I love soccer and I am a state referee, class two, with the United States Soccer Federation. I first began officiating in 1997. In 2009 I was recruited to become an NCAA official and I have thoroughly enjoyed officiating collegiately.
Reflecting on my work as a referee, I've centered my professional career around a few key principles.
First, I believe respect and authenticity are vital to any service related environment. Athletes are under intense pressure to perform from family, coaches and fans. They all, at some point will make a mistake or an embarrassing decision that will be viewed by all. It's important that though they might have made a poor decision, they are still treated professionally and respectfully by staff like myself. I believe everyone, no matter how terrible their decision, still deserves the right to be treated like a human being.
Second, I believe good communication skills are vital to every successful worker and work environment. Honest and open communication in a work environment promotes progressiveness as employers and employees can interact openly, enabling improvement in both. The benefits also help the relationship between fellow employees because good communication equals good teamwork. On a final note, good communication skills also mean good customer service - with such skills, one can appropriately deescalate tough situations or effectively convey important information.
Having a professional demeanor and being a strong communicator are two traits that I excel in and work very hard at. Whether I am working in criminal investigations or sports officiating, excelling in these areas is crucial.
