Newspaper Article

[LaxRef]

There were several articles about sportsmanship, and one about officiating, recently in this paper:

http://www.startribune.com/stories/526/5430931.html

(You may need to register to see this article; I'm not sure. It came right up for me, but I think I registered with this site at one point.)

This was my response:

Dear Mr. Millea:

I appreciated your article about officiating and sportsmanship in today's paper. I've been a men's lacrosse official for 8 years, and I've seen much of what you describe.

To me, the most maddening part of officiating is that we spend countless hours studying the rules, having meetings about rules and mechanics, discussing the rules in person and online, and then we're judged on our performance by coaches, players, and parents who've never even seen a rule book. Then there are the people who "learned" the rules by watching the sport at one level and have absolutely no idea that there are rule differences between high school, NCAA, and college.

Most of these fans don't realize that they're the reason the officiating doesn't gets better. New officials quit because of the abuse well before they get the three years or so of experience they need to become competent, thus ensuring a steady stream of newer officials. I've never quite understood why the fans can accept literally hundreds of mistakes from the players during a game but can't accept one mistake from an official.

I think at the most basic level, people abuse officials because they have a need to feel superior to someone else. The most fitting punishment I can see is to make them go down on the field and officiate for a while to see that it's not as easy as they think it is.

[Snake~eyes]

To me, the most maddening part of officiating is that we spend countless hours studying the rules, having meetings about rules and mechanics, discussing the rules in person and online, and then we're judged on our performance by coaches, players, and parents who've never even seen a rule book.
LaxRef, there aren't a whole lot of people who study the ruleboooks like you. Often times in youth games there are officials who are just there to 'collect the check.' They don't really care about the rules or if they perform well, they want to get in and get out. But I do agree that sportsmanship stinks and it is declining, it is definitley a reason there is a shortage on officials.

[LaxRef]

LaxRef, there aren't a whole lot of people who study the ruleboooks like you. Often times in youth games there are officials who are just there to 'collect the check.' They don't really care about the rules or if they perform well, they want to get in and get out. But I do agree that sportsmanship stinks and it is declining, it is definitley a reason there is a shortage on officials.

You're right, of course, but I'd still have to say that 95% of all officials know the rules better than 95% of the people complaining about how they don't know the rules.

I have been fortunate to encounter few officials who I thought were just out for the money. I have seen many that are still shaky on the rules after even 3 or 4 years on the job (e.g., thinking that the goalie can cross midfield and leave only 3 people back; thinking the 4-count keeps going if the goalie drops the ball; a laundry list of misconceptions about GK interference and crease violations).

[zebra618]

We had some sportsmanship issues with youth coaches in football. The league established a "Greivance Committee" of which I sat for 3 seasons. One season, we had the coaches spend at least 1 game on the field as an official. The leagues consensus was that having a coach on the field was worse for the game, than the experience the coach had walking in our shoes. We have had improvements in sportsmanship since that time.

I work youth football with my sons. I have done a lot of shielding to keep them in the game. My oldest son has worked 4 seasons with me, and my youngest son 1.

My oldest son has helped me to disconnect my emotions during tense moments on the field. For a couple of seasons, he would deal with the coaches for USC issues. I have learned a lot from him.

[laxfan25]

If you have seen the excellent training video, "The Third Team on the Field", the narrator addresses this point by saying they're not yelling at you, they're yelling at the uniform - the symbol of authority. Ever notice how people just look a little different at you when you have the striped shirt on? After a game is over, I take the stripes off fairly quickly so that I turn into a human being again. There is a palpable difference in how people view you with and without.
The fans are just an example of the anonymity of the mob. They can sit in a group and yell things, knowing that a proper official will pay them no mind. (How often do we want to turn and flip them off!! Never have done it, and have never made comments in anger their way. Most are just ignorant, and are just fan-atics.
Some coaches feel that that is the way they are supposed to act - you've got to ride the refs because that is what Bobby Knight and Tierney do, and they're winners. Fortunately they are in the minority, they just stand out in our memory.
Part of my serenity on the field (well-disguised at times) comes from knowing that I know the rules better than anyone else there, knowing that I am giving my best effort to be fair, consistent and safe, knowing that it's OK to "coach" a player out of a violation, and really feeling that no one can do a better job than I out there. Not being c*cky, just confident in my actions.
It was great to hear the miked officials in the games - seeing that even at that level they are talking (coaching, some might claim) to the players. One of the best experiences I've had was having the privilege of attending the USL Clinicians training put on by John Hill down at Texas A&M. I went in expecting to hear a lot of "by the book" strict disciplinarian attitude, and it was totally the opposite. Very refreshing, and made me feel like my style is appropriate. John said "we're not trying to trap players out there". On a 10 second count for clearing (the old days), if you're at 10.5/11, let it go if the ball's headed out. Be professional, but not overbearing.
Being an old-timer, I have always cherished the tradition of good sportsmanship in a tough, physical game that is embodied in lacrosse. In my mind there are no other sports like it, and it is that tradition that I try to uphold and instill in the players under my jurisdiction in the game. Based on the comments I get from players, coaches and even some fans, I think I'm making headway. Peace.

[CoachRob]

If you have seen the excellent training video, "The Third Team on the Field", the narrator...

That narrator is eme, who often posts in this forum. He also officiated the D2 final game this past weekend and is a rules maven. Read his posts whenever possible LF25.

[laxfan25]

I had the pleasure of meeting him briefly in Philadelphia this past winter at the convention. Always nice to put a face with the man behind the memos! I didn't realize that was him in the videos - it must have been the makeup! As I said somewhere in another post yesterday - looks a little like Tom Cruise...