IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!

There are many activities that are always part of sports contests regardless of the type of sport, the equipment used, or in what venue the game occurs. One of these activities is the traditional initial meeting between the coach and the head official. The nature of the encounter can go a long way in creating a positive relationship that lasts throughout an entire season. When handled well, coaches will feel a sense of trust for the officiating crew. When handled poorly, a long game can become much longer, and a tough call can be tougher to defend.

In the sports officiating world, where you are usually working with more than one person, developing trust with partners is a continual process. Each successive higher level affording an easier transition, which should result in it being easier and quicker to earn and build trust. Understanding how to earn trust and how to learn to trust fellow officials is a challenge for an official on the rise.