It was good to see my friend, Ryan Schupp, officiating out there on the court one Saturday during the college basketball season. Ryan is a strong official in the Hudson Valley New York area. He officiates both men’s college and high school games.
I enjoyed watching him work on the court, while I was sitting and talking with his dad.
In reflecting on seeing Ryan, and thinking about my time on the court, it reminded me of all the leadership out there between the lines as an official.
Think about these concepts:
One: You are the man/woman in the arena. You are the one enforcing the rules amongst the action. With that comes a lot of immediate criticism. Continuing to do your best despite consistent criticism is challenging.
Two: Keeping calm whenever everyone around you is extremely emotional. When in the spotlight under pressure, it’s important to stay calm.
Three: Looking the part. Ryan is in tremendous shape, looked fit, ran hard, and more. He looked impeccable in his uniform.
Four: Being a good partner. Communicating, collaborating, talking, and allowing them to make the calls in their area and more. Part of being a great team is being a good partner.
Five: Having awareness of what was going on on the court as well as off the court. Paying attention to the time and score, listening to the coaches, etc. It’s all important. As my wife says a lot, be able to read the room and the temperature of the things going on around you.
I wish Ryan the best on his journey and I send a shout-out to all of my brother and sister officials out there working hard on and off the court, and serving the game.
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Keep surviving and thriving friends!
