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Ventura, CA - October 19, 2008 - 14 Year Old Attacks Soccer Ref After Yellow Card: think what he would have done if he got a red card! See Youth Soccer Player Accused of Beating Up Referee, KTLA Television.
Corbin, KY - October 8, 2008 - Football Ref Attacked At Middle School Football Game. See Middle School Football Game Turns Violent reported by Jeff Allen, WKYT (Kentucky). For more, see Coach Charged After Football Referee Punched, Associated Press Story on Bluegrass Beat Blog, Oct. 9, 2008.
Pittsburgh, PA - August 15, 2008 - Sportsmanship 'Bottoms' Out. Coach Charged With 'Mooning' Umpire, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Fayette County, PA youth coach "Jeffrey Kelley" is facing a disorderly conduct charge for his alleged "mooning" incident. For more see, Local Youth Baseball Coach Accused of Mooning Umpire, WPIX, Pittsburgh, Pa., August 15, 2008.
Philadelphia, PA - July 21, 2008 - Referee Gets Shot - Youth League Cancelled. See Shooting Victim Had Been Target Before by Kia Gregory, Philadelphia Inquirer, July 23, 2008.
Omaha, NB - July 12, 2008 - Ump Attacked, Fans Cheer. See Assault on Umpire 'Sickening', Fans Say by Kevin Cole and Susan Szalewski, Omaha World-Herald (Umpire Charles Andersen attacked, alleged assailant, Jeffrey Johnson, was father of one of the players). For More See: Umpire Alleges He Was Assaulted at Boys' Baseball Game, KETV 7, Omaha, NB, July 14, 2008. The Gretna Youth Baseball and Softball Association Took Strong Action Here. See Dad Banned From Games After Ump Bump: Gretna League Also Suspends Coaches, KETV 7, July 18, 2008, and The Umpire Strikes Back. See Bumped Umpire Files Lawsuit: Attorney Says He's Asking For Damages, KETV 7, Omaha, NB, July 30, 2008.
Jersey City, N.J. - July 5, 2008 - New Jersey Umpire Attack May Lead To Sports Rage Legislation. After New Jersey Parole Officer Thomas Lambert was charged with assaulting a 14 year old youth baseball umpire, New Jersey Assemblyman Ruben Ramos decided to work on sports rage legislation, mandating signage and public service announcements at all ball fields throughout the state reminding spectators about existing statutes that guard against sports rage at children's events.. Will it pass? We'll keep track of it. For details on the attack click here Also, see Covering All The Bases - Melinda Vickerman's Jersey Mom Column, The Jersey Journal, July 24, 2008.
June, 2008 - Plate Umpires Literally Under Attack: A plate umpire is hit by a pitch in a Georgia High School Game. Was it on purpose? Sure looks like it. The Georgia High School Association thought it was on purpose. They fined the school. The catcher lost his college scholarship - the college didn't want anybody who'd do this. Were they right? You can see the stills and the video by clicking on the June 18, 2008 Life of Reilly Column from ESPN The Magazine. Think this is the only time, think again: A California catcher told the ump what was coming! The catcher told the umpire he was gonna miss one. The ump took a fastball in his mask, ejected the catcher and the California Interscholastic Federation's North Coast Section did the right thing - a lifetime suspension! As of June 27, 2008, the catcher's appeal is pending. It's dangerous enough without catcher's trying to get the umps hurt. See Home-Plate Umpires Find Themselves In The Line of Fire by Paul White, USA Today, June 18, 2008 (foul balls lead to rash of concussions for plate umpires.
New Jersey Dad Closes High School Season By Allegedly Choking Ump: See Randolph Dad Accused of Choking An Umpire During High School Game by Bill Swayze, Newark Star-Ledger, May 13, 2008; Randolph Man Jailed For Assaulting Umpire by Matt Mahochio, New Jersey Daily Record, May 13, 2008..
Nashville, TN, May 12, 2008 - It's A Cowardly Knockout of The Worst Sort: Youth Coach Allegedly Attacks From Behind/Knocks Out Ump. See Coach Accused of Knocking Out Umpire, WSMV TV.
Flint, MI - March 6, 2008 - Columbiaville Amateur Hockey Player Pleads Guilty In Assault of Referee by Paul Janczewski, The Flint Journal (65 year old player in Rec League attacks 17 year old teen-age ref).
