Most people in society have some sort of "hobby" that brings them joy. It's definitely an integral part of a happy life. By hobby, I mean some sort of activity, mental or physical, that lights a fire in your soul. Gets you off your butt for some part of the day or week. Surrounds you with interesting people that share your passion. You lose track of time while engaging in the activity. You think about getting back to that activity while you're burdened with something else to do - be it work, or errands, or family responsibilities...whatever.
There are several hobbies that bring me joy and add in a little physical or mental activity. Be it photography, or golf, or music. Lately, it has been writing. There is one unique hobby that I fell into at the ripe old age of 18 that I have been committed to for roughly 33 years. Some may not consider it a hobby since I actually get paid as a contractor to perform my hobby. The pay for me is not my intention, but it is fun money. It's also a hobby that develops my skills and attitudes in commercial sales in the paper and packaging industries.
When I was a kid, I was a basketball fanatic. Somewhat of a late bloomer, though, with my growth and skillset...so never good enough for making the high school team (over 1,000 other boys attended the same school.) Even with all the camps, open gyms, backyard hoops, endless drills, conditioning, and watching every NCAA and NBA game aired, I was just too slow and small. Thank goodness for intramural sports. I was able to play organized basketball despite my shortcomings. During my freshman year of college, I saw a posted flyer for becoming a basketball referee - the university rec center needed refs for all the games being played on campus. An added bonus to the training was a license to officiate games for local school districts. I scoffed at the notion because I spent my whole life hating the zebras. They all seemed like idiots to me. Nonetheless, I needed money back then and loved the game. Plus, it was a way for me to continue to engage in the sport I loved. So I pursued the opportunity and never looked back. It has brought me joy for decades.
The uniqueness of my referee hobby is the environment and tribal knowledge around something called "game management." There are hard and fast rules involved in the game, which are easy to learn and well documented, especially if you have been involved in the game already. I did learn a few new things though (e.g. there really is no "over the back" rule on rebounds.) Games at the high school level are very procedural and conducted in the same manner every time. However, the term "game management" comes into play when it comes time to apply those rules to what is happening during the live action.
Truth be told, basketball IS a contact sport. Not all contact constitutes a foul. Otherwise, a whistle would be blown and play stopped every minute or less. Nobody wants to sit through a 3-hour game, especially if there are more games scheduled after the current contest. What you have to consider during the action, and to base your calls, is advantage/disadvantage. Is the rule infraction (bump, push, hold, slap) creating an advantage during the play for the perpetrator, or conversely, creating a disadvantage for the victim in the play? Through that lens, you can either stop play for a foul (violations like traveling or double dribble always creates an advantage, so they are called if seen), or let the players play on and not stop the flow of the game. Most of the time, you can look at the situation and see how the play develops for a fraction of a second, which we refs call a "patient whistle." If the illegal infraction changes the story, then it's got to be called. If nothing really happens despite the illegal infraction, then it just becomes a game interrupter that should be ignored. We call that incidental contact.
Other facets of officiating athletics that I'll mention, which may apply to readers of this column, are developing a thick skin, making split-second decisions, understanding the current situation, trusting your referee partners, and leaving all ego and bias at the door. Over a 3-decade career (so far), I've never once cared who won. The top concerns, in order, have ALWAYS been player safety and a fair contest. "Fair" is still a subjective term, but it certainly does not mean keeping the team fouls for each side the same. The fact is, there are physical teams that use aggressiveness and fouling as a game strategy and intimidation tactic, and other teams that are so insanely athletic as to avoid any rule infraction. And let's not forget, in a gymnasium of 2,000 people, half the crowd is always going to hate each and every call you make (through their own biases.) I also find unruly fans to be comical now days. At first, it hurt, but the thick skin developed and now it is funny to watch. Rude and know-it-all fans could not effectively officiate a game for 5 minutes without all hell breaking loose. Very quickly I learned to tune out the insults and jabs, which now I don't even hear most of the time. It's just a game, people. Officials are human, too, so mistakes can and do happen. It's a fast game and we do not get replays at the high school level. So you better be in position to make the right calls.
My officiating career has brought me joy and excitement the entire time. Yes, frustration does seep in every once in a while - typically if you are working with a bad partner on your crew for a game. No matter what happens, you have to continue to rely on your training and experience. So I now will draw some metaphors to the professional working environment in the paper industry of which these columns are intended to address. For every commercial deal, engaged in by buyers and sellers and competitors, there are times for offense and times for defense. There are rules to apply, but not always as they are mostly subjective rules. Bias is everywhere and that can make one blind to the truth or the correct path forward. You have to develop confidence and a thick skin. Don't take things personal. Safety is paramount and fair contests are ideal and definitely achievable. I have to trust my crew members (i.e. colleagues) to make the right calls for any given situation and do the same for them.
I wish more people would consider officiating as their hobby too. We get paid to exercise after all! The ranks of officials have dwindled substantially, and many are hanging up their whistle due to the poor attitudes of players, coaches, and administrators. There's a lack of fortitude in the profession for newcomers. It's a tough business to be in until you get comfortable and confident. Sound familiar?
Steve Sena (stevesena@me.com) is a Cincinnati native. He obtained degrees in Paper Science & Engineering from Miami University in Oxford, OH and an MBA concentrating in Economics from Xavier University. He's worked for a broad array of leading producers, suppliers, and converters of pulp and paper grades.
