To say that there is a little griping about officials on BGP would most certainly be an understatement. Of the folks who post about sports on here, I'd bet it's upwards of 90% or more (myself included) who have made at least some kind of comment at some point in time about being unhappy with officiating, be it a bad call, a missed call, too many penalties, or any variety of other possibilities.

 

Anyway, I think this article is an important reminder that we do, in fact, owe some thanks to zebras. When it comes down to it, without them there is no Friday night lights. These guys, at the very least, are spending their Friday evenings away from their families, with very little thanks or financial gain, and they're doing their best to see to it that our high school teams have a chance at a good game and a fair game. These guys do it for love of the game, and we need to make sure that we appreciate that for what it is.

 

Much Of What Football Officials Accomplish Is Unseen By General Public

Good article, thanks for sharing.

 

I have no idea why someone would want to be an official but I'm sure glad they're out there.

To say that there is a little griping about officials on BGP would most certainly be an understatement. Of the folks who post about sports on here, I'd bet it's upwards of 90% or more (myself included) who have made at least some kind of comment at some point in time about being unhappy with officiating, be it a bad call, a missed call, too many penalties, or any variety of other possibilities.

 

Anyway, I think this article is an important reminder that we do, in fact, owe some thanks to zebras. When it comes down to it, without them there is no Friday night lights. These guys, at the very least, are spending their Friday evenings away from their families, with very little thanks or financial gain, and they're doing their best to see to it that our high school teams have a chance at a good game and a fair game. These guys do it for love of the game, and we need to make sure that we appreciate that for what it is.

 

Much Of What Football Officials Accomplish Is Unseen By General Public

 

Hear Hear, CWB!

Neat article. Officials do have it extremely tough, since no one comes to games to watch them, and the officials only get attention if they (in the eyes of a subjective observer) mess up.

 

Thanks to all the officials on BGP, I promise the athletes do appreciate your work! :thumb:

Good article, thanks for sharing.

 

I have no idea why someone would want to be an official but I'm sure glad they're out there.

 

I think most just enjoy the chance to still be around sports. That's the case for me.

I respect the refs, but im still going to disagree with every call that goes against my team. I can't help it.

Nice article but let's not make it out like they are sacrificing so much by spending Friday nights away from families etc. it's because they want to do it not because they have to.

 

I work high school games on Friday nights and please don't feel sorry for me. I do it because I love doing it. Officials are the same. Don't make it sound like they are making a sacrifice.

 

Good article on the most part but officials still make mistakes and will always be critiqued and it is because they chose to become a ref, they also accept the criticism they receive.

There's a lot more than just Friday nights for these guys. They are also asked to do lower level games (Freshmen and JV) and they have weekly or bi-weekly meetings where they do 'professional development' by watching film and critiquing each other...at times I've had our director of officials (when it was Matt in NKy or Don now in Louisville) call me and, after scrutinizing the film say, "yeah, we blew that one."

 

More often, there are things I send in to get reviewed (they ask us to send in clips that will help them get things right in the future) and what I THOUGHT was something that was wrong was actually called correctly. Both Don and Matt would go through an extensive explanation of why what was called was called -- this goes a long way in helping me not argue things in the future that aren't what I thought they were in the past.

 

I'm also in the group that is amazed these guys are willing to do this job (unless they have aspirations to get into college or NFL officiating -- to which, we have SEVERAL great Kentucky officials at both of those levels who started their careers on Friday nights in the bluegrass).

 

I'll always let them know when I think things get missed by these guys -- but as I tell them when they admit they 'blow it' -- I make MANY more mistakes in the game than they do. But I hope that doesn't belie the respect we have for what they do -- after all, would be tough for ME to do what I love if there aren't enough of them doing what they do.

There's a lot more than just Friday nights for these guys. They are also asked to do lower level games (Freshmen and JV) and they have weekly or bi-weekly meetings where they do 'professional development' by watching film and critiquing each other...at times I've had our director of officials (when it was Matt in NKy or Don now in Louisville) call me and, after scrutinizing the film say, "yeah, we blew that one."

 

More often, there are things I send in to get reviewed (they ask us to send in clips that will help them get things right in the future) and what I THOUGHT was something that was wrong was actually called correctly. Both Don and Matt would go through an extensive explanation of why what was called was called -- this goes a long way in helping me not argue things in the future that aren't what I thought they were in the past.

 

I'm also in the group that is amazed these guys are willing to do this job (unless they have aspirations to get into college or NFL officiating -- to which, we have SEVERAL great Kentucky officials at both of those levels who started their careers on Friday nights in the bluegrass).

 

I'll always let them know when I think things get missed by these guys -- but as I tell them when they admit they 'blow it' -- I make MANY more mistakes in the game than they do. But I hope that doesn't belie the respect we have for what they do -- after all, would be tough for ME to do what I love if there aren't enough of them doing what they do.

 

Actually a lot do also work college games as well.

Nice article but let's not make it out like they are sacrificing so much by spending Friday nights away from families etc. it's because they want to do it not because they have to.

 

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The sacrifice is being made by the officials' families.

"Without them its just recess."

 

One of the few professions where they are expected to be "perfect" when they start and only get better.

The best ones are the crews that you don't even know are out there. They keep control of the game, without controlling the game. You could call something on every play if you wanted, much like in basketball where there isn't a trip down the court where something couldn't be called. The good and great ones realize this.

 

My hat is off to all coaches and refs.