1. Getting Better As An Official
Thank you for opportunity to share some thoughts . . .
Struck by irony of our location.
Asked for my opinion and advice on improvement.
Finally managed to write some of them down.
Tried to put some logic or order to them.
Regardless of your officiating experience, I hope there is something you can take away today.

2. The Desire to Get Better
Common attribute among officials working top levels of football
Willingness to continue learning and improving
Requires an investment of time and sometimes sacrifice/trade-off
No short cuts
Something I have sensed and observed over many years in officiating. Not exclusive to football.
Not content to get by on their laurels or reputation. Receptiveness to get better.
Many times in officiating you are the new guy. There’s a challenge facing you. Sometimes there’s a steep learning curve.
You want to work the championship game. Are you prepared to put in the work?

3. Become a Rules Expert
Frequent study & review. Not limited to the start of the season.
Understand intent and interpretation. Definitions.
Engage in Discussions / Ask Questions / Forums / Study Groups
Knowledge Continuum (exam, field, referee, junkie)
Our job is to run/manage a football game, enforce the rules, and adjudicate the situations not covered by the rules.
Collectively, we are the authority. Authorities must be knowledgeable!
Ultimately, it’s about getting it right.
I believe "Football talk" enhances learning.
Deep down we know our own level of confidence.

4. Make Mechanics Second Nature
Preparation
Respond. Limit your thinking on the field.
Mental check lists prior to the play
Self-talk
Mental Imagery
Dedicate time well before the game for this.
Three techniques that will assist you during the game.

5. Observe Good Role Models
Select wisely
Emulate what they do well. Always professional.
Incorporate what works for you. (eg. Calm presence, communication)
Solicit feedback from mentors. Write it down. Act upon it.
Borrow from others provided it is compatible with your personality.
Humour example. Rookie vs. veteran.
Caution you about trying to become someone you are not.

6. Critical Self-Evaluation
Honesty
Measure judgement against standards
Flexibility / Adaptability
Make adjustments based on feedback.
I believe this is a mindset vital to improvement.
Need feedback to get better. Not always able to get this from an observer or fellow official.
Flexibility is the willingness to change. Adaptability is the ease with which you make that change.
Example. Positioning on an incomplete pass.

7. Learn From Your Mistakes
Opportunity to learn
Don’t allow one mistake take away from a great officiating performance
Don’t repeat them
Stop rationalizing / defending / making excuses
Determine the type of error (positioning, judgement, understanding of a standard, communication, speed, etc.)
Ben Cahoon
Conditioned to view mistakes as a negative. Flip it and . . .
Honesty (previous slide)
Stop defending the marginal holding call that didn't need to be made. (standard)
Stop rationalizing why you missed an illegal block on a kick return. (positioning)
Ben - when a receiver nears the sideline keep track of him

8. Watch Video Best instructional tool available
Picture is worth a thousand words
Watch yourself in action
Observe others
Review specific situations (pick plays, late hits, etc.)
Watch football
Complement Mechanics study with this.
Approach this analytically.

9. Video Analysis Mechanics & movement Action of keys
Angles / point of view
Judgement
Post-play action
Surprises
What did I learn?
Movement generally OK
Gunner gets tackled. (key, standard)
Missed illegal block on his side. (key)
Straight lined on a difficult judgement. Need to create a different angle.
Killed the play without a great view of the ball. Should have waited for FJ.
Why’s 22 upset? Learning - better attention to keys.

10. Gain Experience Can’t rush the process. Requires patience.
Any opportunity to get more reps
First time vs. 100th
Action slows down
Be realistic about the timeline for advancement
Can’t replace the value of experience. Think of your own driving experience.
Think in terms of quality experience. Number of games vs. number of years.
3. Let Dave Hutton speak to advancement.