--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Officiating is trying to do your absolute…" description: "\"Officiating is trying to do your absolute best with what you've got.\" — Doug Harvey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/doug-harvey-17445_absolute_officiating-is-trying-to-do-your-absolut_734421.jpg" --- # Officiating is trying to do your absolute best with what… ![“Officiating is trying to do your absolute best with what you've got.” quote by Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/doug-harvey-17445_absolute_officiating-is-trying-to-do-your-absolut_734421.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/doug-harvey-17445_absolute_officiating-is-trying-to-do-your-absolut_734421.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/doug-harvey-17445_absolute_officiating-is-trying-to-do-your-absolut_734421.jpg) > “Officiating is trying to do your absolute best with what you've got.” [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Officiating requires maximizing performance with limited resources and circumstances. **In simple terms:** Do your best with what you have. Key Takeaway Focus on effort, not perfection. Themes sports leadership resourcefulness Mood determined pragmatic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - games - coaching - career development Key Concepts decision making performance under constraints Questions to Reflect On - What tools help you excel? - How do you handle constraints? A Different Perspective Resources may be insufficient for ideal outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ## Related quotes > [I went into umpiring at age 16. I got into officiating because of the fact that I could not stand the referees that worked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/i-went-into-umpiring-at-age-16-i-got-into-officiating-because-of-the/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [Never complain about the officiating. It does no good. During the game I don't want to be fighting two opponents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/never-complain-about-the-officiating-it-does-no-good-during-the-game/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [There's an excitement to officiating a well-played game. A lot of discretion, a lot of judgment comes into play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-meehan/there-s-an-excitement-to-officiating-a-well-played-game-a-lot-of/) [Pat Meehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-meehan/) > [I still see referees officiating based on names on the front and back of jerseys and not based on how the rules are written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-donaghy/i-still-see-referees-officiating-based-on-names-on-the-front-and-back/) [Tim Donaghy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-donaghy/) > [I know officiating is really tough where guys are moving really fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-evans/i-know-officiating-is-really-tough-where-guys-are-moving-really-fast/) [Mike Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-evans/) > [I've addressed this before, and I'll say it again: The league has to take a long, hard look at full-time officials. The officiating has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-jaworski/i-ve-addressed-this-before-and-i-ll-say-it-again-the-league-has-to/) [Ron Jaworski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-jaworski/) > [As far as being on the officials every five minutes, it's just not good for the game. The officials don't like it; you embarrass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyronn-lue/as-far-as-being-on-the-officials-every-five-minutes-it-s-just-not/) [Tyronn Lue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyronn-lue/) > [On females officiating in the NBA -Incompetence should not be confined to one sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-russell/on-females-officiating-in-the-nba-incompetence-should-not-be-confined/) [Bill Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-russell/) > [Not only did I not like officiating his games, I was afraid at times he was going to knock my block off... there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-donaghy/not-only-did-i-not-like-officiating-his-games-i-was-afraid-at-times/) [Tim Donaghy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-donaghy/) > [I do think officiating an NBA game in the playoffs is so hard, because you have such incredible familiarity. All the coaches do is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-donovan/i-do-think-officiating-an-nba-game-in-the-playoffs-is-so-hard-because/) [Billy Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-donovan/) > [I would say the referees have the toughest game to call. I would say that there's a lot of officiating done by announcers, local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stern/i-would-say-the-referees-have-the-toughest-game-to-call-i-would-say/) [David Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stern/) > [Officiating is the only job in America that everybody knows how to do better than the guy who is doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-goetz/officiating-is-the-only-job-in-america-that-everybody-knows-how-to-do/) [Larry Goetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-goetz/) > [Football officiating is so subjective - much more subjective than any other sport. But the more I watch - and I watch too many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-henry/football-officiating-is-so-subjective-much-more-subjective-than-any/) [John W. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-henry/) > [The craft of officiating is taught that people come and pay top dollar to see people like Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-donaghy/the-craft-of-officiating-is-taught-that-people-come-and-pay-top/) [Tim Donaghy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-donaghy/) > [I haven't talked to any young artists for a long time. But if we did sit down, I'd definitely tell them my viewpoint. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/i-haven-t-talked-to-any-young-artists-for-a-long-time-but-if-we-did/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) ## More by Doug Harvey > [I remember when replay first came to TV. I can't remember who it was now, but a manager came out to beef about a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/i-remember-when-replay-first-came-to-tv-i-can-t-remember-who-it-was/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [I went into umpiring at age 16. I got into officiating because of the fact that I could not stand the referees that worked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/i-went-into-umpiring-at-age-16-i-got-into-officiating-because-of-the/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [Umpires are necessary evils.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/umpires-are-necessary-evils/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [I must admit, I was born to officiate; I was made to officiate. I miss it. I knew why I was doing it. God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/i-must-admit-i-was-born-to-officiate-i-was-made-to-officiate-i-miss/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [My mom beat us until she started breaking clothes hangers. Wooden clothes hangers! Once we started laughing back at her, then your spankings were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/my-mom-beat-us-until-she-started-breaking-clothes-hangers-wooden/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [Error is part of the game. I never, ever second-guessed myself on a call and don't believe good umpires ever should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/error-is-part-of-the-game-i-never-ever-second-guessed-myself-on-a/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [I say to you, you want a thrill, volunteer to be an umpire. I'd like you to go just work the bases some day.