Charleston, AR - March 6, 2008 - Youth Basketball Ref Assaulted by Parent, 4029tv.com, Charleston, AR and Teen Referee Assaulted; Man, 33, Pleads Innocent, Arkansas Democrat Gazette.
Clackamas, OR - February 17, 2008 - 6th Grade Girls' Coach Leads Fans In Abuse of Referee and Physical Attack on School Administrator Who Tries To Invervene. Coach is arrested and charged with "criminal trespassing of a sporting event." See Aggressive Behavior at Game Leads To Arrest of Basketball Coach, SalemNews.com, February 17, 2008, and Tempers Flare at Girls' Basketball Game by Joe English and KATU TV Staff, KATU TV Portland, Or., February 17, 2008. One interesting note is that Oregon actually has a law that requires spectators, coaches and participants to leave a game site when ordered to do so by an official. This is part of a modern trend to empower and protect officials. See Oregon Revised Statutes 164-276 and 164-278.
Pacific, MO - February 11, 2008 - Fan Assaults Referee at PHS Basketball Game, emissourian.com.
Violence Against Officials Hits Canada: 4 Attacks Against Hockey Officials Casts Pall Over Youth Hockey Community. See Hockey Officials Fed Up With Abuse by Don Campbell, The Ottawa Citizen, January 17, 2008.
Montgomery County, MD - January 12, 2008 - Coach Admits He Assaults Official: The Coach admits pushing official's face out of anger where his athlete was disqualified from a track meet because her uniform didn't meet NFHS standards. The coach was reacting to an incident that made national headlines as the Muslim athlete claimed religious discrimination. Details of the incident can be found on the officials page at the officials and the law link. The key point to note is that all coaches who attack contest officials feel that an injustice has been committed, but the way to resolve a matter is not, should not be, and cannot be to attack the official. For details on the controvery see When The Rules Run Up Against Faith: Prep Athlete Wearing Muslim Clothing Disqualified From Meet by Alan Goldenbach, Washington Post, January 16, 2008 page A01. For the coach's admission see Hate Mail Follows Controversy Over Muslim Track Star, WUSA 9 Washington, D.C., January 16, 2008. For a rules explanation: Click here for the National Federation of High School's Explanation of The Rules and see Officials: Religion Not Issue In Runners Exclusion by Chay Rao and Stephanie Siegel, Montgomery County Gazette Net, January 30, 2008.
Morris, IL - October 16, 2007 - Felony Charge Filed After Soccer Game Altercation: Morris man grabbed referee by throat during soccer game by Michael Farrell, Morris Daily Herald, Oct. 16, 2007.
Aspen Hill, MD - Sept. 22, 2007 - Pee Wee Football Coach Takes "Kill The Ref" Seriously - Pulls Gun on Ref at Little League Football Game. See Youth Football Coach Charged With Assaulting Ref by Dennis Edwards, WKJZ TV 13 Baltimore, Sept. 30, 2007. The coach was charged with being a felon in possession of firearms on Oct. 11, 2007. Click here for DOJ press release. The League immediately issued a no-tolerance rule. See New Code of Conduct Issued For Baltimore Sports by Dennis Edwards, WKJZ TV 13 Baltimore, October 13, 2007. The coach pleaded guilty in May, 2008. See DOJ Press Release, Football Coach Pleads Guilty, March 14, 2008. Also, see Youth Football Coach Pleads Guilty To Threatening Referee, NBC4, Washington, D.C., March 14, 2008.
Ridgeville Man Faces Charge of Hitting Ref At Pee Wee Game, by Stephen Szucs, Loraine County (Ohio) Chronicle-Telegram, September 19, 2007.
Concord, NH - August 4, 2007 - Angry Fan Charged With Assault For Throwing Pizza At Little League Umpire. See Police Say Pizza Toss Was Assault by Joelle Farrell, Concord Monitor, August 4, 2007.
Canada, July 24, 2007 - Irate Soccer Mom Brings Game to Screeching Halt by Nick Kyonka, Toronto Star, July 24, 2007 (soccer mom attacks 14 year old female ref).
Canada - July 12, 2007 - Player, Coach Suspended After Attack On Soccer Referee, CBC News, Canada, July 12, 2007.
