For many years, officiating was considered a thankless job in which the official took verbal abuse-and occasionally physical abuse-from the coach, players, and crowd. More recently, growing respect has been noticeable at all levels for the men and women who make the same work by enforcing the rules. This probably has occurred because of growing militancy on the part of the officials, an increase in their skills, and a realization of their importance and dedication by the public. However, a growing feeling exists by many students of sports that perhaps officials should return to a less visible role.
Marty Walsh is typical of those who work as officials on a part time basis.
"My officiating background in both football and baseball has been filled with both exciting and rewarding experiences," Walsh commented. He attended the University of Delaware, playing football and baseball, and graduating with a major in biology. During his officiating career in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Virginia, he quickly moved up the ladder. He has officiated numerous championship high school football games and worked many NCAA IAA college football games; in baseball, he has "jumped" high school and college playoff and championship assignments and some minor league professional games. Active in officials' associations, he has served in numerous professional capacities. Noted Walsh, "I feel the friendships I've developed and my professional growth are invaluable by products of this avocation."
The schedule of the official is not for everyone. Weekdays seethe scurrying from their full time positions to contests; weekends, likewise, prove hectic as the officials work games on Saturdays and, in some leagues, even on Sundays!
Many officials earn their livelihood as educators. Others own their own businesses or work flexible hours in careers such as sales so as to be available for afternoon sporting events.
While most view the profession as an avocation, a select few make it to the inner circle of full time professional officials. These individuals normally pay their dues as did Marty Walsh: by obtaining several years of experience at the lower levels, such as high school, college, and the minor leagues.
Richie Powers, in his classic hook Overtime (Ballantine), provided an excellent look at the life of a professional basketball official in the National Basketball Association. He stated:
"I'm usually quick with the whistle and even quicker with my thumb, in the area of technical fouls, but I set a record tonight by calling my first technical less than two minutes into the game. Manny (Sokol) had called a foul against Phil Chenier of the Bullets. Instead of rolling the hall to Manny, or at least bouncing it toward him, Chenier held it defiantly, glaring in Manny's direction. Then he flipped the ball out of bounds. Tweet! I hit him with a technical foul for unsportsmanlike conduct. Listen, I call technical fouls in an attempt to maintain control of the game."
Quite obviously, the emotional control of officials is tested many times in each game.
