How refs survive jungle gyms

Basketball officials share how they cope with the blame games at the seMissourian Christmas Tournament

By Bob Miller ~ Southeast Missourian

The bald ones are told to get their hair out of their eyes.

Fans bring posters of eye charts. They dress up dolls as referees and dismember them during games.

Coaches scream at refs, players glare at them, crowds boo them.

If there truly is a thankless job, basketball officiating is it.

High school basketball referees come from all walks of life. Some are farmers, others plumbers, others are in management. For the most part, they've got one thing in common: Their love for the game offsets the public ridicule.

"You've got to love it," said Paul Friga, a referee who is calling the seMissourian Christmas Basketball Tournament. "The money doesn't pay enough to put up with everything that goes on."

The referees in this year's tournament have been in the spotlight more in the last two Christmas tournaments than in years past.

Last year, the Cape Girardeau Officials Association boycotted the tournament after tournament organizers decided to go with two-man crews instead of three-man crews. Most tournaments have three officials, although the state only requires two. Organizers had to find officials from outside the area.

This year, tournament organizers stuck with most of the same officials from last year. The association isn't involved.

But whether there are two officials or three, refs still have to try to ignore moaning fans and give technicals to sideline-stomping coaches.

"You do it because you like the game," said 16-year veteran Thomas Drummond, who is not officiating the seMissourian Tournament games, but was a spectator Thursday afternoon. "You have to have thick skin. You hear it, but you don't let it bother you."

Officiating basics

When it comes to ejecting fans or calling technical fouls, refs say, there are basic lines not to cross: You don't cuss. And don't make your comments personal.

The crowds tend to get personal with them, however. Referees just learn not to take it that way.

"I couldn't handle it if they were yelling at Paul Friga," Friga said. "They're not yelling at the person. They're yelling at the striped shirt."

Notre Dame coach Darrin Scott says getting on officials' cases is just part of his job.

"You try to teach your players to play the right way," he said. "If the official doesn't call it the way you coach, it's your job to bring it to his attention. It's important to know why they call the things they do.

He also said some coaches do it to support their players.

"If players work hard for you, if you don't stick up for them, how can you expect them to battle for you?" Scott said.

Get over it

Sam Lawson, who has been officiating for 15 years, said he doesn't mind coaches yelling at him. Just say it and be done with it, he says.

"The trouble you have a lot of times is three or four trips down the floor, they're complaining about the same call," said Lawson, who also was a spectator Thursday at the seMissourian tournament. "We don't want to give technicals. All technicals are is work. You have to write it up and turn it in to the state."

Referees, generally, are paid about $40 per game. They have to commit to games more than a year in advance and travel sometimes more than 100 miles to call a game.

Perhaps these are some of the reasons why the officiating pool is getting shallow. Most of the officials in Southeast Missouri are on the downhill side of their careers. Area referees say fewer and fewer young people are getting into the pastime.

To become a referee, one must call the Missouri State High School Activities Association and ask to take a test or apply on the association's Web site, www.mshsaa.org.

"It's a substantial commitment," said seMissourian Tournament official Scott Amick, a funeral director with Amick-Burnett Funeral Home.

"And you have to have employment that allows you to do it," said Friga, a farmer.

Robert Stein, Delta's head coach said he wants a referee to be, above all, consistent. He wants the same calls made on both sides.

He also said he likes a ref who can take a jab every now and then.

"I like an official who doesn't take himself too seriously," Stein said. "What it all boils down to is it's just a game."

bmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127