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Big-Time Attitude is for Small People

Virtually every local association or chapter has at least one official who has “made it big” the member who has worked a state championship assignment or a national tournament, has been hired by a major college conference or perhaps one who has been hired to worked professional games. Those officials stand as examples for other members, to show that it is possible to move up.

If you’re the fortunate official who has advanced or done well, your self-confidence has grown and your visibility has increased. But are you enjoying your triumphs too much? Are you guilty of “big-timing” your less-fortunate colleagues?

Few things in officiating are more annoying than a peer who flaunts his success. To paraphrase comedian Jeff Foxworthy, you are big-timing if:

• You wear major conference or postseason game apparel to local meetings. Surely you can find a regular golf shirt in your closet; save the conference apparel for conference-related meetings. Better yet, show your pride in your local association by wearing apparel bearing your association logo.

• You drop names of prominent officials, coaches or players into conversations. In addition to name-dropping, it gets tiresome to listen to an official who talks about the exotic locales or historic stadia in which he's worked. It’s different if someone asks, “Is it as noisy working a game at Old Ivy Stadium as it sounds on TV?” Even if asked, you'll be perceived as less irritating if you keep your answer brief and to the point.

• You contradict mechanics discussions by association presenters with phrases such as, “That’s not the way we do it in the (insert name of conference).” The presenter has spent some personal time and effort putting together a program that will interest and educate the troops. The discussion is likely geared to high school rules and mechanics that vary from those used in your college games. Your unwanted comments may cause others in the group to lose confidence in the speaker or launch a debate that wastes valuable meeting time.

• You use local meeting time to fill out reports from major weekend assignments. If the conference work is pressing, stay home and get it done. You may think yous’re not disturbing anyone if you sit in the back of the room and complete your paperwork, but your lack of interest in the meeting will actually divert attention from the speaker to yourself.

• You show up at games and critique the officials. Your position does not necessarily make you an expert. It doesn’t give you an open invitation to visit the officials at halftime or after the game and deliver an unsolicited critique of their work. If you’re well-known in the community and spectators ask if the officials made the correct call, either back up the officials or say, I’m just here as a spectator; I'm not really watching the officials. “If you’ve been asked to observe the officials, do it in an unobtrusive manner.

When you get the urge to big-time, remember that you may well be a missed call or two away from rejoining the ranks of officials at a lower level.

NASO State Countdown

The reach of NASO is not only at a national level but also international. There are close to 16,000 NASO members worldwide. NASO members live in all 50 states, the District of Columbia (D.C.), the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and eight additional countries (Canada, Australia, Austria, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway and the United Kingdom). There are also 52 NASO members who are listed as part of the armed forces. Below is a number breakdown of NASO members in the 10 states with the most members.

1. California — 4,586
2. New York — 1,149
3. New Jersey — 881
4. Pennsylvania — 780
5. Illinois — 590
6. Florida — 556
7. Texas — 534
8. Ohio — 478
9. Massachusetts — 473
10. Virginia — 471

Pull Up a Chair ...

Everyone who’s ever stepped onto a field, court or rink to officiate a game has a story to tell. Here’s a story about the bond of officiating partners. We know you have a story to tell. Write it down and e-mail to lastcall@referee.com.

That's What Partners Do

By Loren Else

It was Friday night and the crowd was rocking. Two state-ranked boys’ basketball teams were matched up in this high school gymnasium in southeastern Minnesota. A timeout was called with 22 seconds to go. Holding the ball and standing slightly behind the center jump circle, I looked into the crowd. I saw anxious moms proudly wearing buttons with pictures of their sons. Dads were looking into the player huddles, nervously shoving their hands into empty popcorn bags. Students were standing and yelling. My partner and friend of 15 years jogged over to discuss some situations we needed to be especially aware of. We talked about the ball being trapped on the throw-in and that a foul would be imminent. We needed to have the right angle and be on top of the play.

As much as I wanted to totally focus on where I was and what was happening, I watched my partner run back to his position. I was reminded as he moved away that sometimes games are hard and sometimes life is hard. My partner's youngest son was just diagnosed with severe autism. He and his family were about to begin a very difficult journey. Although his heart was heavy, tonight he was doing one hell of a job working the ballgame. We officiated high school basketball together for years and our families became close. We know each other, always know where the other will be on the court, but also know when one of us needs to be picked up. That’s what partners do.

The horn sounded and the teams came back onto the floor. I watched the players as they came out, noting the intense determination on their young faces. The ball came in and there was a foul — another timeout with 17 seconds to go in this two-point ballgame. Again, we took our positions on the floor as the teams gathered for last-second instructions. My partner and I again briefly conferred for last-second possibilities.

Unfortunately, because of his son’s diagnosis, my partner will not be on the court with me next year. I will miss him enormously. All officials go through highs and lows in their lives as well as on the court. We traveled this journey together, and we both believe things in life happen for a purpose. On the entire ride to the game, my partner talked only of getting his son the help and therapy he needs. He was not feeling sorry for himself, just thinking of one thing — to improve the quality of life for his son. My partner is a determined, strong and positive person. The day he received his son’s diagnosis, he was shattered. He called me right away and it was a difficult, emotional conversation. Now, a few days later he had gathered his strength and told his family to get on his shoulders.

The horn again blared and we took our positions. We counted the players on the floor, made eye contact with each other and put the ball in play. There was another foul, free throws were shot and another timeout was called. It was now a three-point game with 11 seconds left. My partner said his decision to not officiate next year was a “no-brainer.” He needed to be with his family, which will soon include a third child, as well as driving his son to Burnsville, which is 80 miles one way, probably four times a week for autism therapy.

The timer horn again brought me into focus and we prepared for the last seconds of that intense contest. I had a different feeling out on the court tonight. For some reason, it felt like an angel had touched us both on the shoulder and said, “It will be all right.” I think at that moment, my partner and I both felt that was where we needed to be. The final horn sounded, the game was over and we ran off the court. We shook hands and made eye contact. We didn’t have to say a word. Although that game was over, another tough game was just beginning.

Loren Else, Rochester, Minn., has officiated high school basketball for more than 30 years, and worked a Minnesota state championship in 2000. This originally appeared in the 8/03 issue of Referee.