Great Post about Composure in your Signals by Football Zebra's Website

For those officials out there eager to learn things beyond just the rule book, blogs are a great place to look. My recommendation to you is to go to football zebras blog. Once there search for the post called “Calm Signals: the sign of under-control officiating.” This post does a great job of explaining how we as officials communicate and show we belong in the stripes on the field with the signals we give. No matter if it is an incomplete pass, fumble recovery, or penalty enforcement, we as officials must also know our signals are being watched and reflect on us.

As the post points out, there are some plays that are very exciting, to the point everyone is on their feet cheering. However, the official has to have composure and take the whole play in. They can’t look excited for a team and they must show through there signals that they have been there before and are a professional.

However, like the post by football zebras accurately mentions, sometimes a big signal is necessary. If there is a close catch or no catch call, you need to come in and sell what you have. You do this by making a big signal and possibly repeating it. This shows everyone watching that you know what you have and you are confident in the call. If you are confident in the call, other people will believe you. If a coach or player senses that you are not confident, they will rip into you and let you know they don't believe you.

This is a great piece and I encourage everyone to go check it out here.