http://www.bigskyconf.com/article.asp?articleid=86624
August 3, 2007
Big Sky Officials
Learn From the Best
Jon Kasper of the Big Sky Conference
Officials Clinic - Aug. 3
It’s a sultry Saturday morning in late July high in the mountains of Park City, Utah, and roughly 100 men are listening attentively, absorbing all that Tony Corrente and his friends have to say.
A few months ago, Corrente reached the pinnacle of his profession, serving as the referee of Super Bowl XLI. On this Saturday, Corrente and several other NFL officials are teaching at the annual Big Sky Conference football officials’ clinic.
The clinic is a three-day, thorough workshop held to prepare officials for the upcoming season, and build camaraderie. The clinic is headed by Big Sky Conference Football Officials Coordinator Doug Toole, himself a retired NFL official who worked two Super Bowls.
“Its importance is beyond value,’’ said Corrente of the clinic. “It’s an opportunity for everyone within a conference to hear exactly the same thing, and to understand exactly what the supervisor wants done, what the NCAA wants done, how they want the game officiated.”
All aspects of officiating were covered during the three days. Officials took exams, reviewed rules, watched film, and discussed fitness. They split up and held positional meetings, as well as specific crew meetings. They played golf, and partook in morning “fun runs.’’ Many of the meetings were held indoors, but Saturday morning consisted of an on-the-field seminar.
Corrente, NFL side judge Tom Finckren, NFL field judge Craig Wrolstad, NFL Line of scrimmage officials trainer Sid Semon, and retired NFL official John Robison displayed proper mechanics, and gave examples of poor mechanics. They answered questions regarding rules, and shared stories.
“I try to take away from the clinic the rules knowledge and the interpretation of rules, and some of the little stuff we can do as football officials to improve the game,’’ said veteran Big Sky Conference side judge Bob Holloway. “We learn things like ball mechanics, and how we communicate with each other, which is huge now.’’
Toole and Corrente stressed the importance of communication during the on-field seminar. Toole reminded officials that when they huddle to discuss penalty calls to always look at each other, and refrain from writing the calls on their cards until they return to their positions.
“Some guys walked off the field, and said, ‘wow, you guys gave us stuff here that I’ve never experienced, and would have had to learn by doing them and making the mistakes,’ ’’ Corrente said. “We illustrate it for them. It’s nice to get them out of a rulebook, out of a room watching video tapes. I’m not from Park City, but the distractions here are numerous. But you know what? You get into a stadium and the distractions are there and you have to learn to focus yourself.’’
While many of the officials in attendance work for the Big Sky, others work high school or small-college games. The Big Sky invites officials from smaller conferences, like the Frontier to attend the workshop with hopes of improving officiating at those levels. They come to Park City intent on learning from the best in the officiating world, and hoping to improve their chances of landing a job in the Big Sky.
“The first time you come, you’re astounded by how much you get out of it,’’ said Frontier Conference official Ryan Leland. “You listen. You see how everyone prepares, and how professional the NFL guys are. I get so much out of this, hearing what those guys, say, think and do.’’
Holloway said he brought two small-college officials from the Seattle-Tacoma area to the clinic for the first time.
“They are amazed by the amount of information,’’ Holloway said. “It’s really a compliment to Doug (Toole) and his staff. You’re getting information from the best guys in the world. They are all very, very good teachers, good individuals, and they have really great ability. They know how to deliver the information.’’
Corrente said he tries to stress to young officials that football is football, regardless of whether it’s a high school game in Idaho or the Super Bowl.
“Even though they may be coming up to a higher level, it’s still the game of football,’’ Corrente said. “It just happens to be played by players who are bigger, faster, and stronger, and there are more people in the stands. For them, they have to learn to gain a comfort zone with the fans and players and coaches. They have to realize the fans haven’t come out to watch them. It’s a players’ game, it’s a fans’ game, it’s a coaches’ game. We try to relate that to them so they don’t suddenly think they are more important than they really are. They are an important aspect of the game, but they shouldn’t dominate.’’
As Holloway points out, the clinic is not the start of the officials’ preparation. Holloway said he has been on the phone and at meetings with officials in his area, discussing rule changes all summer. Holloway also said officials review their performances on-line through www.bigskytv.org. During the season, officiating crews meet every Friday night to review film of the previous week’s game.
“Anything you can get, you can learn from,’’ Holloway said. “Every chance I get to watch myself on tape, I take it.’’
All of the clinic’s attendees realize mistakes will be made throughout the season. Many of last year’s mistakes were reviewed at the clinic. Officials are human, as is the quarterback who throws an interception, the running back who fumbles on the goal-line, a linebacker who misses a tackle, and the coach who calls an ill-conceived play with the pressure on in the fourth quarter.
“The Big Sky is so fortunate to have Doug Toole,’’ Corrente said. “Doug understands what the game is all about, and what it means to the players, coaches and everyone else. He wants these guys to do the best job they can. He’s been at the highest level. His expectations for these guys are high, but they aren’t unreal. Big Sky coaches don’t expect their players to perform like NFL players. It’s just unreal. Doug is very realistic in the goals he has in mind, and realistic job performance standards.’’
