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BETWEEN THE STRIPES
A LEADER'S PLAYBOOK FOR EARNING YOUR STRIPES PART I
By JOHN LAURIE AuthorHouse
Copyright © 2013Dr. John Laurie
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4817-3182-9
Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
THE MOST IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTES THAT ALL GREAT OFFICIALS SHARE ARE POSITIVE ATTITUDES AND ENTHUSIASM TO OFFICIATE.
JOHN C LAURIE
A GOOD TEST FOR A GOOD CREW IS HOW WELL THEY OFFICIATE WHEN FATIGUE SETS IN AND THE WEATHER TURNS BAD.
IF THE REFEREE HAS APPROPRIATE SELF-CONFIDENCE, HIS CREW WILL HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HIM.
JOHN C LAURIE
EHTHUSIASM—YOU EITHER HAVE IT OR YOU DON'T. BOTH THE GOOD AND THE BAD NEWS IS THAT IT IS CONTAGIOUS EITHER WAY.
THE MOST SECURE OFFICIALS ARE ALSO HUMBLE.
JOHN C LAURIE
GOOD OFFICIALS HAVE SHORT AND LONG MEMORIES. A SHORT ONE ON THE FIELD AFTER A MISTAKE: DON'T CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT IT. OUT-CONCENTRATE THE SITUATION. ON THE WAY HOME, HAVE A LONG MEMORY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW TO CORRECT THE MISTAKE; THEN DON'T FORGET.
YOUR ENTHUSIASM TO OFFICIATE A GREAT GAME IS THE GREATEST FACTOR BETWEEN MEDIOCRITY AND ACCOMPLISHMENT.
JOHN C LAURIE
WHEN YOU HAVE ONE OF THOSE "WHEN IN DOUBT" CALLS, USE COMMON SENSE AND DON'T CREATE A NEW PROBLEM.
JUST AS IN LIFE, THE OFFICIAL WITH "PUSH" WILL PASS THE ONE WITH "PULL."
JOHN C LAURIE
THE SECRET OF HAVING GOOD DISCIPLINE IN YOUR CREW IS POSITIVE MOTIVATION. IN A CREW WITH SUFFICIENT POSITIVE MOTIVATION, DISCIPLINE WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF.
THE BEST REFEREES HAVE THE ABILITY TO AVOID THE IMPULSE TO FEEL THE NEED TO DOMINATE THE CREW.
JOHN C LAURIE
A REFEREE MAY HAVE POSITIVE CONVICTIONS, BUT, IF THE INFORMATION IS NOT ACCURATE, BAD THINGS WILL HAPPEN.
COACHES CAN BE NICE GUYS OUT OF SEASON BUT WHEN YOU PUT ON YOUR "STRIPES" ON GAME DAY, YOU GET THE KIND OF GREETING FROM THEM THAT A CORPSE WOULD GIVE AN UNDERTAKER.
JOHN C LAURIE
GOOD OFFICIALS DON'T FIGHT PROBLEMS; THEY DECIDE THEM.
FOR THE REFEREE IN A HEATED DISCUSSION WITH A CREW OVER A CONTROVERSIAL SITUATION, IT IS BETTER TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE THAN MISUNDERSTAND A LOT.
JOHN C LAURIE
IF YOU TRY TO STRETCH THE TRUTH WHEN COMMUNICATING WITH A COACH, IT CAN BECOME FICTION.
THE BEST SOLUTION TO SOME PROBLEMS ON THE FIELD THAT CAN'T BE SOLVED IS TO SIMPLY MANAGE THEM.
JOHN C LAURIE
THE BEST WAY TO RESOLVE AN EMOTIONAL ISSUE WITH A COACH IS KNOWING AND EXPRESSING AN ACCURATE PERCEPTION OF WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
WHEN A FOOTBALL GAME TURNS UPSIDE DOWN AND IT IS TOO LATE TO PUT ON THE BRAKES, THE REFEREE MUST CIRCLE THE WAGONS, VISIT WITH THE CREW, CAPTAINS AND COACHES, AND REGAIN CONTROL.
JOHN C LAURIE
IT IS BETTER NOT TO SEE THE PLAY THAN TO SEE IT WRONG.
A REFEREE FIRST INSPIRES HIS CREW TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HIM; THEN HE INSPIRES THE CREW TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THEMSELVES.
JOHN C LAURIE
OFFICIATING PRESENTS AN INTERESTING DELIMMA BECAUSE IT IS SOMETIMES POSSIBLE TO BE RIGHT AT THE WRONG TIME.
THE BEST GIFT YOU CAN GIVE ANOTHER CREW MEMBER IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.
JOHN C LAURIE
THE COURAGE TO MAKE THE MOST DIFFICULT "CALL" IN THE GAME IS THE MOST IMPORTANT QUALITY YOU CAN HAVE AS AN OFFICIAL BECAUSE IT INSURES ALL OF YOUR OTHER QUALITIES ARE OF GOOD INTENTION.
MANY TIMES THE CONVERSATION WITH THE COACH IN THE LOCKER ROOM BEFORE THE GAME IS SIMILAR TO THE "DOG AND LAMP POST" MEETING.
JOHN C LAURIE
CHANGING TALENT TO ABILITY IS THE KEY TO A REFEREE SUCCESSFULLY MAKING A GOOD CREW GREAT.
GOOD CREWS SOLVE PROBLEMS AND MAKE DECISIONS; POOR CREWS AVOID ACTIONS.
JOHN C LAURIE
FOR THE REFEREE DEALING WITH A COMPLEX SITUATION, SAMPLE THE DETAILS, USE COMMON SENSE AND THEN ACT.
