A huge buzz word in the world of sports is the term “hustle”. Merriam-Webster defines the term hustle as a noun that means energetic activity. To hustle means to give effort and energy while completing an activity. Success in most physical activities is primarily centered around the concept of hustle. There is often a direct link between the amount of hustle in an athlete and their total output in competition. Hustle may not manifest dormant abilities in an individual, but it can sustain or even push limits in which that individual can perform. “How is that applicable in officiating?” you may ask. The most important impact of hustle in any environment, specifically sports, is that it is infectious.
HUSTLE SHOULD BE HONEST
Hustle should be honest and sincere. I will not take credit for the term “Fake Hustle”, but it does exist. Excessive movement without purpose screams fake hustle. A full sprint from the line of scrimmage at the 45-yard line to midfield to mirror a 5 yard gain on the ground is not necessary. This is not the same as poor energy consumption from inexperience officials. This is “I spot someone in the crowd evaluating me” over officiating. Fake hustle is easy to spot because it is not sustainable over an entire game. Today might be the day I hear about officials getting a second wind during a contest, but I doubt any second wind blows harder than the first wind. Fake hustle can also be spotted in hindsight. A running clock during a blowout will tell you if the hustle in the beginning of the game was honest. Be wary if overall effort is down one week due to an assignment in the sticks on a Thursday in comparison to an electric atmosphere during a TV game the Friday before. This type of hustle is dangerous because any bystander that may keep track of your history over time will see the inconsistencies and may critique you unfavorably. More importantly, fake hustle is contagious and can spread like wildfire through crews and associations.
HUSTLE SHOULD BE CONSISTENT
True hustle is consistent. From jogging to position following the coin toss for opening kickoff to switching sides in between quarters, the level of energy is the same. Naturally, certain situations call for a full out sprint, such as a long kick return. However, there will not be too many instances where there will be misplaced movement for the sake of being seen. Consistent hustle is a result of good mechanics. Knowing where you should be in relation to the ball, point of attack, or end of the play will enable you to get from Point A to Point B efficiently and make a correct call. Overthinking leads to Overhustling. A perfect example is officiating a toss play to your side of the field on the wing. There is no need to move upfield until the ball carrier crosses in front of your face at the line of scrimmage. I have seen so many young officials bounce back and forth and expend so much energy for ultimately a gain of ZERO. My advice is to train your mind so you do not have to overcompensate with unnecessary movement.
HUSTLE SHOULD BE EFFORTLESS
Hustle will never be effortless, but it can be portrayed as such through experience and preparation. The ability to hustle on a consistent basis is a direct byproduct of good fitness levels. This is built during the offseason and preseason training. Always try your best to stay in shape because it gets harder the farther you fall behind. There truly is no offseason when it comes to health. Any stress related to physical fitness will ultimately prevent you focusing on the field. No focus means no hustle. No hustle means poor performance. When this is evident, you will stick out like a sore thumb on the field and become a liability to your crew.
HUSTLE SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED
Hustle matters. As defined before, it shows effort is being given and energy is being expended. Though hustle itself is vague and unique to everyone, the results are concrete. It could be seen as a few extra beads of sweat on the forehead as well as deeper breaths in between possessions. Hustle is seen as getting to the spot before the ball and making a call while in proper position. Coaches, Players, and fellow officials are aware when someone is giving maximum effort on a consistent level. The usual response in any healthy sports environment is to subliminally match that effort on the field or acknowledge the effort verbally with positive reinforcement. Remember, hustle is ultimately a personal choice, but there is an unwritten rule about hustle and respect being connected in sports.
WHAT KIND OF HUSTLER ARE YOU?
There are two types of hustlers in the world. The ones who gain by fraud or deception and the ones who gain through effort and energy. Despite all hustle being infectious and contagious, only one type of hustle is sustainable and proven to give positive results for everyone involved.
