I read an article last week about the increasing verbal, sometimes even physical abuse, of game officials at the youth, junior high, and high school levels.

The National Association of Sport Officials recently surveyed over 35,000 game officials from all 50 states. More than 50% of the respondents have feared for their personal safety at some point in their officiating career.

I know a thing or two about this because I served as an Athletic Director at some of the largest and most athletically successful school districts in the state of Texas. I have seen it all, and it ain’t pretty

In my many years of playing, coaching, and administering athletics, I never saw an official blow a game. I did see officials blow calls; but an entire game, NO. Ask any coach and they will tell you that an official never lost a game for them.

Screaming at basketball officials or verbally abusing umpires from the bleachers is not going to make them better, it will only make them quit.

There is a massive shortage of qualified game officials in all sports. They simply get tired of the hatred that is spewed onto them game after game, night after night, when they are only trying to do the best they can.

I remember watching a group of 11- 12-year-olds playing in a basketball tournament in Liberal, Kansas. The post player for the other team cleanly and clearly blocked the shot of a player on our team.

It was a clean block and without a doubt, he had “all ball.” The official blew his whistle and called a foul, sending our player to the free throw line for two shots.

The official made the wrong call, it happens.

In response to the official, the young man threw his hands in the air and screamed, “Are you crazy, that was all ball!” The official blew his whistle again and gave him a technical foul for his behavior, which he deserved.

After that foul, the young man grabbed the ball and slammed it on the ground and yelled, “You’re horrible!” Forcing the official to blow his whistle again, giving him a second technical foul and ejecting him from the game, which he deserved.

This young man’s father stood up in the bleachers and yelled, “He’s

right ref, you are horrible! That’s ok son, you had all ball!”

The father stormed out of the bleachers, stepping over and on other parents in anger. He put his arm around his son, and they walked out of the gym glaring at the official. Pathetic scene.

Instead of his dad disciplining his son for treating an official disrespectfully, he defended his son’s behavior and gave him a lifelong lesson in poor sportsmanship.

Obviously, the apple did not fall from the tree. As a parent, what would you had done?

Officials make very little money for their services. Most of them do it because they love athletics and enjoy being around kids. Many of them are accountants, insurance salespeople, electricians, preachers, struggling college students, and most importantly, they are all human.

Officials are going to make mistakes, that will never change no matter how much you yell. Some calls will go your way, some won’t, but I promise there is no conspiracy.

The number one reason officials quit is due to poor sportsmanship demonstrated by players, coached and fans. Is that not a shame?

Game officials want to make the right call just as badly as you want them to. I know because I am one.

Be kind, be an adult, be a good sport. We are all trying to do our best for kids.

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Todd Howey is a columnist for BrownwoodNews.com whose articles appear on Fridays. Email comments to [email protected].