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Ensuring Your Safety
One of the more unpleasant aspects of officiating is dealing
with unruly coaches, players and fans. Sometimes, game participants
and team followers emotionally react so strongly that officials’
safety is jeopardized. Fortunately, some schools and conferences
recognize the potential for problems and do what they can
to prevent them.
There are things that individual officials, local officials
associations and schools can do to help the protection process.
Individual officials.
• If you are working with a partner, arrive together;
there is safety in numbers.
• Park your car near the school building and, if possible,
in a well-lit area. Try to leave room for you to move your
car forward and backward. (If you park right up against a
wall, you only have one way out and can be easily parked in.)
• Wear civilian clothes upon arrival. Don’t wear
your official uniform; that brings too much attention to the
official before the game even starts. It is especially important
to blend in with the crowd if you arrive for the conclusion
of a preceding game. For example, if you arrive early enough
for your varsity game to watch some of the junior varsity
game, don’t wear anything that makes you stand out in
the crowd.
• Identify the game administrator. It is very important
that you know who the person is and where the person can be
quickly located if problems arise.
• Create a plan of action, which includes dealing with
dangerous fans and leaving the court/field in a safe, timely
manner.
Local officials associations.
• Host a meeting dealing with safety issues. Teach
members what individual officials can and should do when confronted
with potential problems.
• If your local officials association contracts with
schools or conferences for games, work toward getting specific
safety measures in the contract. By letting the schools know
the concerns of the officials, there is a better opportunity
for a positive relationship and realized expectations.
• Collect individual reports on behavior and responses.
By documenting incidents and the authorities’ reactions
to them, the local association can monitor patterns of behavior
in their officials and the schools.
Schools.
• Provide a safe parking area for the officials.
Ideally, the space is near the school, well-lit and not labeled.
If the parking spot says, "Officials," fans can
easily identify the official’s car and the potential
for vandalism increases.
• Provide an escort. That person should have a key to
the officials room and the know-how to handle all safety procedures.
Ideally, that person’s lone responsibility is the officials
from the time they pull into the parking lot until the time
they leave. The escort should meet the crew at halftime to
usher them off the court/field and should remain in the vicinity
of the officials’ locker room.
• Provide visible security on the court or field. Uniformed
police officers or school personnel with "security"
shirts or jackets give potential problem fans something to
think about.
• Punish those who violate rules by threatening or accosting
officials. By coming down hard on violators, the school sends
a strong message that misbehavior toward officials is unacceptable.
• Educate coaches, players and fans about sportsmanship
and the important role officials play in the education process.
The more fans understand that officials are people
the better chance of problem-free games.
By working together, officials, local associations and
schools can help prevent problems and effectively deal with
them when they occur.
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