Three Minutes of Respect: Leading Through Preparation and Professionalism

There’s something sacred about the few minutes before tip-off. For most fans and players, it's the calm before the storm—national anthem, warm-ups, introductions. But for a crew chief, those final moments are something more: a chance to pull a group of individuals into a unit. A team. One crew, one mindset, one purpose.

So I spent my time the night before doing what I’ve always believed separates a good official from a great one—I watched film. I made notes. I looked at previous matchups between the teams, observed player tendencies, and flagged areas where we might anticipate heated moments: rebounding action under the basket, tricky baseline inbound plays, or the way one coach liked to work the sideline like a second defender. Nothing fancy—just preparation with purpose.

I had my three-minute pre-game ready. Crisp, focused, and built around making us successful.

But as I started sharing it in the locker room, the reception wasn’t what I expected.

A veteran official, clearly confident in their experience, responded bluntly:

“I don’t give a shit about all that.”

Just like that. No sugarcoat. No pretense. The comment cut against the spirit of teamwork we aim for.

It would’ve been easy to react emotionally. But I’ve learned, through both military and officiating experience, that the strongest leaders maintain control when tested. So instead of pushing back, I stayed steady.

I asked, calmly:

“Are you saying the time I spent watching film on these teams to prepare us, you’re not interested?”

The reply came quickly:

“They haven’t even done what you’re saying yet.”

It became clear that we were seeing the game from two different mindsets. Psychologically, this reflects a present bias—a common tendency to undervalue preparation because the outcome isn’t immediate or guaranteed. But good officiating is proactive, not reactive. The best officials aren’t guessing what will happen—they’re preparing for what could happen, so they can manage it confidently and consistently.

This situation reminded me of several key lessons about leadership and teamwork:

1. Don’t personalize resistance.

Disagreement or indifference from a fellow official isn’t necessarily about you. Often, it reflects their own approach to the craft. When someone pushes back on preparation or structure, it’s often because they aren’t used to it—or don’t feel confident engaging with it. Staying professional means not letting ego or frustration change your response.

2. Use assertive—not aggressive—communication.

Responding calmly and clearly preserves professionalism. Explaining that pre-game isn’t about prediction, but crew awareness, can help reframe the conversation. It’s about finding common ground, not proving a point.

3. Lead by example, not emotion.

The best response to resistance isn’t confrontation—it’s consistency. So the pre-game was delivered as planned. No shortcuts, no tension—just focus.

And when the game started, the value of preparation quickly became evident. Plays unfolded just as discussed: confusion on a baseline inbound, physical rebounding scenarios, sideline pressure from a coach. Those of us who had locked in during the pre-game were ready. We moved with anticipation, not reaction.

Across the crew, there may have been moments that required extra support—perhaps a late rotation or a situation where communication helped tighten up coverage. But rather than create division, these moments became opportunities to work together and reinforce the importance of being prepared.

No one needed to say “I told you so.” The game validated the process.

4. Use moments of success to model behavior.

Preparation proves its worth on the floor—not in conversation. When game situations mirror pre-game discussions, that silent confirmation often carries more weight than any debate. And for those less engaged at first, seeing preparation pay off can shift future attitudes.

There was no need for critique or postgame reminders. The game spoke for itself, and the tone among the crew shifted naturally.

5. Focus on crew cohesion, not individual resistance.

In officiating, crew chemistry is everything. Psychology tells us that people tend to conform to group norms—what’s called social modeling. When a majority of the crew is focused, prepared, and unified, that energy can influence even skeptical officials over time.

This is why setting the tone early—without ego—is so important. You don’t have to “fix” anyone. You just need to model what right looks like, consistently.

Final Thought: It's About the Crew

Ultimately, this isn’t about one comment or one official. It’s about protecting and strengthening the crew. Respecting a crew member’s preparation—especially when they’ve done the work to help everyone succeed—isn’t just professional courtesy. It’s how great crews function.

It only takes a few minutes to watch film. It only takes three minutes to hear a pre-game. And it costs nothing to show respect. When one person puts in effort for the benefit of the crew, acknowledge it. Don’t diminish it.

Because at the end of the day, coaches, athletic directors, players, and evaluators see the difference. They know who’s prepared and who’s coasting. And more importantly, they remember who set the tone for the crew.

So be that official. The one who listens. The one who leads. The one who shows that three minutes of respect isn’t about routine—it’s about raising the standard for everyone on the floor.