Stripes are Earned
“Even your seeing eye dog hates you for that call, buddy!”
“Yo, Oscar Meyer, you know that call was 100% bologna, right?”
“Did you lose your cell phone? Cause you’re missing every call!”
“You know you’re supposed to blow on that whistle, not suck at it!”
Yep, high school sports referees get zero respect.
Who in his right mind would want, dare say, enjoy, a job where 50% of the people hate you 100% of the time? Could it possibly be worth any payday?
Over the past couple of seasons, I’ve chatted with several referees at halftime and asked them about such things. Turns out there’s a huge shortage of refs coming up in the system for that exact reason – no one wants the grief. The shortage leaves barely enough bodies to cover the league games each week.
Interestingly though, each official seemed happy with his job.
They had similar, positive points of view, wrapped up in different individual stories, about why they love to do it, despite the growing disrespect from onlookers.
Not surprisingly, of course, most said please do not use my name. Some said they’re 100% unlisted for fear of reprisals and late-night callers, so they were reluctant to share their contact information with me. But a few did. And they helped me understand.
An optimistic former Orinda basketball referee Jon Fayman explained, “You mostly tune out the crowd and don’t process anything that’s said – it’s just noise,” said Fayman. “You also need to have a high degree of focus to make sure your call judgment and mechanics are correct, so you’re not actively listening.”
Each official felt the job was rewarding, great exercise and a wonderful way to stay connected to the game. They just tune out the bad stuff. Staying involved with a sport they love, once they’re past their prime, was a common thread. And that involvement makes it worth it.
Andrew Jensen, an Orinda resident and football referee, said one of his all-time favorite memories came while officiating a Miramonte football game in 2017, when a special needs, newly crowned homecoming king wanted a photo with the refs.
There is positive energy out there – if you know where to look.
The memory of all of these officials was simply amazing. They’re sharp. Their ability to recall dates, teams, players and the rulings they made, sometimes years earlier, was astounding. I can’t even recall what I had for lunch.
They’re wrongfully compared to blind rodents, gamblers and sons of female hounds. But the truth is, they should be compared to Marines. Not surprisingly, off the field, they’re the most upstanding, intelligent and successful people you would be honored to know – from police sergeants to CFO’s. I tip my hat to them.
They deserve our respect. And we need more like them.
It’s truly an underappreciated and vital part of the game. Next generation, where are you? Any young folks interested in pursuing a D1 or NFL officiating job? Please step up and contact Dave Cutaia at cutaia@aol.com to learn how to get started.
The world needs more whistleblowers.
An unnamed Field Judge watches intently for any pass interference during the Campolindo vs Miramonte Junior Varsity football game. He’s also responsible for counting defensive players on the field, illegal blocks, incomplete passes, offsides, running back action and out-of-bounds calls on his side of the field. How many things can he do at once? Not an easy job.