Aurora – Officially, they are men and women just like you, but, yes, they are whistle-blowers and can be a royal pain.
It’s not for everyone, and many wear strange clothing. Their striped shirts, for example, were more in style when the Rolling Stones were young. The shade of blue worn by others used to be reserved for bad tuxedos and leisure suits, although I’m at a loss about what soccer people are trying to accomplish wearing shorts and high, black socks.
I refer to our officials, umpires, referees, judges, etc., the ones who incorporate whistles, cards, counters, sneakers, spikes, skates, wristbands, assorted head and protective gear, and whatever else they need to oversee Colorado’s high school games, meets and matches.
I see them regularly, but don’t know how they have the fortitude to do what they do.
They are referred to, of course, by a number of designations, including derogatory, but among the most popular – and printable – are “ref,” “blue” (for the final time, it’s an ump, not a color, OK?), “sir,” “ma’am” and “hey, you.”
They do their best work when remaining nameless – faceless, if possible, but this is the real world.
The job requirements are obvious. Be punctual, assertive and thick-skinned; have an encyclopedic knowledge of the event’s rules; don’t take the game away from the kids; and, above all else, be correct every time, as in perfect. No matter the level, NFL to pee-wee. Get the call right.
If not, well, you heard what the Seattle Seahawks thought of the officiating in Sunday’s Super Bowl.
Perhaps it was true what old-time umpires used to say of working major- league baseball: “You can’t beat them hours.”
But it was also correct when Houston men’s basketball coach Tom Penders, who received a technical foul this season when he collapsed on the sideline, said it was “extremely poor judgement” by the officials. The man was taken off the court on a stretcher, yet the “T” stood.
And I’m sure you’ve been at your local high school events and wondered what the heck officials were watching when they made particular rulings.
Apologies to coaches after the fact, as in going through film or being reviewed, are unacceptable and do almost nothing.
Our Colorado prep refs, umps and the like can get all of this and more for as much as $52 per game.
They’re not unlike pro or college officials in other regards. They have regular jobs or are retired, were former athletes who wish to remain in the game and apparently are willing to handle earfuls of abuse that can last for hours.
I don’t mean to make coaches cringe, but I’m glad we have them. In case you don’t know, there are ample officials to work in-state varsity events; it’s the lower levels that have uncomfortable numbers, according to Tom Robinson of the Colorado High School Activities Association.
What will we do if we get to the point when not enough officials want to work a prep baseball or football game? This isn’t Little League, so bringing Dad or Uncle Albert out of the stands isn’t – and shouldn’t be – an option. I have strong doubt the honor system would work universally for high school sports.
“It has to be someone without a vested interest,” Robinson said.
It may not always appear that way, particularly when you’re viewing a game through your high school’s spectacles, but in-state kids are given fair shakes by the stripes. (There … I wrote it.) Problems with and mistakes by officials will never go away, but for me some of it centers on unfamiliarity, or they can’t react fast enough to the speed of the game.
Consider football: No doubt, ruling on pass coverage is the glowing weakness of schoolboy officials. Why? Most prep teams run the ball, and refs don’t experience enough of the aerial game.
Then, it gets hairier. In baseball, the strike zone can wander like a nomad. Soccer people constantly whine about offside. And basketballers question every block and charge.
Refs can’t win for losing. Do officials let the kids play rough or call it tight? Does a lineman downfield away from the play really deserve a flag? Was it a foul or bump? Did someone line up a hair in front of the starting line or bleed a molecule into someone else’s lane? Do female officials slow down male games?
Dialogue can’t hurt.
“You have to be a great communicator today,” said Jim Dorsey, who has dabbled in teaching, coaching and officiating for more than four decades and helps the CHSAA and the Metropolitan League assign and critique officials. “Twenty-five years ago, you could tell a coach to shut up and sit down.”
Not today. Point: More than 30 coaches were ejected from the 2005 baseball season.
It’s funny – there’s now a year-round commitment by most officials and refs, many of whom work multiple sports. There are clinics, meetings, reviews, demonstrations, etc. And more scrutiny than ever.
Think of stripes more like the hilarious Bill Murray movie.
They’re all we’ve got.
Neil H. Devlin can be reached at 303-820-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com.
