Big Bend Football Officials Association ©

President's Corner

The Challenges: sit in the stand and be a fan or participate and do it right.

This challenge comes from the pressure of being caught in the middle. You aren’t on the home team or the visitors’ side. It’s not enough to merely recognize that we’re leading from somewhere in the middle of a contest between opposing teams. We keep order, fairness, rule and administration. . . . You wear strips we expect you to get it right. An excerpt from one of our coach’s in Leon County.

Here’s what you need to learn right now:

Become comfortable with the middle. Being in the middle can be a great place – as long as you know the rules. Hit the rule book now, retake old test or use the old cd-rom you copied last year from your friend.

Know what to own and what to let go. Pick a position now, study it. Read the mechanic manual and learn everything that position needs to know. Come to the film sessions this summer and attend every training opportunity you are able too.

Never violate your position or the trust of your crew members. Stay home, officiate your key, zone, and assist by being in position first.

Find access to answer your questions. Look in the rule book, case manual, mechanic manual or other reference material. Then, if you don’t find the answer, bring your question to the training session for an answer.

Commit yourself to adding value to our association. Participate, help others, and communicate means listening too. Don’t criticize but suggest opportunities for improvements. The approach is vital.