Utah, June 20, 2007 - Utah soccer players spit on one official, shove another in state tournament - State imposes probation on entire sport. See Boys' Soccer Teams On Probation, ksl.com, June 20, 2007; Penalty Kick by Michael Popke, Athletic Business, October 2007; Soccer Teams Get Probation by Amy Donaldson, Deseret Morning News, June 19, 2007. For original publication click here.
Manitoba, CA - May 24, 2007 - Team and Spectators Chase Referee Around Field At Canadian High School Game. See Players Reportedly Attack, Chase Ref by Ross Romaniuk, Slam Sports On-Line, May 25, 2007; and Player, Coach Suspended After Attack On Referee, Canadian Broadcast Association, July 12, 2007.
Chattanooga, TN - May 13, 2007 - Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association Takes Tough Stand Where Soccer Fans Attack Official. See Beware of Behavior by Jaime Lackey, Chattanooga Times Free Press, May 13, 2007.
Jacksonville, Fl. - April 30, 2007 - Parent Throws Soda At Teenage Volunteer Umpire/Husband Allegedly Attacks the Ump. See Little League Baseball Brawl by Kirsten Smith, First Coast News.Com - ABC 25/NBC 12 - Jacksonville, FL. For more, see Unbelievable: Parents Attack Umpire Over Call In Game by Florida Today Staff, May 4, 2007. Click here for Florida Today's special website covering Florida Little League Sportsmanship Problems.
Brevard County, FL. January 25, 2007 - Charges Fly After Ballgame Brawl: Relatives, Game Official in Fracas by Jeff Schweers, Florida Today, January 25, 2007.
Redding, CA, January 21, 2007 - Referees Need To Give Technicals to Blowhard Obnoxious Fans by Aaron Williams, Redding Record, Jan. 21, 2007 (article observing fan conduct and demeanor over a two week period - no assaults or attacks but reveals verbal abuse officials are subject to on a regular basis).
Westchester, N.Y., November 4, 2007 - The Hazardous World of High School Referees by Jake Thomases, USA Today, Nov. 4, 2006.
Moline, IL July 26, 2006 - Coach Arrested For Slapping Umpire by Sloane Heller, WHBF TV On line, Rock Island, IL. Adult Little League baseball coach loses cool and slaps teenage umpire.
Grapevine, TX - June 20, 2006 - Arrest to Be Made In Referee Attack by Ben Tinsley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram (republished on RedOrbit.com), June 20, 2006.
Click Here For Ire For The Umpires Gets Split Decision, The Fort-Wayne Journal Gazette's Survey of Abuse Against Sports Officials, by Sarah Trotto, June 18, 2006.
Salt Lake City, Utah - March 2, 2006 - Woman Kicks Pregnant Referee For Unfair Officiating In a League For 10 Year Olds. Click here for coverage from Deseret Morning News, March 2, 2006, Anger Over Referee's Call Triggers A Bigger Foul After Game by Ben Winslow.
Oakland, CA - Feb. 28, 2006 - Mob Scares Off Top High School Soccer Official by Dennis Miller, Oakland Tribune.
Honolulu, Hawaii, Feb. 16, 2006 - Ejected Basketball Player Tries To Tackle Ref. (Feb. 16, 2005 Honolulu Star Bulletin).
Richmond, Ca. - Dec. 2005 - 6'10" Center shoves basketball official - gets ejected. 18 month suspension imposed under California athletic rules.
Rockford, Illinois - Nov. 10, 2005 - Players Spit on Referee in High School Soccer Match.
Springfield, Indiana, October 26, 2005 - Martin Smith, an upset father, allegedly sucker punches soccer referee Jeffrey Rousseau following a high school soccer game between Indiana's Central and Westfield High Schools. Rousseau says he never saw the punch coming. Rousseau was knocked unconscious and suffered a dislocated jaw.
Cumberland County, NJ September 2005 - Youth Coach Charged With Assaulting Official (the coach may be the first person charged under a recent statute enhancing penalties for assault at youth athletic events)
Rohnert Park, CA 2005 - A rugby coach and multiple parents attack referee, and kick and beat coach who tries to protect him.
Cumberland County, NJ September 2005 - Youth Coach Charged With Assaulting Official (the coach may be the first person charged under a recent statute enhancing penalties for assault at youth athletic events)
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, July 2005 - Black eye for umpire in dustup with coach. Charges against coach dropped (this coach got away with his attack on the umpire - a black eye for sportsmanship).
