SKOOL OF THOUGHT
You Don’t Need More Reps. You Need Better Eyes
I came across a short reel of Kobe Bryant talking about how he learned to watch film. It resonated so much that I went back to find the full podcast with Lewis Howes to hear the entire conversation. What Kobe said about film study completely reenforced how I think about our preparation as officials.
What Kobe Saw
When Lewis asks what film study taught him early in his career. Kobe's answer:
"It taught me to look at the smallest details. Body language. Energy between players. Tactics. And because I watched so much film, it gave me the ability to see the game in real time as if I was watching film. The game starts moving really fast, but if you train yourself to watch hours of film, the game's not moving that fast anymore."
The game didn't slow down. His mind sped up!
The Film Study We're Actually Doing
Most of us watch film looking for the calls we got right or wrong. We replay the controversial moment. We critique our mechanics.
But are we watching for body language before the contact happens? Are we studying momentum shifts when a team makes a run? Are we cataloging sequences of plays so we can recognize them in real time?
Or are we just watching to grade ourselves?
The Reminder
We've talked about this in our community calls before, but it's worth repeating: if the game still feels fast in crucial moments, it's because we likely have not trained our eyes to recognize what's coming before it happens.
Kobe wasn't reacting…he was recognizing patterns he'd seen dozens of times before. We should be striving to do the same. Not just with our own games, but even in games we don’t work. Not just watching for calls, but watching for the setup to the call.
What Actually Helps
There was a time when I didn’t know what the heck to look for when I would watch film.
That's where mentors and community matter. The officials who seem to always be in the right place aren't just more experienced, they're seeing things we're not seeing yet.
The best film sessions I've had weren't solo. They were with officials who could pause and say, "Watch that player's hips before the screen" or "See how the coach is standing? We have to be ready to respond to them on this play."
I'm constantly trying to watch more film with people who see things I don't. Not just my games, but any games where I can train my eyes to recognize what's coming.
What would change if you watched film looking for what happens before the play, not just during it?
📝 Try This Exercise:
Pick a tough play from your recent game. Now rewind 4 minutes before it.
What plays led to that moment?
Could different decisions earlier have changed the outcome?
🏀 Share your findings with us!
