Publishing Officials' Names Could Hurt High School Sports
What would a high school football game look like without officials?
It may seem like a question waiting for a punch line. But the way many fans treat officials, it’s a real question. Criticism of football referees begins from the opening kickoff, continues throughout the game, and goes on for days after the game is over.
It’s the same song and dance everywhere. If you listen closely enough, teams rarely lose. They seem to fall victim to unfair officiating. It can be anywhere from a nailbiter to a blowout. The team supposedly never had a chance because of the officials.
Things have gotten worse since social media became a thing. One person can post something negative about the officiating, and it leads to piling on by dozens, hundreds, or more.
In a recent occurrence beyond social media, a legitimate news outlet published the names of eight officials on the field for the TSSAA Class 6A playoff game between Dobyns-Bennett and Bearden. On one hand, it can be said the officials’ names are a matter of public record. But if a newspaper is going to print the names for that reason, it should do it every single game — not just when the reporter feels “the home team” got slighted.
It’s hard to fathom justification for publicly shaming these men in regards to journalistic integrity, but the reasons to avoid it are clear and simple.
Dennis Brooks, a longtime high school football referee in Northeast Tennessee, pointed out why officials don’t deserve this treatment.
“There's a nationwide shortage of youth sports officials,” Brooks said. “In some areas, high school games have been rescheduled due to not enough officials being able to work. We are constantly trying to encourage new people to join the ranks, but prospective officials often fear they cannot handle the abuse that officials receive.”
Keep in mind a couple of years ago, the TSSAA took control of region football schedules. This occurred to ensure teams could have officials available for region games on Friday nights, so teams wouldn’t have to move important league games to Thursdays or Saturdays. The shortage is real.
Also, these are high school officials. They are not compensated anywhere near the same level as professional or major-college referees. And they are human beings who are trying to make it possible for kids — yes, kids — to have a chance to play.
“People may not realize it, but we're fans of the game, too,” Brooks said. “That's why we're out there. We love the sport we're working. (Former Unicoi County baseball coach) Charlie Baxter once told me, ‘It's not baseball without umpires.’ Likewise, it's not football without football officials and our flags. Thus, it is in everyone's interest that good people get interested in officiating. Otherwise, the sport dies.”
And before brushing off that last sentence, it’s not out of the realm of possibility. There’s not an endless supply of money to pay these guys. We’ve already seen the scales tipping toward fewer referees. If they dip far enough, there simply won’t be enough officials. Ten-game schedules could become a thing of the past. Who knows how bad it could get?
But what could happen to push it that far? This occurrence is one step in that direction. When a legitimate media outlet decides to call out every official on the field in a game decided by three touchdowns — Bearden won, 26-7 — what would a newspaper do if the game had gone to overtime and came down to a officials’ spot of a few inches at the goal line? Would more information about the officials have been published?
Furthermore, what if one of those eight officials had a good night and didn’t miss any calls? His name still got published as if he purposely tried to negatively impact the losing team.
Also, consider this question. If the situation had been the exact opposite and D-B had won, would the officials’ names have made it into the story?
Full disclosure: I put an official’s name in the newspaper many years ago. In retrospect, I can see it as a poor decision. The official confronted me a few days later, and I apologized. But publishing names is different in the 21st century. It’s easier for people to harass officials through social media if they have a name. They can also harass through email, text messages, and phone calls.
Brooks said man-to-man or fan-to-field verbal taunts aren’t the biggest issues. But when something possibly brings the officials’ families into the mix, the line has been crossed, he said.
It’s one thing for a media outlet to say the officials — as a group — may have impacted the home team’s chance at a victory. It’s vastly different to publicly hold “John Jones” or “Bob Smith” responsible. Officials as a group don’t have a family. However, “John Jones” or “Bob Smith” may have kids in high school, elementary school, or even a baby at home.
“I'm not one to cry about people calling me terrible,” Brooks said. “I understand that passions for one's team overtake people's usual good graces. And if people don't care about the game, frankly, it's not fun to work.
“But what's the point of putting those officials' names in the paper for a high school game? Sure, our names get announced before the game. We have no right to be anonymous. But what's the point of putting them in after your home team lost? I guarantee you those eight officials can handle whatever you call them. But the second they have their wives or children see abusive messages sent to them, or heaven forbid, some disgruntled person shows up at their house having gotten a tip on their identity — thanks to the local reporter — well, that's inexcusable. And it certainly does not help our struggle to attract sufficient people to work.”
Think even a step further about what these eight men did Friday night. They performed a thankless service and a few days later became marked in the public eye.
“While the players of Bearden and Dobyns-Bennett probably had their families in attendance to support them in that game, those eight men sacrificed time with their families to work that game,” Brooks said. “And they didn't do it for the money. For the hours they put into learning rules, preparing and working, and buying equipment, they'd do better pulling a shift serving sandwiches.”
And here’s the challenge Brooks offered reporters who find it necessary to publicize officials in this manner.
“I'm tempted to invite them to our first officials' meeting the next season,” Brooks said. “Let's see what you've got. If you're good, we'll welcome you to the fold.”
From a Christian standpoint, it’s best to leave a loss on the field — no matter what the referees call. Don’t allow bitterness to grow toward those who are either brothers in Christ, or unbelievers in need of the light of grace.
Consider Luke 6:27-31,
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.”