Officials Meeting with Boosters

[Rick KY]

The recent issue of Officials Quarterly included an article about promoting sportsmanship. One suggestion made was for officials to meet with school boosters and other groups to get a message out about promoting sportsmanship. The main idea of the author of this column was that everyone is responsible for promoting sportsmanship, including spectators, officials, coaches, administrators, etc. Anybody have any thoughts on this topic?

[Bob M.]

REPLY: Sounds like a good idea provided the session is interactive rather than an official "preaching" sportsmanship to the boosters. It must include school administration and coaches as well. It needs to be a "we're all in this together" message that uses education of our youth as the focus, as opposed to a message where the official(s) present themselves as the "victims." It must be reinforced that the students--athletes and spectators alike--are the real victims in any display of bad sportsmanship. If bad sportsmanhip is tolerated, or worse yet, encouraged, our youth are left with a message that such behavior is acceptable and expected. That does nothing but perpetuate and escalate an already unacceptable problem.

[Forksref]

I think it could be beneficial for boosters/fans to meet officials and see that they are human. I'd entertain questions about the rules and I'd think about some of the most obvious misunderstandings about the rules and go over those. I see this as an opportunity to promote sportsmanship through being more knowledgeable about the rules.

[grantsrc]

Speaking of sportsmanship, this story was in the Kansas City Star yesterday. Sad....
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...l/16864868.htm

[stevesmith]

When my son was in high school, I spoke weekly at the booster club meeting. The time was usually split between a predetermined rule each week, and then maybe explaining an unusual play or enforcement that happened in last week's game. Q&A at the end. Total time about 10-15 minutes each week. It was a good atmosphere where the boosters could learn about the intricate rules of game, and at the same time see the fun and cordial "banter" between the coaches and myself regarding "conversations" that take place on the sidelines during a game. It was a nice relationship (mainly because my son was on the team) that was beneficial to all parties to be able to hear and understand what goes on during a game. Might not work depending the attitudes of the coaches and official toward the other's profession.

[MJT]

My comments on this on the NF board.

One thing to remember is IF you are invited by a schools administration or booster club, they are taking a step to improve sportsmanship and this is a positive. That being the case...
1. Take this opportunity to explain some differences between HS and the games played on Sat. and Sunday.
2. Take the opportunity to explain how much time is put in to officiating FB and what officials do to make themselves better.
3. Take the opportunity to explain the roles of the different postions on a FB crew and what they look for.
4. Take the opportunity to explain how new officials need to witness good sportsmanship in order to not get frustrated and decide to stop officiating.
5. Take the opportunity to encourage them as fans to not be negative and to encourage those around them to also show good sportsmanship.
6. Take the opportunity to explain how a person becomes an official, the fun that occurs in officiating, and ask them to encourage young people they feel would be a good official to contact you about doing so.
7. Thank them a couple of times for wanting to make a positive difference in the lives of everyone interested in athletics at the school.
8. Let them see you as a person, with a sense of humor , a passion for doing the best you can, and a joy in working for the good of our youth.

Do these things and others mentioned above and IMO this can be only a positive experience for all.

[Rick KY]

I think this sounds like a good idea in general, but I hesitate to let it become about officiating, but for purposes of this discussion it should be about sportsmanship. As officials we will have a different perspective on this topic than coaches or fans. I'm sure the topic of yelling at officials will come up in the discussion, but it should not be the focus.