Newark, NJ 2005 - Father attacks 15 year old umpire in Little League game.
Rohnert Park, CA 2005 - A rugby coach and multiple parents attack referee, and kick and beat coach who tries to protect him.
Honolulu, Hawaii, Feb. 16, 2005 - Ejected Basketball Player Tries To Tackle Ref. (Feb. 16, 2005 Honolulu Star Bulletin).
Sturgeon Bay, WI - July 29, 1988 - Little League Umpire Takes Four Stitches In Attack by Coach/Parent. See Where Children Play, Grown-Ups Often Brawl by Bill Dedman, New York Times, July 29, 1998.
Philadelphia, PA - January 10, 1997 - A Sudden Swing At A Referee Rocks A Sport And A City by Jere Longman, New York Times, Jan. 10, 1997.
St. Louis, MO - February 1994 - St. Louis Youth Basketball Coach Charles Taylor Knocks Referee's Teeth Out In Brutal Attack. For an editorial on this incident, see The Quest For Winning: It's Out of Focus From Top To Bottom by William C. Rhoden, New York Times, February 27, 1994.
Topeka, KS - Female Ref Banned From Boys' Game! (Story and Video) ABC News by Chris Cuomo, Raquel Hecker, and Olivia Sterns, Feb 18, 2008 (And We Thought It Was The 21st Century)! See Also, Group Looking Into Removal of Female Referee By Religious School by Andale Gross, The Pantagraph, Feb. 13, 2008.
Jan. 2008 - How should officials handle students wearing religious uniforms? What about disabled students?
Juashaunna Kelly, a Washington, D.C. Muslim track student, was DQd from a race because her attire didn't meet track uniform rules. Kelly wore special attire for religious reasons. Was the DQ discriminatory? Out of town officials DQd Kelly, but did local officials blow it by letting Kelly run for three years without briefing her on the rules?
All these issues and more are discussed in Disabilities, Religion, Officials and You by Don Collins, NASO On Board, January 2008, page 4 (National Association of Sports Officials). For information on the Kelly incident see: When The Rules Run Up Against Faith: Prep Athlete Wearing Muslim Clothing Disqualified From Meet by Alan Goldenbach, Washington Post, January 16, 2008 page A01; Muslim Athlete Disqualified Over Uniform, Associated Press, January 17, 2008; and Track Star Banned Over Muslim Clothing, MSNBC, January 16, 2008. The general public reacted poorly to this issue: See Hate Mail Follows Controversy Over Muslim Track Star, WUSA 9 Washington, D.C., January 16, 2008. For a rules explanation: Click here for the National Federation of High School's Explanation of The Rules and see Officials: Religion Not Issue In Runners Exclusion by Chay Rao and Stephanie Siegel, Montgomery County Gazette Net, January 30, 2008.
Pittsburgh, PA. - April 16, 2007 - Are Officials Fair Game? Numerous states have passed legislation criminalizing batteries against sports officials. Indeed, I even had the pleasure of working with California Umpire Bob Summers and Oakland attorney Lou Landini on one such Bill (Lou wrote the text, I supported Bob, and Bob did the lobbying). Do these bills help? See: Pa. Law Protecting Sports Officials Rarely Used by Rich Cholodofsky, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, April 16, 2007. Click Here for the National Association of Sports Officials' Special Report: Officials Under Assault.
How To Handle Coaches, Team Managers and School Officials In Wheelchairs
Clinton, Tennessee August 17, 2006 - This recurring issue was most recently in the news in Tennessee. Kyle Thornton, a wheelchair bound high school football team manager, worked with high school administrators and the Tennessee Disability Law and Advocacy Center to reverse a referee's ruling that he couldn't be on the sidelines. Procedures were established and a training document was produced to help referees work with the disabled. Click on Clinton High Student Can Return To Football Sidelines by Adam Longo WATE Channel 6 website, Knoxville, TN to read about Kyle's big win. Click here for more on Kyle and other wheelchair related news. Click here for more on officials, wheelchairs, and the law.
