On the heels of a successful game, you jog off the field, gather the crew, and head back to home. Adrenaline is still high from 3 hours of intense mental and physical focus. As you turn on the radio and listen to scores from around the area, there is a notification on the phone. Next week’s assignment has been sent out. You take a deep breath before you hit the “Accept” button. Pregame for next week starts now.
For a Referee, there are unwritten rules as it pertains to their position and how to thrive. To be successful, they hold themselves accountable for the progression of the entire crew. They are well versed in their responsibilities as well as everyone else’s on the field from kickoff to final whistle. There is no limit to the amount of film study or rule book review a Referee will engage in if it gives them even the slightest improvement in performance. All of these are important, however, the real secret is how a Referee gets their entire crew to level up. The Pregame before the Pregame is all about preparation and how a Referee sets his crew up to succeed.
ACCEPT THE ASSIGNMENT
One cannot pregame if there is no game. Unless there are unforeseen circumstances, your weekends belong to football. Accept the game. After accepting the assignment, make sure that all members of the crew do the same as soon as possible. This will make the job of the coordinator of officials easier as they try to fill their games for the week. It may take 24-48 hours to receive game film from the previous game to review. In the meantime, start on pregame emails to the crew and home team administration (if applicable) to send out.
CREW EMAIL
When sending a pregame email to the crew, find a template that fits best and tweak it from week to week. The purpose of this email is to get everyone on the same page and focused for the upcoming game. This email should be simple and straightforward with expectations laid out. For example, here is what my pregame email looks like:
Good Morning Everyone,
We have been assigned <insert game>. It will take place on <insert date and time> at <venue>.
Let’s meet at <insert a safe, central meeting place> at <meeting time>. If anyone cannot make it at that time, please meet us at the venue at <insert a time>.
Let’s shoot for a short virtual meeting on <insert a date and time> to review film. I will send a follow up email with a meeting invite soon.
Remember proper uniform is required.
Please review the following as homework for this week (be prepared to discuss at the virtual meeting):
Referee – <insert topic i.e., Administrative Duties>
Umpire – <insert topic i.e., Holding>
Linesperson/Down Judge – <insert topic i.e., Measurements>
Line Judge – <insert topic i.e., Ineligibles Downfield>
Back Judge – <insert topic i.e., Onside Kicks>
Field Judge – <insert topic i.e., Pass Interference>
Side Judge – <insert topic i.e., Reverse Mechanics>
Please confirm upon receipt.
Jody Lavigne
For those that have the same crew, try switching responsibilities or add new topics so by the end of the season the entire rulebook can be covered. This may be the initial email to the crew but keep the lines of communication open. Time is limited on gameday, and that time should be used to tie any loose ends in pregame.
GAME ADMINSTRATION EMAIL
A game administration email may not be necessary for all officials, but I find a quick message to confirm venue and pregame activities can be very helpful in opening the lines of communication. Steer clear from any topics not related to the game administration itself. This email is strictly to gather information to relay to the crew such as parking information, pregame accommodations, and contact personnel. Here is what an email to Game Administration looks like:
Good Morning Coach,
This is <insert name>, and I am the Referee assigned to officiate this week’s game. I was emailing to touch base with you prior and to make sure we are all on the same page as soon as possible.
I first wanted to confirm that the game will take place on <insert date/time/location> as well as the following arrangements prior to arrival:
- Designated parking for the game officials
- Designated pregame/halftime area for officials
- Contact person upon arrival
We are looking forward to officiating this contest. If there are any changes to the game, time, or venue, please let me know as soon as possible. Please respond upon receipt.
Jody Lavigne
Once the emails are prepared, send them out at the beginning of the week. That will give everyone plenty of time to respond.
FILM REVIEW
When film is received, watch it twice. Watch it uninterrupted and in its entirety the first time around. The second time, make notes of specific plays to discuss with your crew. If the technology is there, make annotations and share with your crew. Don’t just focus on technical miscues but highlight positive plays. Introduce philosophy to the conversation and ask yourself, “Why did I do that?”. If you can answer the “Why”, then you can understand and adjust going forward. A good crew becomes a great crew when they allow themselves to be critiqued by one another. Most people are afraid of film study because film does not lie. It exposes lack of hustle and ill preparation. The benefits of being a film junkie helps drive home accountability and breaks bad habits. One hour a week will take anyone’s officiating game to the next level.
VIRTUAL MEETING
I’ve recently implemented the virtual pregame into my repertoire during COVID. COVID limited in person communication, but it opened the idea of using technology to our advantage. There are so many options now to connect virtually (via PC and Phone) and share media live on screen. I recommend meeting with your crew once a week to discuss film, rules, and mechanics. It is a good opportunity to share any scouting information as well as revisit any issues from the week prior. This is where the fine tuning happens. I’ve seen so much growth in crew chemistry using mid-week virtual sessions. A good virtual meeting will instill confidence going into gameday, especially late in season and playoffs.
CONCLUSION
The regular season is a grind. It is hard enough throwing on the white hat and running a smooth contest on gameday. The responsibilities are endless. The accountability seems disproportionate. However, the one edge a good referee can create for themselves is through preparation. That preparation begins long before that 90-minute pregame meeting at the stadium. It starts when you click “Accept”.
