During my six years of officiating Lacrosse, I have learned a lot of life lessons that can be applied to the teaching profession. Professionalism is a huge aspect that is imperative to an official; how you dress, look, and act are all crucial factors that play a critical role in the success of a official on how quickly you move up in the ranks. The same can be said from a teacher’s perspective as students, parents, and other staff expect a certain level of professionalism from you when you enter through the school doors—secondly, the communication and verbal elements. Inconsistent or lackluster communication towards your partner, players, fans, or coaches will, in turn, interrupt your game flow and time management as everyone in the area will be confused about what’s happening and where is the line in terms of play safety and officiating As a teacher, if you decide to have poor communication with your students, rules could be broken. Students would have difficulties learning in those environments. Bad or lack of communication reflects negatively against you as a teacher. Lastly, knowledgeability would be the base factor on becoming a successful official. To become an official, you must pass a test demonstrating that you understand the rules and obligations that an official brings to the game. The same principles can be applied to a teacher. A teacher cannot become a teacher without understanding the curriculum and getting a degree; they have to become knowledgeable on all the different classes and subjects to teach the students to be successful.
Officiating and teaching have a lot of similarities in both professions, I have been fortunate enough to be an official for the past six years. Officiating has taught me a lot of important lessons that I look forward to applying in a classroom environment when I become an Elementary School Teacher.
