I would like to present to you short talk that I had with Steve after our two sessions of the camp in Antalya, that had place in Turkey this year 12-21 June this year. Steve is now back to Canada working, but he is sharing some plans of his in between his other thought.

Marta: So Steve, I have heard that you have some Polish roots. Is this true?

Steven Seibel:  Yes. My mother’s father was Polish, and her mother was half Polish, and growing up we had a lot of Polish traditions. So a lot of pierogi, cabbage rolls and kielbasa. So whenever I think about Poland and Polish people it warms my heart.

Marta:  During the camp we were talking a lot about goals and set up the right goals, and since you are an active referee, do you also have some goals?

Steven:  Yes, I have short term goals and long term goals. My short term goals are always games that I am working, and trying to make sure that I do a good job. And my long term goal is to try to officiate at the highest level that I can. Try to stay fit, do a good job, and be a good partner.

Marta: Now. Something about Dr Ridvan lecture as we also practiced how to achieve your goals. So what are you doing regularly or let’s say daily to keep your goals.

Steven: Well. I learned early on in officiating from a lot of good teachers that you need to do something every day to improve your officiating, whether it is on the fitness side, studying the rules, watching plays, watching games or actually officiating games.  So I continuously try to do this. I am always setting goals and trying to reach them.  I am not always successful but that doesn’t stop me from trying to get better.

Marta: Goals ok, and any dreams? 🙂 or after having 2 Olympic tournaments no more dreams?

Steve: I think you always have to have dreams regardless of past accomplishments.  I have dreams of continuing be trusted at the highest level for as long as I can.

Marta: About yourself. So you have started officiating when you were 28, and this is actually a good story because it gives hope to many referees showing that all you want is possible. Just need to work hard.

Steve: Well again. I found early on if you follow what it is being taught and you buy into it, and you do what is being asked of you, and you follow your passion, and you remember that officiating is for the game of basketball, it is not for you, then you tend to improve and things kind of work out for you.

Marta: What made you start officiating basketball at all?

Steve: I have always had an interest in officiating. I played a lot of sports growing up including elite basketball, and when I started to work as a lawyer, one of the partners at the law firm was an international rugby referee and he suggested I should do something else besides just being a young lawyer.  I went to watch him referee a rugby match and I liked how he was involved in the game, how he played a role at the game, and how he was there to help the game. I love basketball and I love ice hockey. I am not the greatest skater, so I have chosen basketball.

Marta: You just said you are a lawyer. Digging there a bit, how do you coordinate the travels for the games and tournaments with your private life: work and family?

Steve: What really gets sacrificed is vacations. At the end of the day I don’t officiate as much as I would like to.  As a lawyer, I am very busy and fortunate I have my own practice, so I can manage my schedule somewhat, but there are nominations or assignments that I have to turn down because of my professional duties as a lawyer.  And this is ok because I enjoy being a lawyer and this is my job that supports my family.

Marta: What is your vacation plan then?

Steve: As a family we are very busy. My two kids play very high level sports: ice hockey and soccer, and my wife is also very busy as a swim coach, so our vacations will be when we all have short breaks in our schedules.  We don’t often know when these breaks are going to be, so when the opportunity arises we will take advantage of it.  So we don’t have anything defined right now.

Marta: Any big tournament ahead?

Steve: This summer I am officiating as a neutral referee at the Oceania Championships in Australia and New Zealand, and I have been nominated to the Americas’ Championship in Mexico City. Both of course are Olympic qualifiers.

Marta: What do you think about the camp? Would you work with us regularly?

Steve: Absolutely. Without any doubt. The thing that impresses me is that while each and every student may have different levels of experience and they may come from different parts of the world, they all demonstrate a willingness to learn, and they show that they are motivated and they are hungry. I also appreciate that all the things we were teaching weren’t new, but they embraced it and input it into their games, and you could see improvements. That really excites me. Just watching them I feel I learn something as well.

Marta: Last question then. What is your take away from the camp?

Steve: I think the biggest thing is learning from the willingness that all the students demonstrated. You know, when you officiate for a few years, and I haven’t done it for a long time, there comes a point when you are a little bit tired. You have to be honest with yourself. And I feel rejuvenated and motivated coming out of this camp for more years to come.

Thank you.

