From "Think Like a Champion: A Guide to Championship Performance for Student-Athletes" by Dick DevenzioHow do you influence a referee?
1. Help the referee see better: Be sharp and precise. Execute everything perfectly or as well as you possibly can. The more precise your execution, the more difficult it is to miss what has happened.
2. Reduce the number of plays that will require a referee’s decision: In basketball, in baseball, in hockey, soccer, volleyball, don’t give the referee or umpire an opportunity to get involved. And if you do, then consider it your fault.
3. Help the referee like you more: If the referee likes you, or at least doesn’t dislike you, you will more likely get the close calls, or at least the referee won’t have the tendency to manufacture calls against you. If a ball rolls out of bounds, run and get it and hand it to the referee. If the referee is overweight he will particularly appreciate this effort in his behalf. Shake the umpires’ and referees’ hands when they walk into your arena, and introduce yourself. Wish them luck.
4. Be business-like at all times: Don’t roll your eyes at calls, or glare or look aghast or confused or unbelieving when something goes against you. Put on your “all-business” face and keep it on. Full time. Overtime.
5. Realize that everything looks different from a different angle. Surely you’ve seen enough instant replays to realize this. When an obvious call goes against you, repeat to yourself, if it helps, some innocuous line like “Gee, that must have looked entirely different from his angle.”