Big Ten Blind-Ref Lawsuit
Chicago, IL. July 17, 2006 - One-Eyed Ref Sues Big Ten Over Termination (CBS 2 website - story from Chicago Sun-Times Newsgroup Wire). For More, See UM Coach Carr Responds To Blind Ref Lawsuit (Sports Law Blog Aug. 2, 2006).
Huge Independent Contractor Dispute In Connecticut
Elite soccer program refuses to pay employment taxes on coaches; hires ten year old kids to officiate younger kids' games and claims the kids are independent contractors. It's Goalkeeper vs. Bookkeeper as I.R.S. Audits Youth Soccer, by Tina Kelley, New York Times, June 25, 2006. (Schools, leagues, governing bodies, and officials all have a stake in independent contractor issues and generally want officials to be independent contractors, but has the Fairfield United Soccer Association gone too far?). For more, see IRS Targets Local Soccer League by Edward J. Crowder, Connecticut Post Online, July 8, 2006.
Oklahoma - December 2005 - Oklahoma Supreme Court upholds Oklahoma QB's Suspension. Playoffs will resume. The Tucker Brown case was a classic case of a modern day athlete lacking the composure to comport himself in a sportsmanlike manner and then complaining and suing when he received his penalty. Brown got ejected from a playoff game for kicking an opponent. He then went to court and argued that the Oklahoma high school code's suspension language shouldn't apply to playoff games and that the officials weren't good so he had no choice except to kick the opponent. When all else fails, sue and blame the officials Read the Oklahoma Supreme Court's Opinion here.
Click here for earlier reports on this story. The Oklahoma Supreme Court refused to substitute its judgment for the officials. For a similar incident with a similar result see this article about the 1999 Iowa golf championships.
Oregon 2003 Law Part of Modern Trend To Empower Officials
An Oregon law passed in 2003 reflects a modern trend to empower officials by requiring spectators, coaches and participants to leave a game site when ordered to do so by an official. See Oregon Revised Statutes 164-276 and 164-278.
Child Labor Law Issues
Darien, IL. - May, 2002 - Red Tape Behind The Plate by Dave Kindred, The Sporting News, May 27, 2002 (paid youth umpires may violate Illinois' child labor laws). For local coverage see, Labor Agency Plays Hardball With 12, 13 Year Old Umps by Ted Gregory, Chicago Tribune, April 18, 2002. The problem was solved in less than three months. See State Goes To Bat For Young Umps by Christi Parsons and Ted Gregory, Chicago Tribune, June 28, 2002 (reprinted in Minnesota Issue Watch, September 2002) (reporting on 2002 Illinois exception to child labor laws, allowing children as young as 13 years old to officiate youth athletic contests). Click here for Governor's Press Release. Click here for Illinois's Child Labor Laws.
Note: A number of states have enacted youth sports official exemptions to their child labor laws in the past few years, but I am sure that a lot of states still don't have an exception. People who employ children as sports officials should check their local laws.
State Exemptions To Child Labor Laws: Minnesota, Missouri (12 year olds may officiate - see Missouri Rev. Stats. 294.011(7)(d)., Washington (youth soccer referee exemption) also click here for the Washington Bill Report on SB 559 (2007), Virginia (12 year olds can officiate),
Site Administrator's Liability To Attacked Officials. Schools need to provide "appropriate" security or they can be liable for injuries to spectators and officials. Schools can be found liable for things that are foreseeable. So if you don't provide security for your site when you have the big game with 3,000 fans your school could pay the legal price if someone is injured. On the other hand, you probably won't be liable when you don't provide security for the JV game on Saturday morning before 30 parents - unless those parents have some history of violence. The site administrator may be enough security for that game. For more, see my Jan. 2007 article: When Security Leaves You On Your Own. Also, click here for Talaszan v. Northridge Arena Soccer League (arena was liable because previous violence made need for security foreseeable) and see McKee v. Gilg, 96 Ohio. App.3d 764, 766 (1994) (baseball team not liable where fan misconduct was not foreseeable).
November 2008 - San Diego Almost Lost The 2008 High School Soccer Season Due To A Threatened Referees' Strike. Read all about it here! What Do You Think? Were the San Diego Officials Underpaid? With The Economy Going South Do People Sympathize With These Officials - Don't Answer Too Fast! Remember, They Don't Make A Lot of Money and They Do Take A Lot of Abuse? See Soccer Officials' Pay Issue Unresolved by Ivan Orosco, San Diego Union Tribune, November 7, 2008; Progress Made In Officials' Strike by Scott Bair, North County Times, November 13, 2008; and HS Season On Despite Stalemate by Erin Murphy, Daily San Diego Soccer News, November 25, 2008.
