with a whistle or a flag. They are with our words and our reactions. Every game presents numerous opportunities to respond. A coach questions a call. A player shows frustration. A partner makes a mistake. Fans and media say things that may be far from the truth. In those moments, our character is often revealed more by our reaction than by our ruling.

Paul reminds us in Colossians 4:6 that our conversations should be full of grace. Grace does not mean weakness. It means choosing words that bring calm, respect, and professionalism even when emotions are high. Being “seasoned with salt” means speaking with wisdom, knowing what the situation needs rather than simply saying whatever comes to mind.

Officials are often judged not just by whether a call was correct, but by how they handled the pressure surrounding it. A quick-tempered response can escalate a situation. A calm and gracious response can diffuse it. Our words can either build credibility or damage trust. The game may last only a few hours, but the way we represent ourselves, our crew, and our faith leave a lasting impression on everyone involved.

APPLICATION

This week, focus on three simple commitments:

1. Pause before responding when emotions rise.

2. Choose words that show respect to coaches, players, and fellow officials.

3. Remember that every reaction is part of your witness both as an official and as a Christian.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank You for the opportunity to serve through officiating. Help us guard our words and manage our reactions when emotions run high. Give us wisdom to speak with grace, courage to remain composed under pressure, and humility to represent You well in every interaction. May our conduct bring honor to You and confidence to those we serve. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Bronze Medal

 

This week's devotional is from Kristopher D. Loving, Sr. - Fellowship of Christian Athletes - Zionsville, IN

https://www.fellowshipofchristianofficials.org/

Related Scripture: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4. The infamous Ricky Bobby said, “If you ain't first, you're last.” An early 2000s songwriter penned, “What does it take to be number one? Second place is not a winner, and nobody remembers third.” Neither of these are biblically based nor do I believe the Holy Spirit led them to these words. However, I believe God can use these pop references to help us truly win. Romans 12:2 declares, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God is.”  Being number one, being the champion, and being the best is certainly the world's way. I challenge us to renew our minds to God’s way. His way leads us to strive for 3rd place: Jesus (1), others (2), us (3). Since 1904, the third-place winners in the Olympics have received a bronze medal. This is an amazing accomplishment, but certainly not anyone's ultimate goal. In officiating, no one aims to be the third best at their position or on the third-best crew. God created us to strive for excellence and to prosper in what He's called us to do. Being number one is not a sin or unrighteousness. But the challenge is to aspire to excellence with humility, grace, and selflessness. It may seem counterproductive to speak highly of your “competition.”  It may not be sensible to think of others’ success more than your own. Jesus is undefeated and so are His ways. If we serve faithfully on His team, then we will be number one for eternity, and not just on the podium. Live like the gold medalist by serving in third place. Questions to Ponder: Who is someone that I need to esteem higher than myself? Who can I thank for thinking of me more than themselves? Kristopher D. Loving, Sr. - Fellowship of Christian Athletes - Zionsville, IN