I would like to present to you short talk that I had with Steve after our two sessions of the camp in Antalya, that had place in Turkey this year 12-21 June this year. Steve is now back to Canada working, but he is sharing some plans of his in between his other thought.

Marta: So Steve, I have heard that you have some Polish roots. Is this true?

Steven Seibel:  Yes. My mother’s father was Polish, and her mother was half Polish, and growing up we had a lot of Polish traditions. So a lot of pierogi, cabbage rolls and kielbasa. So whenever I think about Poland and Polish people it warms my heart.

Marta:  During the camp we were talking a lot about goals and set up the right goals, and since you are an active referee, do you also have some goals?

Steven:  Yes, I have short term goals and long term goals. My short term goals are always games that I am working, and trying to make sure that I do a good job. And my long term goal is to try to officiate at the highest level that I can. Try to stay fit, do a good job, and be a good partner.

Marta: Now. Something about Dr Ridvan lecture as we also practiced how to achieve your goals. So what are you doing regularly or let’s say daily to keep your goals.

Steven: Well. I learned early on in officiating from a lot of good teachers that you need to do something every day to improve your officiating, whether it is on the fitness side, studying the rules, watching plays, watching games or actually officiating games.  So I continuously try to do this. I am always setting goals and trying to reach them.  I am not always successful but that doesn’t stop me from trying to get better.

Marta: Goals ok, and any dreams? 🙂 or after having 2 Olympic tournaments no more dreams?

Steve: I think you always have to have dreams regardless of past accomplishments.  I have dreams of continuing be trusted at the highest level for as long as I can.

Marta: About yourself. So you have started officiating when you were 28, and this is actually a good story because it gives hope to many referees showing that all you want is possible. Just need to work hard.

Steve: Well again. I found early on if you follow what it is being taught and you buy into it, and you do what is being asked of you, and you follow your passion, and you remember that officiating is for the game of basketball, it is not for you, then you tend to improve and things kind of work out for you.

Marta: What made you start officiating basketball at all?

Steve: I have always had an interest in officiating. I played a lot of sports growing up including elite basketball, and when I started to work as a lawyer, one of the partners at the law firm was an international rugby referee and he suggested I should do something else besides just being a young lawyer.  I went to watch him referee a rugby match and I liked how he was involved in the game, how he played a role at the game, and how he was there to help the game. I love basketball and I love ice hockey. I am not the greatest skater, so I have chosen basketball.

Marta: You just said you are a lawyer. Digging there a bit, how do you coordinate the travels for the games and tournaments with your private life: work and family?

Steve: What really gets sacrificed is vacations. At the end of the day I don’t officiate as much as I would like to.  As a lawyer, I am very busy and fortunate I have my own practice, so I can manage my schedule somewhat, but there are nominations or assignments that I have to turn down because of my professional duties as a lawyer.  And this is ok because I enjoy being a lawyer and this is my job that supports my family.

Marta: What is your vacation plan then?

Steve: As a family we are very busy. My two kids play very high level sports: ice hockey and soccer, and my wife is also very busy as a swim coach, so our vacations will be when we all have short breaks in our schedules.  We don’t often know when these breaks are going to be, so when the opportunity arises we will take advantage of it.  So we don’t have anything defined right now.

Marta: Any big tournament ahead?

Steve: This summer I am officiating as a neutral referee at the Oceania Championships in Australia and New Zealand, and I have been nominated to the Americas’ Championship in Mexico City. Both of course are Olympic qualifiers.

Marta: What do you think about the camp? Would you work with us regularly?

Steve: Absolutely. Without any doubt. The thing that impresses me is that while each and every student may have different levels of experience and they may come from different parts of the world, they all demonstrate a willingness to learn, and they show that they are motivated and they are hungry. I also appreciate that all the things we were teaching weren’t new, but they embraced it and input it into their games, and you could see improvements. That really excites me. Just watching them I feel I learn something as well.

Marta: Last question then. What is your take away from the camp?

Steve: I think the biggest thing is learning from the willingness that all the students demonstrated. You know, when you officiate for a few years, and I haven’t done it for a long time, there comes a point when you are a little bit tired. You have to be honest with yourself. And I feel rejuvenated and motivated coming out of this camp for more years to come.

Thank you.

