All referees seek to gain an advantage in their fixtures, to officiate with confidence in tight games, to rise to challenges, to achieve more of their potential and to get to the “next level.”
The question most referees seek to answer is, “How do I get to the next level?” or “What specifically do elite match officials do that separates them from their colleagues?”
Top flight referees engage in mental toughness training as part of their training regime.
Mental toughness is about overcoming distractions (fear of failing, worry about future performances, players, club officials, past mistakes) and focusing on what you can do now to positively affect the game you’re appointed to officiate.
The secret to success is that top refereeing teams and top officials consistently train their mental game along with the physical training that they do.
The American Football Example
Consider 2014 Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks.
Seattle were on the brink of losing the 2014 NFC championship game, losing 16-0 at half time.
Then with time running out, the Seahawks completed the biggest comeback in championship history defeating the Green Bay Packers in the last passage of play in extra time to win their second straight NFC Championship.
Many labelled the comeback as “miraculous” but, in reality, the comeback had everything to do with the team’s mental toughness.
Pete Carroll, head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, is widely considered by many of his colleagues as an innovator.
One of the keys to Carroll’s success is his attention to the mental side of the game.
When Carroll arrived in Seattle, he hired a Sport Psychologist to assist with the mental conditioning of his players and the team’s overall mental toughness.
Due to the Seahawks’ mental and physical training, the team geared up to defend their title in Super Bowl XLIX.
The emphasis Carroll places on training mental toughness provides insight to the mindset of champions.
- Carroll believes that preparation and work forge an athlete’s confidence.
“Practice is everything. It’s where we make us.” – Pete Carroll, Head Coach, Seattle Seahawks
- Carroll believes that training sessions should mirror matchdays in order to develop the mental skill of focusing.
“I’m trying to create a really thriving environment [in training]. That means making it as rich as possible. So there’s noise, competition, activity, energy—like when we play. It’s better than a pristine vacuum-type environment, as far as I’m concerned, because we never play there.” – Pete Carroll, Head Coach, Seattle Seahawks
- Carroll understands that the only way to achieve success is to focus on the “now” and what YOU need to do in the present moment.
“We focus on what’s right in front of us. We don’t care about the other team or the environment we’re playing in. We just take every game as if it’s the most important in the world and focus right on that.”
“It’s really all about us. We’re competing against ourselves to be our best. It’s no disrespect for our opponents. But I don’t want to place any value on our opponents from one week to the next. I want everything to be directed at us being at our best no matter who we’re playing.” – Pete Carroll, Head Coach, Seattle Seahawks
How to Develop The Mental Toughness of a Top Flight Referee
- Where possible, train in a way that mirrors a matchday. Train and practice like it is the critical moment of your most key appointment.
- Work to tune out of all the mental noise/distractions that take away from what you need to focus on now. Remember, you have the choice to where you place your focus. Train your mind to focus only on the current phase of play and making your next decision.
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,
Nathan Sherratt
Referee Educator & Managing Director of The Third Team
Nathan Sherratt
Nathan Sherratt, Referee Educator, Resilience Trainer and Managing Director of The Third Team. A Mental Toughness Practitioner based in County Durham, North East England.