November, 2008 - For a Detailed Look At Game Prep and Professionalism, Check Out USA Today's Series: A Ref's Life. Click here for A Ref's Life: To Get Ready Officials Often Go To The Tape by Chris Colston, USA Today, November 17, 2008; A Ref's Life: Much More To The Game Beyond Tipoff to Buzzer by Chris Colston, USA Today, November 18, 2008; A Ref's Life: Officials' Schedule Proves There Is Traveling In NBA by Chris Colston, USA Today, November 19, 2008; A Ref's Life: Critiques, Knowing Matchups All Part of The Job by Chris Colston, USA Today, November 20, 2008; A Ref's Life: Performance On Court Always Under Review by Chris Colston, USA Today, November 21, 2008.
PIAA Football Officials: A Bad Call: See Many With Criminal Pasts Found On PIAA's Roster Of Sports Referees by Bill Moushey, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, September 14, 2008. It won't be long before Pennsylvania requires these guys to fingerprint since they clearly won't self-police. The good news - if good news it is - is that players, coaches and spectators are much more of a threat to the officials than the officials are to them. Still, it looks pretty bad to see the local convict officiating a game..
Torrington, CT - August 15, 2008 - Umpires Association Gives Award to Convicted Sex Offender ... Then They Reverse Their Bad Call. See Torrington Sex Offender Gets Community Award, NBC 30, Connecticut, August 15, 2008; Residents Outraged After Sex Offender Awarded, NBC 30, Connecticut, August 16, 2008; and Umpire Group Wants Award Back From Sex Offender, NBC 30, Connecticut, August 20, 2008. For national coverage see, Baseball Umpires In Connecticut Back Honor For Sex Offender, Associated Press, New York Daily News, August 16, 2008; Connecticut Umpires Group Rescinds Sex Offender's Award, San Francisco Examiner, August 19, 2008
LaFayette, LA - June 18, 2008 - Home-Plate Umpires Find Themselves In The Line of Fire by Paul White, USA Today. Foul balls, missed pitches lead to rash of concussions. Worse, sometimes it's on purpose. A catcher missed a pitch in a Georgia High School Game. Was it on purpose? Sure looks like it. The Georgia High School Association thought it was on purpose. They fined the school. The catcher lost his college scholarship - the college didn't want anybody who'd do this. Were they right? You can see the stills and the video by clicking on the June 18, 2008 Life of Reilly Column from ESPN The Magazine. Think this is the only time, think again: A California catcher told the ump what was coming! The catcher told the umpire he was gonna miss one. The ump took a fastball in his mask, ejected the catcher and the California Interscholastic Federation's North Coast Section did the right thing - a lifetime suspension! As of June 27, 2008, the catcher's appeal is pending.
June 2008 - National Conference of State Legislatures Shines The Light On Attacks Against Officials. See Cease-Fire On The Umpire! by Garry Boulard, State Legislatures Magazine (published by the National Conference of State Legislatures), June 2008 and Cease-Fire On The Umpire! Steven Ellinger Q and A On-line extra by Garry Boulard, State Legislatures Magazine (published by the National Conference of State Legislatures), June 2008.
Memphis, TN - September 14, 2007 - Thomas Will Become First Female Referee In Top Tier of College Football, ESPN.Com, Sept. 14, 2007 (Sarah Thomas was the first woman to work a Mississippi high school championship game and now she's the first woman to officiate a Division I-A College Football game).
New York, N.Y. - July 20, 2007 - FBI Investigates NBA Referee For Betting on Games. See FBI Probes Whether NBA Ref Bet On Games by Pat Milton, Washington Post, July 20, 2007; NBA In A 'Fix' by Murray Weiss, New York Post, July 20, 2007; FBI Probes Whether NBA Referee Bet on Games by Kevin Johnson, USA Today, July 20, 2007.