August 3, 2007
Big Sky Officials
Learn From the Best
Jon Kasper of the Big Sky Conference
Officials Clinic - Aug. 3
It’s a sultry Saturday morning in late July high in the mountains of Park City, Utah, and roughly 100 men are listening attentively, absorbing all that Tony Corrente and his friends have to say.
A few months ago, Corrente reached the pinnacle of his profession, serving as the referee of Super Bowl XLI. On this Saturday, Corrente and several other NFL officials are teaching at the annual Big Sky Conference football officials’ clinic.
The clinic is a three-day, thorough workshop held to prepare officials for the upcoming season, and build camaraderie. The clinic is headed by Big Sky Conference Football Officials Coordinator Doug Toole, himself a retired NFL official who worked two Super Bowls.
“Its importance is beyond value,’’ said Corrente of the clinic. “It’s an opportunity for everyone within a conference to hear exactly the same thing, and to understand exactly what the supervisor wants done, what the NCAA wants done, how they want the game officiated.”
All aspects of officiating were covered during the three days. Officials took exams, reviewed rules, watched film, and discussed fitness. They split up and held positional meetings, as well as specific crew meetings. They played golf, and partook in morning “fun runs.’’ Many of the meetings were held indoors, but Saturday morning consisted of an on-the-field seminar.
Corrente, NFL side judge Tom Finckren, NFL field judge Craig Wrolstad, NFL Line of scrimmage officials trainer Sid Semon, and retired NFL official John Robison displayed proper mechanics, and gave examples of poor mechanics. They answered questions regarding rules, and shared stories.
“I try to take away from the clinic the rules knowledge and the interpretation of rules, and some of the little stuff we can do as football officials to improve the game,’’ said veteran Big Sky Conference side judge Bob Holloway. “We learn things like ball mechanics, and how we communicate with each other, which is huge now.’’
Toole and Corrente stressed the importance of communication during the on-field seminar. Toole reminded officials that when they huddle to discuss penalty calls to always look at each other, and refrain from writing the calls on their cards until they return to their positions.
“Some guys walked off the field, and said, ‘wow, you guys gave us stuff here that I’ve never experienced, and would have had to learn by doing them and making the mistakes,’ ’’ Corrente said. “We illustrate it for them. It’s nice to get them out of a rulebook, out of a room watching video tapes. I’m not from Park City, but the distractions here are numerous. But you know what? You get into a stadium and the distractions are there and you have to learn to focus yourself.’’
While many of the officials in attendance work for the Big Sky, others work high school or small-college games. The Big Sky invites officials from smaller conferences, like the Frontier to attend the workshop with hopes of improving officiating at those levels. They come to Park City intent on learning from the best in the officiating world, and hoping to improve their chances of landing a job in the Big Sky.
“The first time you come, you’re astounded by how much you get out of it,’’ said Frontier Conference official Ryan Leland. “You listen. You see how everyone prepares, and how professional the NFL guys are. I get so much out of this, hearing what those guys, say, think and do.’’
Holloway said he brought two small-college officials from the Seattle-Tacoma area to the clinic for the first time.
“They are amazed by the amount of information,’’ Holloway said. “It’s really a compliment to Doug (Toole) and his staff. You’re getting information from the best guys in the world. They are all very, very good teachers, good individuals, and they have really great ability. They know how to deliver the information.’’
Corrente said he tries to stress to young officials that football is football, regardless of whether it’s a high school game in Idaho or the Super Bowl.
“Even though they may be coming up to a higher level, it’s still the game of football,’’ Corrente said. “It just happens to be played by players who are bigger, faster, and stronger, and there are more people in the stands. For them, they have to learn to gain a comfort zone with the fans and players and coaches. They have to realize the fans haven’t come out to watch them. It’s a players’ game, it’s a fans’ game, it’s a coaches’ game. We try to relate that to them so they don’t suddenly think they are more important than they really are. They are an important aspect of the game, but they shouldn’t dominate.’’
As Holloway points out, the clinic is not the start of the officials’ preparation. Holloway said he has been on the phone and at meetings with officials in his area, discussing rule changes all summer. Holloway also said officials review their performances on-line through www.bigskytv.org. During the season, officiating crews meet every Friday night to review film of the previous week’s game.
“Anything you can get, you can learn from,’’ Holloway said. “Every chance I get to watch myself on tape, I take it.’’
All of the clinic’s attendees realize mistakes will be made throughout the season. Many of last year’s mistakes were reviewed at the clinic. Officials are human, as is the quarterback who throws an interception, the running back who fumbles on the goal-line, a linebacker who misses a tackle, and the coach who calls an ill-conceived play with the pressure on in the fourth quarter.
“The Big Sky is so fortunate to have Doug Toole,’’ Corrente said. “Doug understands what the game is all about, and what it means to the players, coaches and everyone else. He wants these guys to do the best job they can. He’s been at the highest level. His expectations for these guys are high, but they aren’t unreal. Big Sky coaches don’t expect their players to perform like NFL players. It’s just unreal. Doug is very realistic in the goals he has in mind, and realistic job performance standards.’’
