Game Management:
What Can We Do To
Help Each Other
FHSAA Compliance Seminar
August 2, 2013
Welcome!
Michael Parks
• 35 total years of officiating experience
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Football - 31 years HS
Basketball - 26 years NCAA D2, JuCo, HS
Softball – 35 years, NCAA Regionals, JuCo National Championships
Baseball – 32 years NCAA, HS. Lead Evaluator for FHSAA
• Retired United States Air Force Police Officer
• Assigner for Baseball and Football
Welcome!
Jason Autrey
• 10 years football officiating experience
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High School – 10 years
NCAA Division 2 – 3 years, Gulf South Conference, 2012 Playoff Crew R
NCAA Division 1 – 3 years, Sun Belt Conference
• County Engineer for Okaloosa County
• Assists with training and evaluation of MSOA football
officials
Game Administration
• Applicable to all sports – MSOA works
Football, Basketball and Baseball
• Our area has no “County AD’s”, some
schools have Head Coach AD, some have
designated AD
• This is an overview of our way of doing
things…
Game Administration
Timeline
• Contracts
• Schedules
• Facilities
• Pre-season
• Gameday
• Payment
We do…
Contracts
• Provide contracts several months before the
season
 March for Football
 September for Basketball
 November for Baseball/Softball
You do…
• Get completed contracts back to us so we don’t
overbook
 March for Football helps us plan for spring practices
 September for Basketball
 November for Baseball/Softball – holidays and then
practice starts…
We do…
Schedules
• Send you a list of all games
 Pre-season we send you all games, dates and opponents
of your home schedule we are working.
 One week prior we send a master copy to all contracted
schools.
You do…
• Review, verify and confirm to us the information
we send you
• Keep us “in the loop” of modifications
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Games moved or cancelled
Time change
Weather – rain-outs are a nightmare for us too!
Schedules
Keep in mind:
• Plan ahead when creating schedules
 NCAA National Championship game is scheduled way in
advance…avoid scheduling basketball games on that day
 Baseball season starts when it can be cold and wet –
consider playing games at earlier day times.
 Think ahead about potential conflicts if/when your
football team is in the playoffs.
 The sooner you give us information, the better we can
service your need.
Pre-Season
We do…
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Work as many scrimmages as possible. Officials need
practice just like players
Speak with your coaches and team about rule changes and
what behavior is expected
Be approachable – show a human side and relate to players
and coaches. We are NOT the enemy
Pre-Season
You do…
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Schedule scrimmages that are after “normal” work hours.
It’s hard to get officials to work at 2 or 3 in the afternoon
on a weekday.
Make players and coaches accessible. Alert them ahead
of time to be ready to ask questions
Stay on schedule
Make your assistants get in the rule book
Facilities
You do…
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Reserve the crew a few parking spaces
Provide a clean, dry place to change – showers if possible
Have administrative contact in charge stop by and introduce
themselves
Drinks – in a cooler in the locker room or an assigned person
to bring something from the refreshment stand
Sandwiches and/or snacks are very appreciated
We do…
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Leave the facilities cleaner than when we got there
Snack bars are NOT a buffet – great place to get in trouble
Notify administration when we are on site
Game-day
What you should expect from us…
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9th Grade/JV Officials arrive 30-45 minutes prior to the
scheduled game time
Varsity arrive 45-60 minutes prior (Football should be a 90
minute minimum)
Clean, well dressed, personable officials
Officials will answer questions – not statements – when asked
Able to explain a rule/ruling without giving a clinic
Will keep the game moving along
Look and act like they want to be there
Game-day
What we NEED from you…
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Someone to show us to and let us in the locker room
Field in playable condition; properly marked
Scoreboard on and working
Capable help to work the table for basketball
An announcer to announce, not give play by play
Announcer to keep “homerism” to a minimum
Security should not have to be asked for; they should find us
Somebody to control the big picture
In-Game
What we NEED from you…
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Controlled playing area
Keep those that are “supposed” to be there (media,
cheerleaders, band, etc.) in a safe location
Keep those that are not “supposed” to be there (students,
parents, spectators, etc.) in appropriate locations
If things go wrong, have your team members take a knee.
Coaches can come out to break up any non-game related action
(fights), officials will back away and observe only!
Player disqualification procedure
In-Game
Things we all need to be ready for…
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Concussions – officials are not doctors. Players are required to
leave the game in order to get proper medical attention
Emergencies – proper time will be given to address emergency
issues. Emergency responders will not be hurried
Weather – NFHS has specific protocols for lightning
Jessica Lunsford Act – All contest officials are expected to have
the appropriate badge with them at the game
Sportsmanship – point of emphasis
Rules Knowledge
We do…
Payment
• Prepare an understandable, accurate bill for your
book keeper
• Provide a point of contact for any questions
You do…
• Remit payment in a timely manner
• Be responsive, nothing worse then calling multiple
times looking for a payment with no response
Questions?
Thank you for your time and attention
Have a GREAT 2013-2014 School Year!
Michael Parks
Jason Autrey
4mparks@cox.net
jautrey@cox.net