No matter the venue or age group, there is one common theme among youth travel basketball. Year after year, tournament after tournament, the biggest complaint at every youth sporting event is, “Where did you get these refs?” After spending 32 years in youth travel basketball, some things never seem to change. Fans, coaches, and players rarely think their team got a fair “shake” after playing or, better yet, after losing.
How often have we heard fans and coaches yell at the officials at the beginning of every game? “Ref, let them play! Don’t call every ticky-tack foul. Let the players play!” However, the mood of the fans and coaches quickly change going into the last five to eight minutes of the game. Now, the same fans and coaches screaming at the officials at the beginning of the game are angry. However, now they are screaming, “Ref, if you don’t call something, someone will get hurt. You’re letting this game get out of hand.”
First of all, there is a growing need for more officials. With the explosion of youth travel ball tournaments, it is getting more and more difficult to get officials to cover an event that may have 200-300 games in a weekend covering a 16-court radius. As event organizers, we go through a booking agency that uses certified officials. Just like everything else in life, there are always more experienced officials and, at the same time, young and inexperienced officials. For the most part, the officials do an admirable job and deserve a lot more praise than criticism. What other profession can you think of where you are scrutinized every trip up the court? Unfortunately, officials are often the target of verbal abuse from fans and coaches. And in some cases, they are threatened physically during and after a game.
Yes, officials will make mistakes at every level. Whether it is youth basketball, high school, college, or the NBA, officials must correct errors. They are human, just like you and me. In 99.9% of the cases, officials could care less who wins a game; yes, they take pride in calling it a quality game. They do want to officiate the best they can. Do you honestly think officials want to make “bad calls’” I think not! Yes, teams all want to win on the court, and unfortunately, we live in a culture where we often like to point fingers when we lose, and there is no easier target than the men and women wearing those black and white stripe shirts.
While travel ball coaches are wired to compete, and yes, to win does matter. However, coaches are also role models for our youth today. Coaches can set the tone for the players and the parents sitting in the stands. Our coaches need to show leadership and set an example. At the beginning of each game, get to know the officials by name. Instead of calling them, “Hey, ref, how about addressing them by their first name.” Everyone likes to hear their name, and it’s essential to develop and establish a good dialogue with the officials, no matter how bad you think they are. Being a coach, I often went back and watched the game films only to find out the game wasn’t as bad as I thought. We all get caught up in the moment. We lose our cool and say things we regret later over a game.
Our society values winning; all players, parents, guardians, and coaches want to win. Unfortunately, our culture values winning a game on the scoreboard more than teaching life lessons and being excellent role models. My challenge to all coaches, parents, guardians, and players is gentleness in your approach to officials. They are just like you and me. They want to do a good job and, now and then, like to hear encouraging and positive words. Next time, win or lose, go to an official and tell them, “Good game.” Shake their hand, watch their faces glow, and greet them with a smile and a thank you.
The next time I’m at an event and a parent asks me, “Where did we get these refs’” My first reply will be, “Did you watch the NBA playoffs’ If so, even professional NBA officials make mistakes. I expect all officials to miss calls, but that gives us no right to abuse the officials verbally. ‘Basketball is a fast-paced game, and the players are more talented and athletic than ever. It’s a difficult game to officiate, no matter the level. Remember, at the end of the day, it’s still a game, and yes, there are more important things in life. Winning a game on the scoreboard is important, but nothing is more important than winning in the game of life. No matter how bad you think the official ‘call’ may be, use that as a teaching moment for your players. As in life, things don’t always go your way, and what’s more important is how you react to the adversity thrown your way. One last thing: the ball does stop bouncing one day, but the life lessons on the court can last a lifetime.
