The UTS
Mentor Guide
A complete framework for mentors and mentees in the Under The Stripes program — covering roles, responsibilities, active listening, and how to make every session count.
What the Guide Covers
The Under The Stripes Mentor Guide exists to give both mentors and mentees a shared framework for productive, purposeful relationships. Officiating is a craft that improves through experience — but experience alone is not enough. The right guidance, at the right time, from someone who has been there, accelerates growth in ways that no rulebook or clinic can replicate.
This guide outlines the expectations, responsibilities, and best practices for everyone who participates in the UTS Mentorship Program. Whether you are stepping up as a mentor or seeking one, this document is your foundation.
The Art of
Active Listening
The most effective mentors are not the ones with the most answers — they are the ones who ask the best questions and truly hear what is being said. These six principles are the foundation of every great mentoring conversation.
Be Fully Present
Put the phone down. Close the laptop. When a mentee is sharing a difficult game situation or a moment of doubt, they need to feel heard — not processed. Full presence is the foundation of every productive mentoring conversation.
Ask Before You Advise
The instinct to jump in with answers is strong — especially for experienced officials. Resist it. Ask clarifying questions first. "What did you see in that moment?" or "What were you thinking when that happened?" opens the conversation and reveals more than any advice can.
Acknowledge Before You Correct
Before offering a correction, acknowledge what the mentee got right. Officiating is hard. Most officials are already their own harshest critics. Starting with what worked builds the trust that makes the correction land.
Reflect Back What You Hear
Paraphrase what the mentee said before responding. "So what I'm hearing is that you felt rushed on that call — is that right?" This confirms understanding, shows you were listening, and often helps the mentee clarify their own thinking.
Listen for the Feeling, Not Just the Facts
Mentees often describe situations in factual terms but are really communicating something emotional — frustration, self-doubt, fear of failure. Listen for what is underneath the words. That is usually where the real work is.
Hold Space for Silence
Not every pause needs to be filled. Sometimes the most powerful thing a mentor can do is wait. Silence gives the mentee room to think, process, and arrive at their own insight — which is far more durable than any insight handed to them.
From the Program
Real outcomes from officials who have been through the UTS Mentorship Program. These are the stories that show what is possible when the right guidance meets the right commitment.
"My mentor never told me what to do. He asked me what I saw, what I was thinking, and what I would do differently. After six months of that, I started asking myself those questions on the court — and my game changed completely."
Outcome
Moved from JV to varsity assignments in one season. Now officiating junior college games.
John Doe
Basketball · High School → Collegiate
"I was ready to quit after my second season. The pressure, the parents, the feeling that I was never good enough. My mentor had been through all of it. He helped me see that the hard part was the point — and that I was closer than I thought."
Outcome
Completed certification for varsity football. Assigned to playoff games in first eligible season.
John Doe
Football · Youth → High School
"The feedback form changed everything for me. Having a structured way to get notes after each game — not just "good job" or "you missed that one" — gave me something to actually work on. I went from dreading feedback to looking forward to it."
Outcome
Promoted to travel ball and tournament assignments. Pursuing state certification.
John Doe
Baseball · Recreational → Travel Ball
Have a mentorship story to share?
Submit it through Stories Behind the Calls and we may feature it on the platform.
Ready to Join the Program?
Apply as a mentor or request a mentee match — the program is open now.