New York, N.Y. - May 2, 2007 - Study of N.B.A. Sees Racial Bias In Calling Fouls by Alan Schwarz, New York Times, May 2, 2007 page A1. Click here for the actual study on Referees and Racial Bias. It is quite predictable that the publicity generated by the NBA study will lead to more studies. Click here for the December 2007 study on baseball umpires and racial bias: Strike Three: Umpires' Demand For Discrimination by Christopher A. Parsons, Johan Sulaeman, Michael Yates and Daniel S. Hamermesh (aka The Hamermesh Report). Readers should note that there's only a 1% difference in calls. What does that mean? Well, Phil Birnbaum, a baseball sabremetrician, points out that it means that over 7,000 pitches tracked over three seasons, "the two groups of umpires are five pitches away from showing absolutely no racial bias." In short, there may not be any discrimination, but economists must publish - and publish they do. See Birnbaum's comments in Ron Kaplan's Baseball Bookshelf, August 2007 (reviewing an earlier version of the Hamermesh report than the one I've linked to).
Albany, N.Y. - Dec. 13, 2005 - Court refuses to reverse official's call: unsportsmanlike conduct penalty decides state wrestling championship - another case of a loser on the field trying to go to court to avoid the consequences of his misconduct. The 2004-05 championship is finally resolved in New York just in time for the 2005-06 championship to be held.
Oklahoma - December 2005 - Oklahoma Supreme Court upholds Oklahoma QB's Suspension. Playoffs will resume. The Tucker Brown case was a classic case of a modern day athlete lacking the composure to comport himself in a sportsmanlike manner and then complaining and suing when he received his penalty. Brown got ejected from a playoff game for kicking an opponent. He then went to court and argued that the Oklahoma high school code's suspension language shouldn't apply to playoff games and that the officials weren't good so he had no choice except to kick the opponent. When all else fails, sue and blame the officials Read the Oklahoma Supreme Court's Opinion here.
Click here for earlier reports on this story.
Dallas, Texas - June 20, 2007 - Refs Blow Whistle On Pay Structure by Keith Whitmire, Dallas Morning News, June 20, 2007 (fee disputes impact Texas high school sports).
Officials' Shortages Still Hinder High School/Youth Sports' Growth
October 2007 - Growing Sports Face Slowdown - They Can't Find Refs. See UHSAA in Dire Need of Soccer Officials by Amy Donaldson and James Edwards, Deseret Morning News, October 8, 2007; See US LaCrosse's Men's Division Officials Council's Shout Out For New Officials, and even youth hockey is affected, US Lacrosse Men's Division Officials Council Web Page; and See Official Shortage Has B-N Youth Hockey Looking For Whistleblowers by Daniel Makarewicz, Bloomington, Indiana's Pantagraph.com., October 29, 2007.
The Christian Perspective On Shortages of Officials: See Football Without Refs by Kelly Boggs, The Baptist Press, July 13, 2007.
Stockton, CA, - Fan Abuse Turns Many Away From Officiating by Roger Phillips and Michael Sudhalter, recordnet.com, April 1, 2007. What can we all do about this shortage? See Relationship Between Coaches, Referees Is Key by Roger Phillips and Michael Sudhalter, recordnet.com, April 1, 2007. See the Special Reports Page for the recordnet.com series on the problems poor sportsmanship causes sports officials and other in youth and high school sports..
More Kids Playing + Poor Pay + Poor Sportsmanship = Too Few Officials!! Click Here For Too Few Officials, Oct. 2006 on California Connected TV
Michigan Officials' Video Reminds Us What It's All About.
In Michigan, the officials are the Caretakers of the Games - MHSAA Officials.
this section has information on the officials' role in sportsmanship - for general sportsmanship information click on the sportsmanship page.
West Coast Officials Association in Florida makes sportsmanship and professionalism a priority on its website.
Latest Collins Officiating Articles:
Disabilities, Religion, Officials and You by Don Collins, NASO On Board, January 2008, page 4 (National Association of Sports Officials). What should officials do about religious uniform exemptions and athletes wearing prosthetic devices? This article attacks those issues and gives officials guidance. Visit NASO to order.
How To Stay Clear of The Courtroom, Referee Magazine, February 2007, page 42 (National Association of Sports Officials).
Other People's Articles
November 18, 2005 - Parents - Are Your Kids Proud of You? by Mike McQueen, WrestlingGear.com (good article on spectator conduct and spectator abuse of officials).
