ARE YOUR OFFICIALS READY TO PLAY DEFENSE? LEGAL DEFENSE?
If your officials are ready to call a game that's
SAFE, FAIR, & FUN...
Knowing "The Law" Can Help. A Lot!
This is where I come in. In my day job, I am a practicing attorney; but don't hold that against me. For about 35 years, I worked at night. And on weekends, too. I wore mostly stripes. That's right. I officiated basketball, football and baseball. College,high school, independent, recreation. From Division I down to the youth leagues, at some point in my officiating life, I was there. Most of my friends and clients officiate, or like you, engage, supervise, or instruct those who do.
That's why I'd like to speak to your officiating staff "official to official." With my presentations, created and delivered by a referee for referees (and umpires, too), your staff will be brought up to speed on what the law requires of us and how to use great mechanics, the rules and the law to manage the risks we all face.
When I first started officiating in high school, it was as a baseball umpire. Then on to college, where I picked up the sports of football and basketball, as the seasons turned.
Back then, training officials and supervising their assignments was nowhere near the job it is now. What with the "eye in the sky" of instant replay, social media, and the ever intrusive smart phone videos in the hands of everyone old enough to walk, officiating is way different than it was even a few years ago.
The stakes are higher as well. As sports at all levels expand together with the expectations of today's student-athletes -- and their parents -the athletes' skills are more and more perceived as a ticket to fame and fortune. Winning, as a legendary coach once said, may be "the only thing," but for those of us involved in officiating and the delivery of sports programs to wide segments of the population, "Safe, Fair and Fun" is everything. At the end of the day, the game is safe, fair and fun because officials - and those who supervise their services -- make it so.
Today, more than ever, your officials need to be aware that legal responsibilities placed on all of us by the rules - and often by laws, have expanded. I've defended referees and umpires against all sorts of claims and suits. At all levels, my experiences as a working
official and as an attorney - and my lifelong observation of the some of the best officials on the planet - tells me that
YOUR staff needs awareness of their legal responsibilities as officials. Here are just a few of the important topics I discuss:
HOW A GOOD "PRE-GAME" CAN HELP AVOID LIABILITY
KEYS TO CONTROLLING ROUGH PLAY/TAUNTING AND BAITING
THE ART OF MANAGING THE FIGHT
THE IMPORTANCE OF INJURY MECHANICS
WHY OFFICIALS NEED TO ENFORCE EQUIPMENT/UNIFORM -RELATED RULES
THE VALUE OF PRESERVING THE APPEARANCE OF IMPARTIALITY
TECHNIQUES TO MANAGE EXPOSURE TO LIABILITY BEFORE AND AFTER THE GAME
For more information on how I can help your officiating staff:
CALL ME directly at
201.755.6800 or 973.471.9200.
Thank you and I look forward to speaking with you soon!
Al
