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
