Yelling in kind can turn a small brush fire into a four-alarm conflagration. More often than not, the right response will not be verbal. You might nod your head slightly, smile momentarily, glance at whoever said something, hold eye contact for a moment or two, shake your head or hold up a stop sign. WHO WINS One of the many sports myths accepted as fact is that the officials are predisposed to favor the home team. But an official should never use calls to favor either team for any reason.
Impartiality is the foundation on which the officiating house is built.
Officials must be blind to factors that have nothing to do with the game, including who wins or loses. Before you can understand the spirit behind the rules, you must have an appreciation for them. That doesn t necessarily mean knowing them verbatim. More important is under-standing how vital it is to properly apply the rules. The avocation suffers when officials ignore or misapply the rules.