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Make The Right Call With An Official Strategy

By Rick Wolff

Posted: Wednesday July 6, 2005

It’s very simple. No matter how committed your coaches are, no matter how devoted the parents are, if you don’t have any refs, umps or other officials working at the kids’ games, well, there won’t be any games.

Problem is, finding qualified officials to work our kids’ events is tougher than ever. Some experts contend this downward trend is due in large part to refs and umps not wanting to deal with out-of-control sideline parents. The officials even have all-too-real concerns about their personal safety after so many heated confrontations with angry parents.

Still, every town that wants a successful youth sports program must overcome these challenges and create a stable of good officials. Here are some things you can do:

First, get the word out in a big way in your community that the local sports leagues are searching for game officials. Be sure to check with your local parks and rec department to help spread the word in the newspaper, school announcements, newsletters and so forth. Let everyone know you’re looking for novices as well as experienced officials. Be sure to emphasize to all sports parents how important this search is.

Once you have come up with a list of potential candidates, bring them together and have an experienced sports official develop and run a workshop for them. Have your instructor work from the absolute basics. He can go over the sport’s rulebook, how to run a game and how to handle common problems such as unruly parents or coaches and unsportsmanlike behavior from players. And emphasize how vital it is for every official to remain impartial.

Also, while the sports budgets of many towns are strapped, put officials high on the priority list. Most towns charge a nominal registration fee to handle the cost of kids’ uniforms, equipment, trophies, etc. Be sure to add enough money into the local budget to cover the cost of officials. While many volunteers give their time, we often can’t depend on them alone.

Ideally you want only adults to serve as refs. But in many towns, because it is difficult to get enough grownups to work the kids’ games, sometimes the local board of directors will reach out to teenagers to serve. That’s fine, but understand that it is difficult and awkward for a teenager to tell a parent on the sidelines to calm down during a game. Suggestion: When assigning refs to games, always try to pair a teenager with an adult.

Finally, check out naso.org, the website of the National Association of Sports Officials. NASO is the leading authority on how to train officials, and its advice can help your town too.

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