I would like to present to you short talk that I had with Steve after our two sessions of the camp in Antalya, that had place in Turkey this year 12-21 June this year. Steve is now back to Canada working, but he is sharing some plans of his in between his other thought.

Marta: So Steve, I have heard that you have some Polish roots. Is this true?

Steven Seibel:  Yes. My mother’s father was Polish, and her mother was half Polish, and growing up we had a lot of Polish traditions. So a lot of pierogi, cabbage rolls and kielbasa. So whenever I think about Poland and Polish people it warms my heart.

Marta:  During the camp we were talking a lot about goals and set up the right goals, and since you are an active referee, do you also have some goals?

Steven:  Yes, I have short term goals and long term goals. My short term goals are always games that I am working, and trying to make sure that I do a good job. And my long term goal is to try to officiate at the highest level that I can. Try to stay fit, do a good job, and be a good partner.

Marta: Now. Something about Dr Ridvan lecture as we also practiced how to achieve your goals. So what are you doing regularly or let’s say daily to keep your goals.

Steven: Well. I learned early on in officiating from a lot of good teachers that you need to do something every day to improve your officiating, whether it is on the fitness side, studying the rules, watching plays, watching games or actually officiating games.  So I continuously try to do this. I am always setting goals and trying to reach them.  I am not always successful but that doesn’t stop me from trying to get better.

Marta: Goals ok, and any dreams? 🙂 or after having 2 Olympic tournaments no more dreams?

Steve: I think you always have to have dreams regardless of past accomplishments.  I have dreams of continuing be trusted at the highest level for as long as I can.

Marta: About yourself. So you have started officiating when you were 28, and this is actually a good story because it gives hope to many referees showing that all you want is possible. Just need to work hard.

Steve: Well again. I found early on if you follow what it is being taught and you buy into it, and you do what is being asked of you, and you follow your passion, and you remember that officiating is for the game of basketball, it is not for you, then you tend to improve and things kind of work out for you.

Marta: What made you start officiating basketball at all?

Steve: I have always had an interest in officiating. I played a lot of sports growing up including elite basketball, and when I started to work as a lawyer, one of the partners at the law firm was an international rugby referee and he suggested I should do something else besides just being a young lawyer.  I went to watch him referee a rugby match and I liked how he was involved in the game, how he played a role at the game, and how he was there to help the game. I love basketball and I love ice hockey. I am not the greatest skater, so I have chosen basketball.

Marta: You just said you are a lawyer. Digging there a bit, how do you coordinate the travels for the games and tournaments with your private life: work and family?

Steve: What really gets sacrificed is vacations. At the end of the day I don’t officiate as much as I would like to.  As a lawyer, I am very busy and fortunate I have my own practice, so I can manage my schedule somewhat, but there are nominations or assignments that I have to turn down because of my professional duties as a lawyer.  And this is ok because I enjoy being a lawyer and this is my job that supports my family.

Marta: What is your vacation plan then?

Steve: As a family we are very busy. My two kids play very high level sports: ice hockey and soccer, and my wife is also very busy as a swim coach, so our vacations will be when we all have short breaks in our schedules.  We don’t often know when these breaks are going to be, so when the opportunity arises we will take advantage of it.  So we don’t have anything defined right now.

Marta: Any big tournament ahead?

Steve: This summer I am officiating as a neutral referee at the Oceania Championships in Australia and New Zealand, and I have been nominated to the Americas’ Championship in Mexico City. Both of course are Olympic qualifiers.

Marta: What do you think about the camp? Would you work with us regularly?

Steve: Absolutely. Without any doubt. The thing that impresses me is that while each and every student may have different levels of experience and they may come from different parts of the world, they all demonstrate a willingness to learn, and they show that they are motivated and they are hungry. I also appreciate that all the things we were teaching weren’t new, but they embraced it and input it into their games, and you could see improvements. That really excites me. Just watching them I feel I learn something as well.

Marta: Last question then. What is your take away from the camp?

Steve: I think the biggest thing is learning from the willingness that all the students demonstrated. You know, when you officiate for a few years, and I haven’t done it for a long time, there comes a point when you are a little bit tired. You have to be honest with yourself. And I feel rejuvenated and motivated coming out of this camp for more years to come.

Thank you.