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Stop Trashing Officials, YOU are Killing the Game

I've seen more and more detractors ripping on officials for bad calls in high school games recently, and I'm here to say: Shame on you!

I officiated during my college years and something you will never understand from your perch in the stands or your couch at home: officiating is incredibly difficult work that demands split-second decisions under intense pressure.

Today's culture of instant criticism has reached absurd levels. These so-called "experts" sit 80 yards away in the stands, barely able to see the action clearly, yet they're absolutely certain they know better than the official standing five feet from the play. Even worse are the ones watching a grainy, shaky cell phone video of a bang-bang play, rewinding it a dozen times, and then deciding the referee must be incompetent... or worse, corrupt.

Let me tell you what it's actually like on that field. Each official has their own specific set of responsibilities and  keys to watch on every single play. While sprinting to stay in the proper position, they're focused on their assigned coverage area, whether that's the line of scrimmage, the action in the backfield, downfield receivers, out of bounds markers, or potential late hits. They're processing their specific assignments in real-time while running at full speed themselves, trying to get the best angle on the play while staying out of the way. Did the kid juggle the ball? Did he make a "football move?" Was he in-bounds?  The fan in the stands with perfect 20/20 hindsight and a pause button doesn't have a clue about the reality of that job.

Here's the truth: making every play perfect is impossible. These officials are human beings doing their absolute best in real-time, without the luxury of replay or multiple camera angles. They're not getting rich doing this - far from it. They're officiating for very little money and receiving no appreciation. They do it because they love the game and want to give student-athletes the opportunity to compete.

So the next time you're tempted to blast an official from the stands or share that viral video with your snarky commentary, remember this: they're out there giving their time and energy while you're just running your mouth. If you think you can do better, the Texas Association of Sports Officials (TASO) would love to have you on the team. Otherwise, show some respect for the people who make the game possible.

by Chris Doelle

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