New Rules for Soccer Parents: 1) No Yelling. 2) No Hitting Ref by Edward Wong, New York Times, May 6, 2001.
Links (National Organizations, State by State, Equipment/Supplies and Tools, Sport Specific Officiating Links)
National Association of Sports Officials (NASO)
National Association of Sports Officials - Organizations Network (NASO-On)
National Federation of State High School Associations: (NFHS) Officials Information
NFHS Officials On-Line Discussion Board
USA Football Officiating Center
Alabama High School Athletic Association (contact the state office for Alabama's Officials program).
Alaska School Activities Association Officials Corner
Arizona Interscholastic Association Officials Information
Arkansas Activities Association: Arkansas Officials' Association
California Interscholastic Federation Officials' Center (California is divided into 10 regional Sections due to its size (the CIF has over 1,400 member schools). You can contact the state office for statewide officiating information or you can visit one of the following regional Sections for regional officiating information: CIF Central Section Officials' Page, CIF Central Coast Section Officials' Page, CIF Los Angeles City Section Officials' Organizations Page, CIF North Coast Section Officials' Home Page, CIF Northern Section Officials' Information Page, CIF Oakland Section (no website, but call 510-879-8311), CIF Sac-Joaquin Section (contact the Sac-Joaquin Section office for officials' information), CIF San Diego Section Officials' Information, CIF San Francisco Section Officials' Information, CIF Southern Section Becoming An Official Page.
Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Officials' Association
Colorado High School Activities Association Officials' Center
Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association (contact the state office for officiating information).
District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletic Association (no website, but call
(202) 698-3326 for officiating information)
Florida High School Athletic Association Contest Officials' Information
Georgia High School Association Officials' Information
Hawaii High School Athletic Association (contact the state office for officiating information)
Idaho High School Activities Association Officials' Information.
Illinois High School Association Officials' Department
Indiana High School Athletic Association Officials' Information
Iowa High School Athletic Association Officials' Information
Kansas State High School Activities Association Officials' Department - New Officials. Kansas's Registered Officials Should Click Here.
Kentucky High School Athletic Association Officials' Division
Louisiana High School Athletic Association Officials' Information
Maine Principals' Association Officials' Contacts
Maryland Public Secondary Schools Officials' Information
Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Game Officials' Information
Michigan High School Athletic Association Officials' Resources
Mississippi High School Activities Association Officials' Information
Missouri State High School Activities Association Officials' Page
Montana High School Association Officials' Information
Nebraska School Activities Association Referees' Page
Nebraska Officials Log-In Page
Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association Officials' Page
Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association Officials' Forms
New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association Officials' Application
New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Officials' Training and Certification
New Mexico Activities Association Officials Page
New York State Public High School Athletic Association's Officials Coordinating Federation (for residents of New York City visit the New York City Public School Athletic League's Referee's Corner or click the left hand link bar on the PSAL's home page).
North Carolina High School Athletic Association Officiating Information
North Dakota High School Activities' Association Officials' Page
Ohio High School Athletic Association's Officials' Home Page
Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association Officials' Page
Oregon School Activities Association Officials' Page (click here for the Oregon Athletic Officials Association, which runs all athletic officiating in Oregon).
Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Officials' Page
Rhode Island Interscholastic League, Inc. (contact the state office for officiating information).
South Carolina High School League's Officials' Information Page
South Dakota High School Activities Association Officials' Information Page
Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association
Texas Association of Sports Officials (TASO certified officials are required by the Texas University Interscholastic League, the governing body for high school sports in Texas).
Utah High School Activities Association Officials' Page.
Vermont Principals' Association (contact the Principals' Association for officiating information)
Virginia High School League Officials' Page
Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association (Click here for the Washington Officials Association, which governs all officiating in Washington).
West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission Officials' Information
Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (Officials should access the Officials' Center once they obtain a password).
Wyoming High School Activities Association Officials' Department and Officials' Forms
Assigning Tools
Equipment
S.O.S. Sports - Sports Officials Supplies
Technology
Dartfish Software (video evaluations for officials).
RefNStripes (electronic data cards for officiating statistics and game data).
Sport Specific Officiating Links (listed alphabetically by sport)
Wrestling
WrestlingRef.com. This site has rules information, legal information, rules videos, sportsmanship information, and information on how to become a wrestling official.