Under Control

The weather forecast shows a 90% chance of snow with a low of 25 degrees. Road conditions are expected to be hazardous and local authorities are asking people to stay home and avoid traveling if possible. In that scenario, what is out of and under our control? Weather conditions are out of our control.  If it snows, it snows. The low temperatures are out of our control, and we can’t control the road conditions.  In these conditions, what are things within our control: (1) staying home and turning up the heat or starting a fire to keep warm, (2) if we go outside, wearing proper clothing, and (3) if we have to travel, wait for road maintenance to clear the road or expect to move very slowly.

In officiating, many things are out of control such as our schedule, game time, player and coach reactions, and fans. Even though these particular items are out of our control, many officials spend a great deal of time over-thinking and worry about how we are impacted by them.  How do we move or maintain our focus on what we can control?

The first question is “what can we control as officials?”  Let’s make it simple and call it a “PR”—Preparation and Response.  Let’s examine “PR” closer.

Preparation: we can control our preparation for each season, each game, and each play. Preparation encompasses being physically, mentally, and emotionally ready.  It also includes taking care of our responsibilities off the field with our families and job enabling us to be prepared for our officiating responsibilities.  Robert H. Schuller, TV Evangelist, quoted in one of his sermons “Spectacular achievement is always preceded by unspectacular preparation.” Preparation is often not fun and can even be boring. But, the result of being prepared is rewarding.

Response: We don’t control the responses of others—coaches, players and fans.  However, we have total control over our response. Our goal should be for our response to be clear and calm. When coaches ask for explanations, provide clear and concise responses. When coaches are out of control, we need to stay calm with limited body motions and facial expressions along with a calm, but stern voice.

Luke 6: 45:  A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

This verse is from a sermon Jesus was giving to a crowd that gathered around him. His teaching emphasized the importance of a person’s inner thoughts and the relationship to outward behavior.  Jesus’ preaching highlights the connection between our thoughts, feelings, and actions. We are reminded that what is inside of us will eventually come out in our words and deeds.

When we control our thoughts, outward appearance, reactions, and speech, we are better prepared to respond to the things that happen around and to us.

“Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don't.”
― Steve Maraboli