For Release: March 2, 2001

Sports Officials Salute National Sportsmanship Day

(RACINE, Wis.) — Sports officials from all levels of sport are taking note that the Institute for International Sports is celebrating March 6 as the 10th anniversary of National Sportsmanship Day.

"Sportsmanship is about respecting the game, your opponents, the coaches, yourself and the game officials — all who play a role in this environment called sports," said Barry Mano, president of the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO).

A recent survey conducted by NASO and Referee magazine, found that the decline in sportsmanship is the number one reason people quit officiating.

"Poor sports are driving away good officials and making it more difficult to recruit new officials," says Mano, whose organizations provides educational training materials, insurance products and personal benefits to more than 19,000 sports officials at every level.

The concern about the decline in officiating registrations nationally has resulted in NASO hosting a conference in Norfolk, Va., June 15-19, specifically addressing the issue of recruiting and retaining officials.

"Across the nation, high school associations are seeing a decline in registrations and this leads to fewer experienced officials working more games. The increase in games requires more officials, but the trend is going the other way. Fewer officials ultimately will mean fewer games and that’s a hardship on the kids and school programs."

NASO says that officials deal with verbal harassment all the time, but it’s the fear of physical assaults in recent years that has changed the landscape.

"Sports is life with the volume turned up," adds Mano. "Too often individual calls by an official are being interpreted as a personal issue with a player or coach. That’s simply not how officiating works."

Mano founded NASO in 1980 and the organization has effectively lobbied for legislation that protects sports officials from assault in 14 states. The penalty for attacking a sports official can be a large fine or even jail time and a felony conviction in some states. Numerous state legislatures are considering similar legislation based on NASO’s efforts. But legislation is not the association’s only answer to the sportsmanship problem.

In 1998, NASO introduced assault insurance for its members that provides legal and medical assistance when a member is assaulted. Members can also collect fees from games missed due to injuries resulting from an assault through the coverage. The program is included as a provided benefit of membership. Dues for NASO are $79 annually.

"It’s an added measure of comfort for our members to know that NASO is there for them if an assault occurs," says Mano. "But let’s hope that one day this type of insurance is not necessary because good sportsmanship rules the day."

So does National Sportsmanship Day result in fewer penalties being assessed on March 6?

"The men, women and young people who officiate will call ‘em like they see ‘em no matter what day it is," smiles Mano. "But hey, having a day like National Sportsmanship Day is a great call anytime."