Anticipate

Definition of ANTICIPATE:  to expect; look forward to; be sure of

What are things we anticipate? Eating, Sleeping, getting married, birth of children, results from doctors, holidays.

What do we anticipate as officials?  Impact of weather, coaches and players attitudes, pass or run plays, potential plays to review, fouls.

Two primary parts of anticipation:

(1)   Expectations:  what we think will happen.

(2)  Suspense:  the unknown, things we don’t know.

Which one of these parts can cause the most anxiety?  SUSPENSE-the unknown.  We’re a society of control and we like to know what will happen next.  In officiating, anticipating what will happen next is important to our performance.  WHY?  (a) puts is in a better position, (b) gets us mentally ready, (3) helps in communication.

 

Key to anticipation is LOOKING FORWARD.  Think about it—if you are looking back, how can you anticipate what’s next?  The key is to have Expectations—expect what will happen next.

In Philippians 3, Paul tells us he is looking forward towards the prize.  He wasn’t looking back.  If he did, it would be hard for him because of who he was before Jesus changed his life—he was previously known as the chief of sinners.  Here is another verse in Proverbs that really defines ANTICIPATION:

Proverbs 4: 25-26:  ²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. ²⁶ Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.