Converting Cutting Criticism Into A Driver For Improvement

What drives your motivation? Correct decisions, greater distances covered, rewards, awards, and compliments are positive forms of motivation for referees.

When your manager/development officer, colleagues, or family believe in you, you will feel that extra spark to go for it.

But what if others don’t believe in you? Can you be motivated by disparaging remarks by players or club officials?

These officials are motivated by proving people wrong. Why are some referees motivated by disparaging remarks while others are negatively affected?

First of all, motivational sources differ from one official to the next. In other words, motivation is personal.

Confidence Is The Second Factor That Determines How Negative Messages Affect Referees

When you have shaky confidence, you tend to internalise negative messages. You wonder, “What if other people are right about me? What if I am not a good official?”

When you have low confidence, you buy into negative messages. Instead of negative comments being water off a duck’s back, those negative messages become self-affirmations.

When you fully believe in yourself, you don’t need confirmation from others. You know what you are capable of accomplishing. You are confident in your abilities, focus, and mental game. 

You have the mindset that no one will tell you what you can or cannot accomplish. You feed off the doubts of others, and that negativity motivates you to dig a bit deeper to prove others wrong.

To Turn Negative Comments Into Motivation, You Must First Work On Building Confidence

Many tools are available to referees to build confidence. When you achieve a high level of confidence, you become, in a sense, bulletproof to most negative criticism.

Instead of hurting your performance, negative comments drive you.

The American Football Perspective

Arizona State football coach Herm Edwards doesn’t buy into the negativity from the media. Before every team meeting, Edwards posts the predictions table. In the 2022 preseason rankings, ASU was projected tenth out of 12 teams.

ASU full back Case Hatch commented that negative media coverage is nothing more than a catchy headline.

“Every meeting (The Coach, Herman Edwards) puts up the conference list, for who’s No. 1, (&) who’s last. We just sit there for a second and look at it. It’s just a reminder of where they have us projected and what we have to prove. The world’s against us.” – Case Hatch, Full Back, Arizona State

ASU offensive lineman LaDarius Henderson stated outside negativity only serves to motivate the team further.

“We’ve already heard from every outlet possible that we’re not going to win any games. We’re horrible. We hear it from ex-players and just all types of people. We’re done with that. We’re playing a game. We’re just locking in. Everybody’s gonna see. We’re not overly concerned with what people think of us. We know who we are.” – LaDarius Henderson, Offensive Lineman, Arizona State

Confidence, or knowing who you are, in conjunction with motivation, will strengthen your performance no matter what the outside world believes.

If you look for criticism, you will find it. It’s everywhere. So avoid having your radar up for hearing criticism from others.

If criticism comes your way, use this strategy for staving off negativity. When you hear criticism, say to yourself, “its water off a duck’s back,” then refocus on what you are doing in the moment.

Get motivated instead of allowing it to consume you.

At The Third Team I work individually and in collaboration with different professionals where I have developed workshops and 1-2-1 sessions associated with Resilience and Mental Toughness Development to help referees. The workshops and 1-2-1 sessions are interactive, where referees are encouraged to open up and share their experiences to help themselves and each other.

Feel free to contact me if you’d like to know more about my workshops or 1-2-1 sessions and how I could help you or your officials.

Best Wishes,