Gain access to rules interpretations and expert analysis by becoming a USA Football officiating member and use this off-season to your advantage.
Football is more popular than ever, which translates to a tight off-season schedule for its officials.
That's why it's so important for football officials to hone up on their profession once the season has concluded.
Bill LeMonnier, USA Football's officiating consultant, spends more time every year on the field as an official in the Big Ten Conference and in the Arena Football League. He also spends more time every year enhancing his knowledge.
"The way it's gotten today, with so much football being played, you have to work year-round on your training," LeMonnier said.
"I've seen way too many guys wait until Aug. 1 to worry about their fitness. Number one, you need to do it for yourself, for your own health. Number two, you don't need to be able to play the game, but you do need to look the part and be able to run. You've got to work on fitness year-round."
USA Football officiating members have a treasure trove of information and skill-development programs available to them.
"The USA Football rules interpretation is an outstanding feature," LeMonnier said. "You can click on a topic on the Web site and go to the rule itself for examples of how it's used. There also are video examples. You can take a look at the same thing from four or five perspectives."
LeMonnier has found that small-group meetings with other officials can also bring development in the area of rules during the off-season.
"Guys will put together quizzes for their group in order to improve their rule knowledge," LeMonnier said. "The great thing now is if you can't meet as a crew in person, you can do so over e-mail. You can also go to refstripes.com, which offers a lot of dialogue about rule questions, interpretation and everything else."
Clinics are another sure-fire way to improve skills and technique, and registration is now open for USA Football Officiating Schools.
"When I started as an official in 1973, there were two clinics in the country," LeMonnier said. "Now there are probably 25-35 in the off-season. And they're jammed, every one of them. There's no space available once they've been posted. Guys are hungry. They eat this stuff up, and they can't get enough of it. And they sure don't do it for the money. They do it because they love the game so much."
With video so easily accessible, film study has become another easy element to add to an official's off-season development program. And for those just beginning in the profession, finding a mentor is an important first step.
"There are guys out there who would love to work with you and sit down and offer suggestions," LeMonnier said. "All it takes is seeking them out. If someone wants to not only get better, but also advance, and you have the desire, you have to find a mentor to tell you the ins and outs of what it's like at the next level.
"If you have a mentor who can get the supervisor's ear, and the name gets repeated to the supervisor, that's going to help. Supervisors are at clinics. Go and meet them, let them put a face to the name. Give them an impression. Networking is all part of it."
Officials enter the sport at younger ages every year, and LeMonnier has found them well-equipped to do the job.
"Overall, the ability of the young officials coming in far exceeds the level I was at when I started," he said. "They just need the game experience. New, young officials are going to get an opportunity to move up a lot quicker today than they did before."
Even so, LeMonnier encourages them to get as much work as possible and always strive to improve.
"Anytime you get complacent in what you're doing, anytime you think you've got a handle on it, that's when you start to slip behind," LeMonnier said. "The game continues to evolve. It's not the game my father played. Whether it's the speed, offenses or techniques, the game is evolving. It's not our game. It's their game. They're not going to adjust to us; we've got to adjust to the game."