SUCCESSFUL OFFICIALS DO THE BASIC THINGS WELL EVERY GAME. UNSUCCESSFUL OFFICIALS CONSISTENTLY HAVE A FEW SIMPLE ERRORS IN JUDGEMENT EVERY GAME. IT IS THE ACCUMULATION OF THESE DISCIPLINES, EITHER POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, WHICH DETERMINES THE FUTURE OF OFFICIALS.
JOHN C LAURIE
DON'T JUSTIFY A MISTAKE; LEARN FROM IT.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AVERAGE AND GREAT OFFICIALS IS DOING GOOD AND MAKING GOOD
JOHN C LAURIE
THERE IS ALWAYS A CHANCE OF CLEAR AND POSITIVE RESOLUTION BETWEEN A COACH AND OFFICIAL IF THEY WILL LISTEN TO WHAT THE OTHER IS SAYING.
THE FIRST DUTY OF THE REFEREE WHEN DEALING WITH A COMPLICATED PLAY SITUATION IS TO RESTATE THE OBVIOUS AND GO FROM THERE.
JOHN C LAURIE
IF YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE PROBLEMS OFFICIATING THE GAME, TRY TO PICK EASY ONES.
TRY TO AVOID GETTING CAUGHT UP IN DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THE WRONG REASON.
JOHN C LAURIE
THE BEST OFFICIALS DON'T GET THEIR CONFIDENCE FROM THE AFFIRMATION OF OTHERS; IT COMES FROM KNOWING AND ACCEPTING YOURSELF, YOUR STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOOD AND MEDIOCRE OFFICIALS IS NOT SO MUCH KNOWING WHAT TO DO BUT DOING IT.
JOHN C LAURIE
TREAT YOUR CREW AS AVERAGE AND THEY WILL REMAIN AVERAGE; TREAT THEM THE WAY YOU WANT THEM TO BE AND THEY WILL BECOME SO.
GOOD CREWS RECOGNIZE PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY BECOME EMERGENCIES.
JOHN C LAURIE
WHEN A COACH'S ARGUMENT HAS NO SUBSTANCE, OFTEN HIS NEXT STRATEGY IS VERBAL ABUSE. THE MOST SKILLED OFFICIALS WILL LEAVE (IF POSSIBLE) BEFORE THE COACH IS PENALIZED.
IF THE REFEREE WANTS TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF HIS CREW, HE MUST SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGE AND NOT THE SUPERVISOR'S.
JOHN C LAURIE
THERE ARE TWO WAYS OF MEETING DIFFICULTIES DURING A GAME. YOU ALTER THE DIFFICULTIES OR YOU ALTER YOURSELF.
DON'T LOOK AT SITUATIONS ON THE FIELD AS PROBLEMS BUT AS DECISIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE.
JOHN C LAURIE
THERE IS A POSITIVE DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN AN OFFICIAL'S CONFIDENCE AND HIS CAPACITY TO BE EFFECTIVE.
ALL OFFICIALS EXPERIENCE FEAR BUT THE BEST RESPECT IT AND USE IT TO GET READY.
JOHN C LAURIE
SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ARE IN A CONVERSATION WITH A VERY IRATE COACH, YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEED TO DECIDE WHETHER YOU ARE DEALING WITH A SMART IMBECILE OR A VERY DUMB GENIUS.
FEAR SOMETIMES CAN CARRY AN OFFICIAL FARTHER THAN COURAGE BUT IT IS USUALLY IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
JOHN C LAURIE
ASK YOURSELF AS AN OFFICIAL IF IT IS THE "EASIEST" DECISION OR IF IT IS THE "RIGHT" DECISION TO MAKE.
IT ISN'T AS IMPORTANT WHAT A COACH CALLS YOU AS WHAT YOU ANSWER TO.
JOHN C LAURIE
A GOOD PREGAME IS LIKE THE FIRST BUTTON HOLE OF WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE SIXTY MINUTES OF A FOOTBALL GAME. MISS IT AND YOU NEVER QUITE BUTTON DOWN A GREAT GAME.
THE PRIVILEGE AND RESPONSIBILITY TO BE A GOOD OFFICIAL ARE TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN.
JOHN C LAURIE
WHEN WALKING TOWARDS AN IRATE COACH, IT IS NOT AS IMPORTANT TO KNOW ALL THE RIGHT ANSWERS AS TO KNOW HOW TO RESPOND TO THE QUESTION HE IS GOING TO ASK.
THE REFEREE MAY BE THE HANDS AND FACE OF THE WATCH, BUT THE PARTS INSIDE (CREW) MAKE THINGS TICK AND STAY ON TIME.
JOHN C LAURIE
THE KEY TO A LONG AND SUCCESSFUL CAREER IS TO VIEW FAILURE AS A HEALTHY, INEVITABLE PART OF OFFICIATING.
IT TAKES A LOOSE REIN WITH A TIGHT GRIP TO LEAD A CREW.
JOHN C LAURIE
IN THE GAME YOU ARE OFFICIATING, KEEP IN MIND THAT THE TWO HEAD COACHES HAVE EITHER BEEN FIRED OR WILL BE FIRED. A FEW MAY BE PROMOTED OR RETIRE. ALL OF THEM HAVE ASSISTANTS AND FAMILIES DEPENDING ON THE BEST OFFICIATED GAME POSSIBLE.
ONE OF THE TOUGHEST CALLS FOR A REFEREE IS TO DETERMINE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAVING PATIENCE AND SHOWING INDECISION.
JOHN C LAURIE
A GOOD REFEREE WILL NOT ALLOW A CREW DECISION TO BE MADE ON THE INDIFFERENCE OF THE MAJORITY.
&L
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Excerpted from BETWEEN THE STRIPES by JOHN LAURIE. Copyright © 2013 by Dr. John Laurie. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
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