The Mindset To Approach Centrepiece Matches As Referees

As the end of the season comes into view, the thoughts of referees turn to whether they will be appointed to a key fixture such as a cup final or play-off game. However, for some officials, picking up an appointment such as this can feel like a pain, as opposed to a privilege.

Do You Wish You Could Officiate To Your Optimal Level In Centrepiece Matches?

All referees want to bring their A game to fixtures which feel like they have everything riding on them for the teams involved, such as:

• The official operating in the professional game who hopes to walk out at the national stadium with the ball under their arm.
• The grassroots referee who dreams of taking charge of their first county cup final at a large local stadium in front of a crowd.
• The official who wants another taste of promotion and is hoping to seal his ascent to the next rung of the refereeing ladder with a divisional play-off final.

Unfortunately, many officials not only fall short, but underperform in these big moments of their season.

What Happens To Referees In Key Fixtures?

Many officials believe they just don’t have what it takes to bring their A game to centrepiece matches. These referees see this type of performance as reserved for a select few, their elite level colleagues.

Not only is that inaccurate but it doesn’t address why so many officials underperform.

In simple terms, underperforming in big moments boils down to expectations and pressure. The higher you set your expectations, the greater the pressure and, thus, many referees fail to perform to their true ability level.

There are two main reasons why officials underperform in these situations:

1. One reason is that some referees see the fixture as bigger than it is in reality. They place too much importance on the match. When you see the 90 minutes as bigger than it is, you create more pressure.
2. The other reason is that officials feel they need to perform at a higher level than they ever have in the past. Excessively high expectations coupled with trying to be perfect are a recipe for underperformance.

Let’s examine an example from the United States & Canadian NBA:

The Philadelphia Sixers played against the Toronto Raptors, with the winner advancing to the Eastern Conference Championship.

Sixers head coach Brett Brown described the game as the most important game of the season:

“Playing in Game 7s is different. There just is a heightened sense of urgency in Game 7s, and it incrementally increases as the clock winds down.” – Brett Brown, Philadelphia Sixers Head Coach

The Sixers may have felt more pressure as a result to the “BIG” game approach. The Sixers missed their first eight shots and didn’t score until midway through the first quarter. Additionally, the Sixers turned the ball over 15 times and made a few critical miscues late in the game.

One of the more consistent players throughout the series was Sixers forward Jimmy Butler. Butler’s approach to games seemed to have a less frenetic feel.

“We just want to win. Do whatever they ask me to do, try the best of my ability to win the game, and help in any way that they tell me or want me to do it.” – Jimmy Butler Philadelphia Sixers Forward

The right approach to a competition doesn’t ensure a victory but it garners consistency and keeps your mind from over-emphasising the importance of a key fixture.