There is one consistent part of every sport and it is the most important part of any game, the officials. It does not matter if you are in little league football or JR high Baseball or even your local hockey league, sports officials need accountability. Officials are a vital part of any game as they are the keeper of the rules. Although we trust that when we play the game the officials involved understand all the rules of that sport. That they will be fair and equal and impartial to all participants.
Do they make mistakes? Of course, they do, they are human. But the way they are out of reach placed high above any critique. Let’s face it, talking about the officials after any sport will get you a nice fine, or suspension. But it is time, sports officials need accountability. I know as you go up in leagues the officials get better, well in theory. The Pro official is one that has had the most training and should be at the top of his or her profession.
Yet from top to bottom of any level of play talking to an official before or after a game is forbidden. I would think most sports fans can see the hypocrisy in this as players and coaches are required to speak with media after all pro games. College, for the most part, is the same. A simple question and answer session for officials would go along way.
I get it the safety of an official is the most important thing. Trust me I get it, I spent many many years as a high school basketball referee. People get really invested in games and it can come out in anger and at times end in violence. If anyone who was an official was subjected to this on a daily basis, no one would do the job.
The Anti Argument
Making sure that if you do the job of an official that you are safe and able to make the call as you see fit, it is essential.
There is also the thought that if we let coaches ask questions during the game then the game would never end. Similarly letting players or coaches talk after a game about officials would only make the public more against the officials. May cause violence or harassment outside the game.
All of that is, for the most part, legitimate and fair to say. That is not what I or any rational person is asking. Not for big changes just some accountability, to us, the fan, and more important to the player, coach and team you just robbed.
NASO ( National Association of Sports Officials) put out a statement that in effect said;
“It needs to be said that those of us in officiating welcome being held accountable for the decisions we make. That comes with the territory. We are tasked with the rules and enforcing them — not setting them aside through being lax or deciding to make it up as we go along. In those two situations, we deserve punishment and if what we have done has been egregious, the public should be told that we have violated a trust.”
To have just an open dialog, let’s say at the end of the game between media and the officials, just as they do with coaches and players is all we, the fans, are asking for, sports officials need accountability.
The Bad and Ugly
Why do we need to ask questions of officials? The reason will not be to ask why they called the charge in the second quarter. The explanation we will seek will involve a play such as a vital fourth-quarter non-pass interference call. One clear as day to all of us, why not him? Why can we not ask him what he saw?
Referees ejected The coach of Real Salt Lake, Mike Petke. After this game, this was what he wondered; “Why did the ref kick me out tonight?” Petke stated that he has taken his concerns to league officials. “The only thing I get from the MLS is ‘Stop criticizing the referees,’” Petke said. “I want to know where the referees are right now? Why can’t we ask the referees a question?”
Sean Payton, I am sure wish he could have had the opportunity to hear from the guy that blew that call as well. Scott Green who spent 23 years in the NFL and worked three Super Bowls. Green also served as president of the NFL Referees Association. Green sees it like this;
“If you’re going to do suspensions, then make sure we know the criteria from which you’re going to make those decisions,” he says. “When they seem to be arbitrary and they don’t seem to be very consistent, then suspensions really don’t serve that much of a purpose. It seems like a lot of times,” Green continued, “it’s more of a public-relations activity..”
He is correct when it comes to suspensions. Why does no one speak of why officials cannot be spoken too? Why are they beyond reproach?
Solution
Accountability is something we all have to deal with no matter what job we do. A supervisor will go over every part of an official’s game and go over every call they make. That is a good thing for sports and for the occupation itself. Steps for punishment are something these groups have all thought of and have systems in place for. Again, great.
This profession of being an official for sports is just that, a profession. But this one is quite different in the fact they perform in from of thousands and in some cases millions of people. And a good portion of those people place wagers on these games. With big money and jobs on the line, a system is necessary.
In the technical era of time we live in, there is absolutely no reason we can not hear from the men and women that hold the power of these games. There is no reason a system, any system where questions and comments by those officials could not be implemented. But it can be anything that gives us and the people involved in the game, something. The time has come to end the secrecy. Sports officials need accountability.
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