|
These people are the object of anger at sporting events across the world. They are subjected to some of the most irrational abuse known to man. They are not the players and not the coaches. These people are the officiators, also known as referees.
After 25 years of being exposed to this abuse — and loving every minute of it — FHS guidance counselor Bob Moore knows better than anyone the stresses of being an officiator.
“The greatest amount of stress comes from dealing with the fans,” said Moore. “They don’t understand a lot of what is going on.”
After more than two decades of officiating. Although he loves it dearly, Moore believes that he has reached a point in life where it is time to move on.
“Primarily I’m leaving for physical reasons,” Moore states. “I’m not as agile as I once was. But I also have to think about my family.”
Moore didn’t start out in the sports world as an official. After growing up an athlete in school and earning a degree in physical education, Moore coached sports ranging from basketball to wrestling. The decision to ref came when he started training to become a counselor.
“It is recommended that you get out of coaching” when you start counseling, said Moore. “You don’t want to find yourself affecting both sides of a kid’s life.”
Because Moore loved sports, he decided the next step was to become a referee.
“I longed to be a part of [sports],” Moore said. “I wanted to give something back for all that it gave me.”
Along with desire, Moore also understood the commitment required to be a successful and confident referee.
“For 12 to 14 years, I reffed basketball,” explained Moore. “But with all the levels of play, and the number of games, it was just too much. So I switched to football, and I love it.”
Every weekend during the sports season, Moore attends study sessions, where he is required to prepare lessons on the various rules of football. This fierce dedication may seem exaggerated, but with it comes a valuable asset.
“[Officiating] becomes less stressful as you go along,” said Moore. “The more you know about what you are doing, the more confident you become.”
Foremost among a referee’s stresses is the players themselves, who have their own tempers and agendas. The player’s objective is to win the game, so when a ref makes a call that hurts a team, the blunt of the attacks are focused on the referee.
“Sometimes I feel like the ref is just out to get me,” said senior and former soccer player Joe Basirico. “So it’s hard not to get really angry at them.”
The biggest problem referees confront, however, are fans who are unfamiliar with the rules of the game. They may not care what call the referee has made, but scream out insults anyway.
“It’s just so frustrating,” said senior Janelle Fuller. “The teams work so hard, and when the ref makes a call that hurts the team, it’s upsetting.”
Moore understands why fans get angry, and doesn’t let it bother him. Being a father of athletes, he knows the emotions that go into watching a game.
“The fans are passionate and somewhat biased,” said Moore. “They are out there watching their sons and daughters. They are influenced by their emotions.”
The key to his compassion for the fans lies in his experiences as a fan.
“Since I’ve been both a fan and an official, I have extra compassion for the fans,” said Moore. “It allows me to curb some of my anger, and theirs.”
His basic understanding of what is going on on the field as well as in the stands makes Moore and Flathead High School’s sports program a match made in Heaven. It is a pairing that will stay strong for years to come, as well. Moore may be leaving the playing field, but that doesn’t mean he’s saying goodbye to sports altogether.
“For me, sports is a lifelong thing,” said Moore. “I don’t think I’ll ever say goodbye. I’ll be a fan until the day I die.”
|
|
