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It usually starts with a coach.
A call doesn't go their way and they take their frustration out on the referee or umpire. A parent chimes in, then another. Taking cues from their trusted adults, players begin acting out on the field. All of a sudden, the officials wish they could be any other place on Earth. On a bad night, the abuse follows them out of the stadium and into the parking lot.
Is it any wonder sports leagues on Maui and across the country are having trouble securing officials and volunteers? This week in The Maui News, we learned the Maui Football Officials Association is precariously short of personnel for the upcoming Maui Interscholastic League and Pop Warner seasons. Other sports, such as youth soccer leagues, are also searching for trained officials. If you have experience, or a desire to learn, we're sure administrators would be happy to hear from you.
Officials often start out as community-minded volunteers. They may be athletes who want to give back to a sport they benefited from, or parents roped into helping. Some stick with it longer than they expected, only opting out when they can no longer fit the games into their busy schedules. Others move, change jobs or stop because their kids aged out of the sport. And, yes, some quit because they got tired of getting yelled at.
Whatever the reasons, their absence leaves organizers hustling to find qualified replacements. High school events require a set number of officials. No refs, no games. With some youth sports, we've seen parents and spectators pressed into service whether they understand the rules or not. This is a recipe for trouble.
Officials are the unsung heroes of our sports. They serve as an event's independent eyes and ears. They focus on safety and enforcing the rules. Some have loads of experience and others are newcomers who took the time to study the rulebook and go to certification clinics. On Maui, they are a mix of mostly unpaid volunteers and a few low-paid pros. When asked why they do it, nearly all respond with their version of the same line: "It's for the kids."
Every coach or parent who feels like mouthing off over a close call should ponder this question: "Do I want to give this community-minded person one more reason to quit?"
When coaches blame a loss on officials, they tell their players they don't need to improve or practice harder. As coaches, they don't need to do better. It's all somebody else's fault. As life lessons go, we can do better for our kids and for society.
Next time you attend a sporting event, consider thanking the officials for their commitment to the kids and community. Amid the grumbles, a positive word or two may just be enough to keep them coming back for more.