Foundation in the Basics

If you observe any practice at any level, each day the team begins with fundamentals—blocking, tackling, handing off, shooting and passing drills, hitting off a tee, etc.  These fundamentals are the basics.  No matter how long a player or coach has been in a sport, the key to success are the fundamentals.  Plus, what does every coach say they will be doing during an off week—getting back to the fundamentals.

In officiating, our foundation in the basics helps us perform at the highest level.  What are the basics?

Mechanics, Communications, Fitness, Rules Knowledge

Mechanics:  get us in the right position (physical mechanics) and looking in the right area (visual mechanics),

Communication:  allows a crew to work more efficiently and helps to know when to talk and know when to listen

Fitness:   our physical condition keeps us mentally strong

Rules Knowledge:  helps to administer the game properly

Over and over, we work on these aspects of officiating.  Each game, we can use the basics to help the game run smoothly.  Then, when those unusual situations arise, hopefully, the crew can handle the situation correctly and confidentially because we have worked on the basics.

For Christians, the basics are growing in scripture, prayer, and fellowship – working on these repeatedly for years builds our relationship with Jesus.

 

Psalm 62:6-7 – He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken. On God my salvation and my glory rest; the rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.

The “basic” truth in the Christian faith is our relationship with God through Jesus which is foundational to our faith.  There is a powerful word in that verse when our foundation is on God—“I will not be SHAKEN”.

The basics keep us from being shaken off our foundation.  It doesn’t mean we aren’t faced with trials, temptations, or challenges.  But, it does me our foundation keeps us upright by leaning on what we know—the BASICS.

Going back to the basics strengthens our foundation.

Work Hard

Just think of how much more work a tractor accomplishes now than when farming/ landscaping was done without the nice machines we have today.  Bottom line on tractors:  they work hard.  People have to operate them, but the work is done by the tractor.

Officiating is grueling physically, mentally, and emotionally.  We have to prepare each week and be ready to fully devote ourselves to the game we are assigned.  This was shared with me from www.jongordon.com:

No matter what anyone says, just show up and do the work.

If they praise you, show up and do the work.

If they criticize you, show up and do the work.

If no one even notices you, just show up and do the work.

Just keep showing up, doing the work, and leading the way.

Lead with passion.

Fuel up with optimism.

Have faith.

Power up with love.

Maintain hope.

Be stubborn.

Fight the good fight.

Refuse to give up.

Ignore the critics.

Believe in the impossible.

Show up.

Do the work.

As officials, we are rarely praised by the public.  Even behind the scenes, most of the feedback we receive is negative--what we missed or did wrong.  We have to be motivated to perform at a high level of officiating.  Review the list from Jon Gordon, do any of the items on the list keep us from working hard?  Does negativity get us down, do critics get in our head, do grades make us lose faith in our ability to officiate?

Here is the challenge—pick out the item(s) from the list above that keep you from focusing and working hard.  Concentrate on over-coming that item(s) this week to show up and do the work without regard from something that bothers us or gets in our way.

Ecclesiastes 11:4 If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done. 6 Be sure to stay busy and plant a variety of crops, for you never know which will grow — perhaps they all will.

Working hard means no excuses.  Whether we never get recognized or we are honored for our performance, we have a job to do and to work hard at it.

“He who waits until circumstances completely favor his undertaking, will never accomplish anything.”—Martin Luther

Pull Your Weight

We continue on with Advice from a Tractor...PULL YOUR WEIGHT

Tractors are designed and made to pull trailers and different attachments that allow it to perform the job(s) it was designed to do.  When plowing a field, a disc is used to prepare the field. Before taking it to the field, the farmer makes sure it is fit for service—well oiled, blades sharpened and attached correctly.

Being a great crew mate means pulling your own weight in the crew.  We have responsibilities on and off the field, during meetings, and during the week.  During games, be ultimately responsible for your position and realize sometimes you may have to help, or be helped, but get back to pulling your weight in your position.  

2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall.

This verse teaches those whose salvation/belief is in Jesus will show evidence of their salvation by continuing to believe in Christ and manifesting good works.  These works are evidence of our faith.

In officiating, we show our devotion to our crew in the way we handle our business. On and off the field, we need to take care of our responsibilities.  Even though we make mistakes as officials, the chances of falling (or failing) is greatly decreased by pulling our weight.

Our success in life is measured in what we do after we do what we are suppose to do.

Plow Ahead

Last week, we introduced the Advice from a Tractor.  This week we will concentrate on one of the seven: “Plow Ahead”

When mowing, plowing, or driving, as long as we look straight ahead, we can keep a straight line.  Basically, cars (or whatever we are driving) tend to go the direction we are looking.  At times, it’s ok to look back quickly, especially if something unusual happens.  But, we need to keep our focus ahead of us to get the job done right.

Now, put in the perspective of officiating.  During games, we have to plow ahead.  Our focus needs to be ahead of us, the next play.  We can find opportunities to take a quick look back to make sure how the game “looks”.  But, for the end-result to look right, we need to keep our focus in front of us.

Once we have prepared during the week (completed pregame meetings and our pregame responsibilities), we are to put our hand to the plow and plow ahead.  During the game, don’t second-guess decisions and look back too long which can lead to paralysis (i.e. did we get the call right?, should we have made a call?).  Looking back too long can mess up the whole game.

Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
—Luke 9:62, NIV

In this verse, Jesus explains that once you commit to him, looking back does no good when  serving him. Jesus wants our full devotion to Him.  Much is the same when we are preparing and working as officials.  If our thoughts and minds are other places, we’re not “fit for service.”  We owe it to our crew, teams, coaches, and supervisors to put our hand to the plow when it’s time to perform.

Whether we have success, failure or disappointment, put our head down and plow ahead!