How are you feeling today? To many, this is an everyday, non-consequential type of question. Many times our responses are sanguine-"Doing OK, you?" or "I am fine, hope you are!" And, I must admit, I do this all the time. Most of the time, when I am asked that-the person asking the question really doesn't care about how I am, they are just being socially polite.
BUT, let me give you some context. What about this question-How is your body holding up during the long season's physical demands of the basketball season? Many guys/gals that may read this article, work several nights/days each week. I once saw an ESPN expose about a well known NCAA Division I official and his travel schedule during just one month of the season. In a 30 day month he roughly had only 7 total "days" off, including travel. I know many officials in my local area that work multiple levels, and on average call 4 to 5 days a week. This has to have some impacts on our bodies?
Well it does. Here is a real story, the names are not mentioned to protect the innocent! In the pregame, the crew is going back and forth with the normal stuff. The night promises to offer some challenges, as one of the teams is looking to move up in conference standings. There is a slight delay in getting the crew to the floor for "technical" reasons. During the "down time" conversation turns to schedules and the physical demands they place on the body. Interestingly enough, a statement is made that one member is just "tired tonight." Further conversation revealed that there were thoughts about schedule, travel, and physical and mental impacts.
The game proceeded. And, as expected one team came out and just "punched the other in the mouth." We all have seen it-suffocating defense in the back-court, get the turnover, then rain down the three's. The losing team's coach is getting animated. He starts chirping. His players on the court start chirping as well. At half time, conversation within the crew is around managing the game. You know, let's stay in control, keep this game between the lines.
Second half opens up. Three minutes in we have a technical foul on a player, a warning to a coach, and a technical foul on the coach. In three minutes. Not making a judgment on the guys calls, because yes it all came from one official. During a time out early, the calling official mentions to the crew something about having his back. After the game, an apology is issued, and a heartfelt statement about being tired and letting it affect his performance.
Not saying anything against anybody here, and I am no saint when it comes to keeping my concentration on the floor and staying grounded in "Real-ville." My lesson is more global-how can we manage ourselves during a long season to make sure we are the best team on the court every night? Answers abound, but consider some of these tidbits that come from various sources.
Physical preparation: most of the problems I see usually come from the off season. Not keeping ourselves in physical shape. I have talked to six doctors and exercise physiologists over the last two years, and every one of them made statements about body weight, and the impact it has on what a basketball official does on the floor. It is just common sense-extra pounds-no matter what the body type-mean extra pressure on joints and extra energy to move the the body. Soreness and pain can affect our rest and recovery. Rest and recovery, affects our moods, emotions and judgments over time. And, as we age up, it is more difficult to manage that weight down from the off-season. Sociologist and gerontologists tell us that "boomers" (Baby Boomers, as in the generation for you young readers) see themselves as being 10 years younger than their chronological age. Point being is-folks each year we go into the season its gets harder for us to drop the extra pounds. The normal stuff we do to lose the pounds doesn't work like it used to. So, if you are a referee over the age of 40-consider adjusting your workouts to take care of the extra pounds, "cause the body is a changing faster than you want to admit!"
Mental preparation: it just takes discipline! In that same game, the coach made a statement to me-that he had attended the clinic meeting, and there was supposed to be a "clean slate" for this game. The official that hit him with the technical was holding a grudge from a previous game. Not something you want to hear from a coach. I mean, how do you respond to that? Trying to protect the integrity of the game, the integrity of the crew and keep yourself focused. We have to be professional no matter what the circumstance. We all know late season conference games are going to have higher emotional investments from the teams, crowds, and everyone involved. We have to know going in how we plan to respond. Game management becomes so much more critical. You have to look for opportunities early to respond appropriately to emotionally charged actions on the floor. And, not every emotional occurrence needs a "hard" response from us. Slow down, look at the action, see where it is coming from, look at the result, where was it directed, what impact did it have on the situation and the game, and who was impacted? Then, make a solid professional judgment in the moment with no preconceived notions. Judge what you just saw and proceed. And when you do what you are going to do-do it with calm professionalism. Act like you have seen it before. It is just a play/occurrence. It is not the end of mankind as we know it.
As we strive to be the best team on the floor each night, all of us need to remember our avocation calls on us to think about the impacts we as physical beings have on our games. Let's get our rest, adjust our preparations, make our bodies and minds the best they can be-then let's all be the "the best team on the floor" and "get the call right!"
No comments:
Post a Comment