Hooray for the Referees!!

"Oh boy, thank goodness they are here, so we can play the game". In many cases, that's how people feel about all of us as referees. But let me tell you something...that'd a bunch of bunk.

We work at our craft. We clean and press our uniforms, study rules, take exams, go to meetings, review current mechanics and take part in clinics and seminars all for one reason. To get it right. Nothing else matters. People have crazy ideas that we have a vested interest on who wins. That's pure poppycock.

In each game, 50% of the people are unhappy with any call because it's against their team. It has no bearing if it is right or wrong; just, if it is for or against, our team.

But the cold facts are, in 90% of our games nothing out of the ordinary happens, but when it does we have to be right. We are the arbiter of the rules. The final word. The judge and jury. It's the way sports are.

So don't complain about call that you see 200 or more feet away from the field or court and the call is 5 feet from the official. Oh, we're sure you have a better angle. However, it's simple as this. We call them as we see them, by the rules and enforce all of them. Not just some; all.

So, the next time you go to a contest. Admire the official for their clean, pressed and neat uniform. For the professionalism in which they carry themselves and address the players and the coaches. And, please respect the amount of grief they have to hear from those who are "arm chair quarterbacks". For, they are the final word.

Give them your respect for what they do. On behalf of all of us at PIAA, they certainly have ours.