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/i-say-to-you-you-want-a-thrill-volunteer-to-be-an-umpire-i-d-like-you/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [I always told my young umpires, 'Don't get mad. Whatever you do, don't show it. But no matter how long it takes, get even.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/i-always-told-my-young-umpires-don-t-get-mad-whatever-you-do-don-t/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [I'll say it again: you've got to put the argument back in the game. They're trying to make baseball mechanized, a machine. They're ruining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/i-ll-say-it-again-you-ve-got-to-put-the-argument-back-in-the-game/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [I set out to be the best umpire of my time. But I don't know what it takes to be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/i-set-out-to-be-the-best-umpire-of-my-time-but-i-don-t-know-what-it/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [Before I joined professional baseball, I started umpiring in San Diego, California. I worked 155 games in a five-month season. For three years in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/before-i-joined-professional-baseball-i-started-umpiring-in-san-diego/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [I know that there are no famous 'Doug Harvey plays.' And I'm proud of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/i-know-that-there-are-no-famous-doug-harvey-plays-and-i-m-proud-of/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [The part of the game that fans will soon miss: the argument between manager and umpire! There was something special about watching a manger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/the-part-of-the-game-that-fans-will-soon-miss-the-argument-between/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [When asked what he was fighting for, General Washington, in writing to General Thomas, said the object was 'neither glory nor extent of territory,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/when-asked-what-he-was-fighting-for-general-washington-in-writing-to/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [I want you to know that I am one of the more fortunate people in life. There aren't too many of us that somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/i-want-you-to-know-that-i-am-one-of-the-more-fortunate-people-in-life/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) [Explore all 37 Doug Harvey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) ## More Absolute quotes > [“In the worldly life, due to maadakta (intoxication of the ego of ‘I am Chandubhai’), one has completely lost awareness of everything about one’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/in-the-worldly-life-due-to-maadakta-intoxication-of-the-ego-of-i-am/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Absolute is a game with only one player where Absolute forgets itself so it would have a reason to fulfill the motion while returning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/absolute-is-a-game-with-only-one-player-where-absolute-forgets-itself/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [“The necessity of nothingness does not create anything. The real value and meaning of the Being are not in its necessity but in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/the-necessity-of-nothingness-does-not-create-anything-the-real-value/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [Anarchy is the stepping stone to absolute power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/anarchy-is-the-stepping-stone-to-absolute-power/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [I can like something. You can like something. It's not an absolute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/i-can-like-something-you-can-like-something-it-s-not-an-absolute/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) > [Nothing is absolute. Everything changes, everything moves, everything revolves, everything flies and goes away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/nothing-is-absolute-everything-changes-everything-moves-everything/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [I - it's simply not for me to evaluate an independent rating agency's processes. But I will say that there was reason to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-carney/i-it-s-simply-not-for-me-to-evaluate-an-independent-rating-agency-s/) [Jay Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-carney/) > [Absolute morality is the regulation of conduct in such a way that pain shall not be inflicted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/absolute-morality-is-the-regulation-of-conduct-in-such-a-way-that/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [What is liberty? There is no such thing as absolute liberty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/what-is-liberty-there-is-no-such-thing-as-absolute-liberty/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [Doing the right thing at all costs is an absolute, and only a sith deals in absolutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-filoni/doing-the-right-thing-at-all-costs-is-an-absolute-and-only-a-sith/) [Dave Filoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-filoni/) > [“Energy is the world-born phenomenon, the world that puts itself in motion and flies into space by receiving space into itself. From this point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/energy-is-the-world-born-phenomenon-the-world-that-puts-itself-in/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [“As we see it, space is possible only when the primordial Being swallows emptiness. Space is born when the Being accepts emptiness, the Nonbeing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/as-we-see-it-space-is-possible-only-when-the-primordial-being/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [Absolute faith can blind you to the consequences of the actions you allow. It can tell you it's okay to drop bombs on another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-denton/absolute-faith-can-blind-you-to-the-consequences-of-the-actions-you/) [Andrew Denton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-denton/) > [“Zero is a gateway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/zero-is-a-gateway/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [Absolute perfection is here and now, not in some future, near or far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/absolute-perfection-is-here-and-now-not-in-some-future-near-or-far/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) Browse all 631 Absolute quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Officiating is trying to do your absolute best with what you've got.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Doug Harvey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/officiating-is-trying-to-do-your-absolute-best-with-what-you-ve-got/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Absolute" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/officiating-is-trying-to-do-your-absolute-best-with-what-you-ve-got/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/doug-harvey-17445_absolute_officiating-is-trying-to-do-your-absolut_734421.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/doug-harvey-17445_absolute_officiating-is-trying-to-do-your-absolut_734421.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/doug-harvey-17445_absolute_officiating-is-trying-to-do-your-absolut_734421.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Officiating is trying to do your absolute best with what you've got.” — Doug Harvey", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Doug Harvey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Officiating is trying to do your...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/officiating-is-trying-to-do-your-absolute-best-with-what-you-ve-got/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/officiating-is-trying-to-do-your-absolute-best-with-what-you-ve-got/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```