In this live episode of Inside the Genesis, we ground ourselves in gratitude and dig into one of the most overlooked moments in officiating—the gap. That three-to-five second window before the whistle where emotions, instincts, and awareness collide.

We break down why hard work is our thank-you note for the opportunities we’ve been given, and how gratitude transforms the grind into growth. From San Antonio energy with the Unseen 18 to the launch of our Inner Game of Officiating series on Substack, this conversation is all about shifting from raw reaction to regulated response.

We unpack the SAGE framework—self-awareness, authenticity, growth mindset, and emotional intelligence—as anchors that keep us grounded. And we introduce the SPOGO sequence that reveals what really happens inside the gap and how to train it: from the stimulus, to old tapes replaying, to the moment the gap opens, and finally to a response that reflects identity over instinct.

Whether you’re battling crowd noise, replaying mistakes in your head, or fighting the urge to ball watch, this episode gives you the tools to reset, regulate, and respond with clarity. Because you don’t lose in the action—you lose in the reaction.

The biggest takeaway? You don’t get better at the whistle until you get better in the gap before the whistle.