Why do prep sports officials quit? Too often, it’s us

Depending upon your interpretation of statistics, the biggest reason most high school referees quit officiating is career and job demands.

That’s a very good reason, but the real official-killers come from much darker corners.

Here’s a summary of reasons from 463 high school officials who, having quit, responded to a nationwide survey conducted by the National Federation of State High School Associations: 167 cited career/job demands; 105 cited poor sportsmanship of participants; 96 said it was the poor sportsmanship of spectators; 84 cited time away from family and friends; and 83 blamed low game fees.

(The full survey results can be found at www.nfhs.org.)

Poor sportsmanship by spectators, says the federation, ranked second in basketball, football, soccer and softball. And more than half of the officials who dropped out (or burned out) did so during their first 10 years of officiating.

But look further. When the 105 who cited poor sportsmanship by participants is combined with the 96 who gave poor sportsmanship by spectators as their reasons for quitting, that’s 201 of the 463 responses. So 43 percent named poor sportsmanship as their No. 1 one reason for quitting.

Correcting or tolerating the epidemic of shabby sportsmanship is not the primary skill or responsibility of a referee. Have referees become the only effective standard bearers for sensible behavior during school competitions?

Before the official arrives, the school administration, coach and spectators have to determine whether behavior will be good or bad. The responsibility for sportsmanship does not lie with officials. When behavior is not controlled, officials are being required, often by rule, to manage players and spectators rather than the game.

Even though officials have a near-perfect record of showing up, the shortage of officials is real. An education sport recruits, trains and welcomes new officials every year. Apparently the welcome fades quickly, often with insidious comments.

Closer to home, Todd Stordahl, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association coordinator assigned to the Washington Officials Association, agrees that poor sportsmanship combined with career responsibilities top the list of reasons why referees quit officiating.

Stordahl points out that educators officiating school sports no longer make up the majority of WOA members. The growing majority of officials have job/career responsibilities other than in schools. Even with excellent cooperation by employers, the availability of referees for afternoon games is declining at an accelerating rate.

Regardless of whether poor sportsmanship comes from participants or spectators, too many officials are giving up a needed avocation because of it. Those who have the authority and responsibility for teaching the basic tenets of competitive athletics are committing fouls against education through their inattentiveness.

Are referees expected to police sportsmanship for coaches and administrators at games? Based on recent rule changes, that is probably true. Today referees are required to police everything from players wearing uniforms according to the rules to disrespectful gestures.

Why has it become necessary for referees to also discipline spectators? Why should they substitute for an administrator by ejecting a spectator for unacceptable language?

Why are some coaches depending upon referees to eject one of their wrongdoing players? Are there two different standards of behavior?

Nearly everyone agrees that what adults are willing to accept sets the standard of sportsmanship. How about you and me? Is it better to lose than be ashamed of victory? Growing pressure to win from parents is being transferred to coaches and imposed on kids.

Scapegoating referees may be out of control, but it has no gender-bias. Steve Colby referees girls basketball in Island, Skagit and Whatcom counties. He has dedicated more than 30 years to school programs. He has been a part of the terrific achievements in sports opportunities since Title IX went into effect in 1972.

According to Colby, an escalating disrespect has been permitted in what has become a education sports culture that is heading for major quakes and aftershocks.

No gender-exemption exists in sports discourtesy or rudeness. Female officials ranked “time away from family and friends” higher than their fellow male refs as the reason for leaving. An excellent motive, but the problem is too few want to start.

One would hope that as young female players had positive experiences, the number of women officials would increase. Instead, an obvious conclusion is reached: Many, if not most, players experience up close that refereeing is not worth the dissin’ they have to take.

It has been said that veteran officials have survived by progressing from rabbit ears to selected oblivion. The strange part about high school sports is that there are new spectators and participants each year. New officials begin a career in sportsmanship, but too many who have learned the values of good sportsmanship end up leaving.

Maybe experience helps deal with being the target of poor sportsmanship. Or perhaps it takes six years to decide serving the game isn’t worth the senseless abuse. Or it may be that our respect for those who keep fair play a top priority applies to everyone except those with a whistle or flag.

Cliff Gillies, former executive director of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, writes weekly during the school year for The Herald. His mailing address is 7500 U.S. Highway 101, South Bend, WA 98586. His e-mail address is cliffsal@techline.com.

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