I am continually amazed, but truly thankful, for all of the positives that I continue to experience on this trip. This week was another one that had plenty of positives but it also have quite a bit of self-evaluation and "do I take advantage of certain opportunities" situations.

 

After attending the Week 8 USFL games, I was reviewing the rest of my travel arrangements and it started to dawn on me that I was due to fly back home to Australia on the same day that playoffs for the USFL were being held. Normally this would be an easy decision and I would fly back to see my wife and kids. However, the playoffs for the USFL are going to be held in Canton, Ohio. For anyone that knows anything about American Football here in the US, will know that the Pro Football Hall of Fame is located in Canton. This presented an opportunity where I might be able to "kill two birds with one stone", by watching some of the USFL playoffs, continuing to learn from the officials involved, and have the opportunity to attend the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The only drawback to this is that it would extend my trip over here by another 10 days, which wasn't going to go down well with my family especially when the kids were already planning on what we might do once I got home.

 

It was definitely a decision that my wife and spoke about, with both of us fully aware and understanding how disappointed the kids will be for me to stay here for another 10 days, but considering the opportunities presented we decided that staying here was going to be beneficial with helping me to reach my goal. I know had to work out how to let the kids know that I wouldn't be home when initially planned, but also let them know that when opportunities like this present themselves you have to say "yes" and then work out the logistics later. Who knows where these opportunities might lead but if you're constantly knocking these back because it may impact on other areas of your life, how will you ever be able to reach your goals? As everyone knows, reaching the heights with your goals that you dream about does require some sacrifices, and in some instances it's not an easy decision, but hopefully by taking this opportunities I can also show my kids that there are certain sacrifices that you will need to make on the way to reaching your goal, but getting to your goal will make all of those sacrifices worthwhile.

 

With that decision made, it was a pretty crazy week contacting my Travel Agent back in Australia and getting the required flights changes. I also started to look for accomodation around the area to see what options there were. Having lined up a potential AirBnB, I reached out to the people that had been organising my access to the press box to see if it was possible to know the rough location for where the officials would be staying so that I could look at somewhere near to them, making it much easier to be involved in any activities that they undertake, if allowed. Now this is where it really starts to get trippy, through the contacts that I've made, my accomodation arrangements have ended up being something that I could never have imagined.

 

I am constantly amazed at the generosity and encouragement that I continue to receive from all of the officials that I interact with on this trip. Everyone single one of them are always wiiling to go above and beyond to provide any assistance to me and I am eternally thankful and grateful for that.

After the first game completed, I was asked if I wanted to come back to the hotel and sit in on the film review for the first game. Another one of those opportunities that present themselves that you have to jump at. The crew that was on the first game was a crew that I hadn't met, yet. They hadn't been on any of the previous games that I had watched so none of them actually knew who I was. That didn't matter to any of them, sitting in the bus on the way back to the hotel I was fortunate enough to sit next to one of the officials that has been promoted to the NFL and without even having to do introductions, which we did end up getting to, I was just welcomed as part of the "crew". You can definitely see why these officials get promoted to the NFL because not only are they great officials, but they are awesome people. Not once, did I ever feel like they talked down to me, they are always welcoming to me and very open discussing anything that we want.

 

We then worked through their film review and the supervisors and myself headed back to the stadium for the next game. Following the conclusion of the second game, we again went back to the hotel for the film review and then we caught up a couple of officials from both crews for some dinner. These events are what make this trip so worthwhile, the amount of "nuggets" that come up during discussions over dinner, whether it's a specific play from one of their games or just their officiating approach in general, it's been hugely beneficial being able to spend time with them.

 

The Sunday games proceeded much the same way but due to the short amount of time between games and the fact that the most of the first crew had to get out quickly on their flights, the first game review we just talked through some plays, instead of showing film. The second game, though, we again went to the hotel and went through the film review.

 

All up I ended up being in Birmingham for 3 weekends, watched 12 USFL games and met so many quality people, who just happen to be awesome officials as well. It's now off to my next officiating camp. For those that follow American Football, you'll recognise the field that we are officiating on, you'll have to tune in to the next update for more information.