Veteran officials know that correct mechanics place a referee in the right spot to make the call. The call may be a flag for taunting, an ejection for flagrant contact or a "no call" by a strategically positioned official to prevent a violation. In all these events, mechanics save the day by avoiding a situation that could lead to official liability.
Well-officiated games and matches are virtual textbooks of risk management. Why? Because well-officiated games are in part the result of the referees' acknowledgment that the safety of the players is their first and overriding responsibility. The rules provide safeguards for the physical well-being of the participants and the spectators, as well as a balance between the offense and the defense. As officials, our role is to enforce those rules. We are all who stand between mayhem and competition that is safe - while giving both teams an equal opportunity to win.
For referees, there is a critical difference between "preventive officiating" and failing to penalize when in possession of definite knowledge that a violation or foul has occurred. Officials who cannot or will not penalize taunting and baiting, unnecessary roughness, illegal and dangerous tactics, and equipment and uniform violations cannot, by definition, call a good game, nor can they practice effective risk management.
On the other hand, officials who recognize their primary responsibility for player safety understand that good mechanics make it possible to call the game within the spirit and intent of the rules. Conversely, bad mechanics create a fertile climate for letting the game "go south." Officials who choose good mechanics manage exposure to liability by maintaining a safe environment.
Using approved mechanics - being in the right position on the field or court at the right time - goes a long way toward being able to spot and penalize rules infractions that compromise player safety. On the other hand, being out of position greatly increases the chance of not observing illegal actions. In many cases, the simple act of remaining alert while continuing to supervise players after a scoring event or a hard foul goes a long way toward securing the safe environment that officials need to provide.
Still, officials need to do more than make sure they are in the right position to make the call. Calling the game so that the safety of the players is maximized requires a thorough understanding of how you will work with your partner or partners and who has responsibility for what. Therefore, a good pregame conference - no matter what the sport - is vital to assuring that players and benches will be under observation at all times. Whether two, three, four or more officials are working the game or contest. Situations such as pileups after fumbles, diving for a loose ball, out-of-bounds hijinks and dead-ball periods, as well as "trash talking" and other forms of baiting an opponent, must be covered in your pregame if you want to manage your exposure to liability. While physical actions, such as hard fouls and other forms of illegal contact are common causes of injuries, the non-contact fouls involving taunting or baiting an opponent can be just as damaging. Remember that any attempt to embarrass, ridicule or demean another person is a foul.
Lastly, how officials comport themselves before and after the game in terms of maintaining the appearance of impartiality and avoiding inappropriate statements to those not directly concerned with the game, round out the competent official's approach to mechanics as the first step in managing liability.
Written by Alan Goldberger, an attorney and official from Clifton, N.J., who wrote Sports Officiating: A Legal Guide. This column is for informational purposes and is not legal advice.
This column originally appeared in Youth Football 2006-07, published by Referee magazine, the National Association of Sports Officials and USA Football.
