Mentoring could be the most important element to a successful official’s career.

I wanted to take a moment to tell you about the chapter I’m currently writing on Mentoring. I went back through about 10 interviews and listened again to the NFL and NCAA guys speak about mentoring. I was blown away by what they said. I can honestly tell you that each and every person I’ve interviewed has Mentoring listed at the top of their list relative to how they achieved their current heights.
 
Here’s a few quotes I want to share with you:
 
“I think the absolute most important strategy that an official, if they want to advance or even get better at their current level, then they need to find that person who’s working at the top.  Humble yourself and go to that person and say, “Hey, I want to be where you are.  What are some things that you’ve done to make you successful to get there and, knowing my personality traits, my officiating style, what are some things that I can do to improve myself?” 
 
– Ken Rivera, Mountain West Coordinator
 
“Here were guys that would flat out look you in the eye and they’d tell you when you did something positive, and they’d flat out tell you when you needed to change something, you know?  And they did it without being judgmental.  But they could look you in the eye and they could say.”Hey, here’s what I would recommend you to do if that situation happens again.  And that’s what you need from people.  It’s great to have somebody pat you on the back but that’s not, if it needs to change somebody’s got to look you in the eye and tell you.  And then you’ve got to be able to accept that and move on.”
 
– Bill LeMonnier, Big 10 Referee and USA Football Consultant
 
Bill Lovett offered to all the officials, he said that mainly this is for the younger officials or guys that are having a little trouble or whatever and need some assistance.  But they offered their services to all the officials, and anybody who wants weekly calls or to look at film and help them out, they were offering that to anybody. The response that they got back from veterans, from guys that had just worked Super Bowls who were like, “Please take a look at me.” Guys are always trying to get better. They were wanting the training.  And just as a rookie official I looked at that like, that is unbelievable.  There are guys that you looked up to, these guys are the best in the world, and they are striving to get better. They are using tools like this to get better .
 
 – Allen Baynes, NFL Side Judge
 
I hope you see the importance of having a mentor in your officiating career. I know I have mine and they pay huge dividends.  

Please leave me a few comments on how mentoring has affected you and your officiating experience.

Have a great weekend!

Todd

Doug Rhoads

Have you ever thought about applying to the ACC? Well to get on an ACC crew, the competition is high and you must be at the top of your game. Typically only 1-4 positions open up each year. Turnover is minimal.

The following list is the evaluation criteria Doug Rhoads uses when considering candidates to his conference. This list would also be of value to anyone applying in ANY conference.

Thanks Doug!

1. Maintains Fitness Level

2. Knowledge of Rules and Mechanics

3. Effective communication: Meeting deadlines, explaining situations to coaches, etc

4. Professionalism: Be a problem solver, perform ancillary duties, be committed

5. Possess High Personal Qualities: Integrity, Ethics, Candor, Courtesy

6. Perform Officiating Duties with Consistency, Accuracy and Relevancy

Stan Weihe, Roy Potts, Todd Skaggs, Chuck Russ

Here is a picture taken after our Kentucky scrimmage last Saturday. Stan is an Umpire in the Sun Belt, Roy is a Side Judge in the SEC, Chuck is a Side Judge in the SEC and then there’s me…the Rook. Missing is Matt Austin, SEC Referee and Wilbur Hackett Jr., SEC Umpire. Wilbur drove separately and Matt had to stay in Lexington for an Arena II game later that night.

Aside from me, there is over eight years experience there. On an interesting note, Stan was my first year class instructor seven years ago so it was really special for me to work at Commonwealth Stadium with him.

I love all the zebra uniforms!

Some of you may know, I’m somewhat of an self-proclaimed officiating NUT! In addition to football (which I’m most passionate about), I also officiate basketball and fast-pitch softball. I’ve even considered lacrosse and volleyball at different points.

Check out my personal blog for a recent photo of my and my partner just prior to the 2008-09 Bullitt County 13-15 Boy’s Championship game.

www.toddskaggs.com

Until next time,

Be the Best on the Field.

Todd

I arrived at the stadium early as suggested by several, actually I was the first to hit the locker room. I had to find Coach Brohm to unlock the door and let me inside. Rumor had it that over 100 recruits and their families were on hand to watch teh scrimmage. Louisville closed the scrimmage to outsiders so the stands mostly empty.

My fellow officials began to arrive shortly after I did. It was rather chilly that day so we agreed to wear long sleeve shirts. Knickers had already been called earlier in the week. I had already shined my shoes the night before (a pregame ritual with me) so my uniform was in order. I also packed about 1000 butterflies in my stomach as well!

I hit the field with 8 other officials from the Big East (2), Sunbelt (1), Ohio Valley (2), Mid South (1) and two rookies (me included). Kavin McGrath, Big East HL and brother to John McGrath (NFL), was the organizer of the officials and had asked me where I wanted to work. My preference is the line of scrimmage but I also wanted to get a few snaps in at SJ/FJ too. Tommy Walsh made it almost to the field  before he realized he was missing a hat! Too funny.

One thing that concerned me was my lack of experience with NCAA mechanics. See that’s not something that’s easy to find, or to read up on. I did however, have a chance to review the rulebook and we covered the proposed 2009 rule changes prior to taking the field. So I followed John McGrath’s  advice: Get behind on of the veterans and ask questions. So I parked myself on the sideline behind Tommy Walsh from the Big East and did exactly that. Soaked it up.

Before I knew it, Tommy turned towards me and motioned me to the side line. Fortunately I had the Defense on my side so most of the coaching staff were located opposite of me. I still remember Tommy’s advice: “remember…they might be a little bit bigger, a little bit faster, but its still just football.” That helped calm my nerves…a little bit.

The first couple of plays were runs and relatively easy. The mechanics here are basically the same as high school. Then the Offense came out and lined up in the shotgun. Pass play. Something didn’t look  right on my side. Now Tommy had explaining how he counts players on his side of the ball. This was a little new to me so it took some time to process. I had been working on repeating my “SNAP, TACKLE, BACK” chant in my head while I counted  the players. Trying to gain some form of brain repetition with regards to football officiating. I also was learning my keys during  this time. But as I said before, something on this play didn’t look right but I must admit, the snap happened before I figured it out. Bad move.

You  see, rookie officials are not the only people on the field battling the butterflies. Seems WR’s have similar issues as well especially with regards to formations. The WR on my side was covering up the TE and upon the snap, guess what happened? You got it, they both released downfield. I missed it. No yellow flag on the ground to enunciate  the penalty. But the defensive coaching staff didn’t miss it!!! I then got my first taste of Big East ear-chewing, but you can bet I didn’t miss that again the rest of the day!

So I alternated with Tommy a few more series then Kavin McGrath came over from the LJ  side to work with me. Tommy moved back to Side Judge and I had the chance to brush up on the finer points of working the Line of Scrimmage from not one but two outstanding Big East officials. it was great just to be in an environment where I could immediately ask another official about a play, situation, possible penalty or otherwise.

So three hours later, the scrimmage came to a close. After the first few series, the butterflies subsided and I found I was really enjoying myself. It was a great experience, one filled with many learnings, some good laughs and a few mistakes from which I will not soon forget. When you are passionate about the game of football, surrounded by the comraderie of fellow officials and sharing the field with the best of the best, I couldn’t help but feel very fortunate for the chance to don the knickers in March.

August can’t come soon enough.