Message From the Executive Director …

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It seems over 50% of the calls and emails we receive during basketball season relate to officiating.  Many of those are seeking an interpretation of a rule based on a situation, which occurred in a game.  The rest are complaints about a decision or interpretation of an official, which “cost us the game.”  In keeping with previous columns calling for proper perspective in our interscholastic sports, the value and responsibilities of game officials in our interscholastic programs needs to be reviewed.

The Athletic Union has three expectations of game officials.  First – know the rules.  There is no excuse for not having a complete understanding of the rule book.  Second – every night, give your best effort.  The students and coaches involved in the game work hard to prepare themselves for success, and officials must do the same.   Third – be professional.  From arriving on time, to addressing the players and coaches in a dignified manner, to appearance and work ethic, by agreeing to serve as the rule authority in an athletic contest, officials must always act in a manner consistent with their position.

The tough thing for officials is that many coaches and spectators have two other expectations – judgment which is identical to theirs, and perfect execution of that judgment.  The overwhelming majority of the concerns voiced to us about officiating are based on this unreasonable expectation.

The color of shirt you are wearing taints judgment.  That is the root of the black and white stripes, as the responsibility of the official is to see in black and white, not in color.  It shouldn’t matter what color the shirt is when making the call, as the same rule applies equally to everyone.  But, too often that perspective is lost.  The judgment of officials, reflected in their whistle, is taken personally, or as offensive to a particular team.  In reality, officials provide one of the great opportunities in sports for our students.  Every day, in each of our lives, a person in a position of authority makes decisions that directly impact each of us.  Sometimes those decisions serve to benefit us individually.  Sometimes, those decisions cause us harm.  But, it is how we react to those decisions that define us.

In a basketball game, when the block/charge call goes against us, do we rant and rave, scream in opposition to the judgment of the authority figure?  (Remember, the rules of the game give certain decision making authority – like deciding a block/charge – solely to the game officials)  Do we waste the rest of the game griping about that one call?  The opportunity given us by the blow of an official’s whistle is the opportunity to learn to deal with, accept and sometimes adjust to the decisions of authority.  While dissention and opposition is a part of basic freedom, we’ve lost the ability in our society to separate that from respect for the people in a position of authority.  Disagree with the call, but respect the authority of the official to make the call, and learn from that decision.  Put yourself in a position to learn from decisions that adversely impact us, and overcome those decisions.   I can watch five minutes of any game and tell which team can overcome adversity and which team will sulk and pout and have no chance at the end simply by watching how players, coaches and fans accept officiating.  When adverse decisions of authority figures – officials – become the excuse for what happens, failure results.  When the adverse decisions of authority figures are acknowledged and the reaction is to learn a lesson and overcome, then success follows.

I remember watching a boys state championship basketball game a few years ago when a foul was called as time expired in a tie game.  The free throw was made, and the game ended.  The friend I was with at the game was beside himself.  His comment was “You can’t call that foul at that point in the game.  You have to let the kids decide it.”  This brings up another lesson that officiating gives us.  A call that would be made with four minutes left in the first quarter must be made with four seconds left in the fourth quarter.  Game situation does not dictate the offense.  The violation of a playing rule dictates the offense.  We constantly remind officials of this.  Officiate the same way at the end of the game as you do at the beginning.  Likewise, we remind officials when the margin is wide at the end of the game, don’t quit enforcing the rules.  The students on the floor at the end of a blowout deserve the same effort and rule enforcement as those who started the game. 

The final point my friend made was “let the kids decide it.”  Every official hopes the last 10 seconds of a tight game can be decided without any violations of playing rules.  But, just as the players decide a game by playing great defense and not fouling, players can decide the outcome with a last second foul.  Officials don’t think in terms of individual players or teams, they think in terms of the overall contest.  They think in black and white.  We have to keep their role and responsibility in perspective, and understand the opportunities that exist for our students every time a whistle is blown.