All,
Initial assignments for October and November have been published.
We are already receiving turnbacks, so please continue to monitor Arbiter and keep your availability current. As games are turned back, we will be reassigning those openings to available officials.
We are also seeing a number of turnbacks that could have been prevented by properly managing availability. Please take the time now to review your calendar and block any dates you are unavailable. The more accurate everyone’s calendars are, the more efficiently we can assign games and minimize unnecessary turnbacks.
As we prepare for the start of the season, I want to highlight several important expectations for all officials.
GAME CONFIRMATION – 48–72 HOURS PRIOR
Approximately 48–72 hours before your scheduled game, either the Referee or U1 must contact the host school to confirm the game time and location. Whether that is done by phone or email is up to the crew.
If you have not received confirmation from the school within 24 hours of the game, contact Dave or me so we have time to look into the situation.
If we receive a call on game day saying that an official has arrived at a facility and no teams are there, our first question will be: “Did the crew confirm the game with the host school?”
We should not be finding out about these situations at game time. We need enough time to investigate and resolve potential issues. Many problems in officiating can either be prevented entirely or managed much more easily when everyone does their part and handles things early.
KNOW YOUR LEAGUE RULES
Every official is responsible for knowing the specific rules for the league or conference they are working.
ASO has made these rules easily accessible on its website. Use the link below, select “School Zone” at the top of the page, choose the appropriate conference, and then select the sport under “Athletic Guidelines.”
https://aaasportsofficials.com/
Please review the appropriate rules before you arrive at your game. We should not be incorrectly enforcing league-specific rules when that information is readily available to every official.
UNIFORMS & PROFESSIONAL APPEARANCE
Please arrive looking professional and prepared to represent yourself and the organization well.
Uniforms should be clean, shirts should be tucked in, jewelry should be removed, and personal hygiene should be at a professional and respectable level.
These items are being specifically mentioned because we have received complaints about them in the past. When you walk into a school wearing the uniform, you are representing not only yourself but also the organization that assigned you. Please represent both well.
ARRIVAL TIMES & COMMUNICATION
Be on time and ready to work.
We understand that many officials are coming directly from their regular jobs to their officiating assignments. However, officiating is also a job and needs to be treated accordingly.
Ideally, officials should arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled tip. We understand that circumstances may occasionally reduce that to 15–20 minutes, but arriving in the parking lot at the scheduled tip-off time means you are late.
If your partner has not arrived 10 minutes before game time and has not communicated with you, please contact Dave or me. We need to know about those situations before the game begins, not afterward.
This is not about getting anyone in trouble. If an official consistently struggles to arrive on time for a particular assignment, then we need to determine whether those games fit their schedule. We want officials to succeed, and repeatedly assigning someone to games they cannot reasonably arrive early for does not put that official, their partners, or the schools in a position to succeed.
BE A GOOD PARTNER
Communicate with your crew before the game. Confirm that everyone knows the location, arrival expectations, and any relevant league rules.
Once you arrive, be someone your partners want to work with. Communicate, support one another, and handle your responsibilities professionally. Being a dependable and enjoyable partner matters.
As we get ready for October, the expectations are straightforward:
Manage your calendar. Confirm your games. Communicate with your partners. Know the rules. Look professional. Be on time. Be a good partner.
Each of you is essentially running your own officiating business. If you want more games, better assignments, and additional opportunities, you have to build trust with the people responsible for providing those opportunities. Reliability, preparation, professionalism, communication, and performance are how you build that trust.
I know this is a lot of information, but we are communicating it now so everyone has plenty of time to get these items in order before our October games begin. Our goal is not to catch people making mistakes; it is to make expectations clear ahead of time and put everyone in the best possible position to have a successful season.
We are looking forward to getting started.
Judge Fuson
Referee Suite