[BillyMac]

STUDENT-ATHLETE/COACH NATIONAL ANTHEM POSTURES.

Media reports from various areas have recounted several instances where high school game officials have reacted
publicly to student-athletes and/or coaches kneeling in silent protest during the playing of the national anthem
before a game. This fall, it was reported that two officials, at a pre-match meeting with coaches threatened to
disqualify any players who did not demonstrate respect for the American flag or the national anthem. In another
instance, an official observed a player kneeling during the anthem and proceeded to advise a coach that he was
leaving the gym. In yet another game, after witnessing players kneeling during the anthem two officials left the
field, leaving the 3 remaining officials, — allegedly not without verbalizing his objection to kneeling players and
their coach. After the game, the media reported that the coach claimed that, before the game the Referee requested
— on behalf of the officiating crew — that any player who might kneel remain in the locker room “to avoid any
problems.” After the game, one of the departed officials eagerly gave media interviews where he was reported to
have said the chain officials who were called off the sidelines to replace the two officials “…weren’t officially
trained,’” and added that if the kneeling players “weren’t happy in the U.S., they should leave the country.”

These embarrassing and untoward incidents should provide a cautionary tale for IAABO officials everywhere:
IAABO Boards are requested to briefly review with all members a number of fundamental and well-established
principles of officiating; so as to avoid situations where officials denigrate themselves, their fellow officials, and
the game by abdicating their contractual and ethical responsibility to call the game to the best of their ability.

a. Refusing to work a contracted game as a protest after arriving at a game site is not only a breach of a
contract to officiate. Media statements identifying “offending” players and teams are even more
unprofessional. Taken together, these actions are indicative of a lack of understanding of the basic
obligations of a game official.

b. An official needs to remember at all times the reason why he or she is in the gym or the field house in
uniform.

c. There is no provision in the NFHS or any other basketball rules code of which we are aware regarding penalties for kneeling during pre-game ceremonies.

d. Officials may pontificate about honoring the flag and respect — however, failing to honor a contract,
leaving two teams, family and friends, coaches and staff, and one’s officiating partners to ponder the fate
of the game while the official calls attention to himself or herself — is evidence of dishonor and disrespect
of everyone else in the venue.

e. Self-righteous and gratuitous comments regarding pre-game ceremonies, threats to penalize athletes for
actions which do not violate the rules of the game, and denigration of athletes and team personnel in media
statements also serve to destroy the mantle of impartiality on which all officials’ credibility depends.

No guidelines regarding officials who wish to join the protests by kneeling themselves? Interesting.