Are we interested enough in the game to read the rulebook?
Drawing from his coaching and officiating experiences, Tom candidly shares the challenges he faced during his time. He recalls a pivotal moment during a game he officiated where he made a call with 20 seconds to go. Despite making a fair call, a sarcastic comment from a player on the bench sparked a question from Tom: "Have you ever actually read the rulebook?"
Why do we assume knowledge without educating ourselves on the issues at hand? While it's exceedingly rare for officials to conspire against teams, the prevalent belief that they are out to get someone raises a perplexing question.
Youth sports often become a breeding ground for suspicion, where individuals enter venues with the unwarranted notion that someone is intentionally working against them. Tom challenges us to consider whether such thinking fosters a culture of distrust, permeating even the more significant aspects of our lives. This culture of distrust, he suggests, may inadvertently be instilled in children through the lens of sporting events and the treatment of officials.
Tom concludes by drawing a parallel between these insights and life itself. In the early stages of recovery and lifestyle change, he advocates to ‘read the rulebook’— see what the ‘rules’ are.. What are some good habits and courses of actions that you can take by simply putting one foot in front of the other? Taking deliberate steps forward becomes a metaphorical journey toward personal growth and improvement.
Tune in and enjoy this episode of Words of Steele.
Episode Highlights:
- Tom revisits his time coaching & officiating youth basketball.
- Behavior of fans and athletes towards officials.
- Rules can be fun.
- The importance of having guidelines.
- Working through lifestyle change & recovery.
Links Mentioned in Episode/Find More on Tom:
This show has been produced by Adkins Media Co.
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