It is not very often that I take a day to just relax and recoup. But occasionally one of those days arrives, and today happens to be one of them. So I am doing what so many other people do (or at least I think this is what other people do). I am watching infomercials in hopes that if I watch Tony, Tonya, and Sean long enough that I will actually lose weight and miraculously gain my six pack abs.

But today’s lesson resonated with me because it seems I am hearing it more and more. It only takes 25 minutes! For the third infomercial in a row, the commitment required is less than 30 minutes a day.

Fitness is a lifestyle and a commitment. But it is not like it requires you to work out all day every day. You can spend 30 minutes a day and truly change your body. I feel the same way about understanding and knowing the rules of our game. Very few officials have the luxury of being a referee full time as their primary profession. Most of us have additional full-time jobs AND referee 50 to 100 games per season. In addition to the floor time, we also have travel, preparation and paperwork time. So who has time to spend in the rule book?

The answer is – we all do! We all have 25 to 30 minutes a day to focus on officiating. As I have said before, if I have 30 minutes I would much rather spend it in the rule book verses watching video. Some of you are the opposite. But the fact is we need to spend time doing both. So tell me, what are you going to do in 2015 to spend 25 minutes working on rules knowledge? It’s time to stop the excuses!

You cannot lose weight by sitting on the couch watching infomercials, and you cannot get better at your rules by carrying your rule book in your bag. So next time you are waiting in the doctor’s office, having lunch alone while on the road, or sitting on the plane with no wi-fi, READ YOUR RULE BOOK!!

It only takes 25 to 30 minutes a day to start seeing improvement in you knowledge of the rules. And if you start today, I will throw in the added bonus of three jujitsu knives and a money back guarantee!! Start in the next 10 minutes and…!

Okay, maybe I need to change the channel.