The importance of family with respect to any profession, but
speaking purely from an official’s point of view here.
3-4-5 sometimes 6 nights per week away from home….sometimes
an hour plus drive one way….sometimes in adverse weather conditions…… a lot of times after
working your “real job” for 9+ hours, mentally drained, etc……
sometimes working with individuals that you are okay with…. sometimes with some
that you’re not very fond of personally or professionally(more mental fatigue...lol).
I say this to say, it takes the entire family for an
official to be a respected professional who is successful at his/her
craft. There are times when I am not
there to help with homework, to help/cook dinner, to hear about the day at
school/work….but come in later in the evening most likely tired from the entire
day (not just reffing), yet taking the time to seek out how the day went in
school, at work, etc. My wife has been
100% supportive of my reffing since I started… and even more so since she began
to officiate. My youngest is also very
supportive of me being out reffing, more so now than she used to be, and she
understands that daddy is out doing something that he loves, that he’s good at
and respected for….and it helps to provide her with some of the things that she
otherwise might not have been readily available to her (yep spoiled…lol). My oldest truly understands the impact that
my reffing has, as she has ventured into the officiating realm and gotten her
license to officiate volleyball, all while completing her first semester of
grad school (proud dad moment)!
As I sit here in my office waiting to depart to yet another
school, for yet another game…. I reflect on what I am missing out on at home,
yet treasure what I am providing at the same time. My children were, and are being raised to
know the importance of a good work ethic, the importance of being professional,
punctual and respected by those in and around you.
My youngest once asked me “daddy, why are you sweating and
the other guy isn’t”?....lol My reply
was simply that I was working hard and doing my best to be my best (not sure if
she really understood my response…lol).
We always tell her, now that she’s venturing into the athletic arena
playing volleyball for the first time……that we don’t expect you to be good,
but we expect you to WANT to be good.
If you want to be good, it’ll translate later on into you being good by
working and trying hard to do your best each and every time out.
My dad once told me, “I want you to be better than me, and
for your kids to be better than you”
That was/is some resounding advice if you really dig deep into it.
The power of family can permeate for generations with just
one simple statement!
Thank you to my entire family!
