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Orange Blooded [2517]
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Have you ever thought of becoming a football official?
Mar 10, 2019, 8:55 PM
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Have you ever thought of becoming a college football official? If yes, the first step will include becoming a high school football official.
I'm a high school football official with the South Carolina Football Officials Association (District 8). SCFOA provides officials to the South Carolina High School League across the state and we are in need of new officials across the state.
I encourage you to watch the recruitment video at http://www.scfoa8.com/![]() JOIN US NOW! - scfoa8.com Officiating high school football is the most rewarding vocation you can choose. Whether as a way to stay in the game you love, give back to the kids in your area, remain active, or join in the fellowship and camaraderie of your fellow officials, you will enjoy a wealth of experiences that will last a … Continue reading JOIN US NOW! →
Please share it with your friends, neighbors and co-workers. I did not start until I was 46 and this upcoming year will be year 7 for me. It has been a lot of fun. I have met a lot of new people and I have had the opportunity to be a positive impact on a bunch of high school kids. If you have any questions, T-mail me.
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All-In [29856]
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CU Guru [1904]
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Re: Have you ever thought of becoming a football official?
Mar 10, 2019, 11:53 PM
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Hey man, thanks for what you do. My major pertains to this kind of thing and we've studied the decline of officials in all interscholastic sports. People like you have a huge impact on kids for making the games happen.
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CU Guru [1835]
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Re: Have you ever thought of becoming a football official?
Mar 11, 2019, 12:53 AM
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I have perfect vision. Am I still eligible?
jk! 
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Commissioner [970]
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Re: Have you ever thought of becoming a football official?
Mar 11, 2019, 5:07 AM
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No, but I've thought of becoming a conference commissioner and being able to tell game officials which team to favor so they get the WIN.
I'm too old to run up and down the field.
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Legend [16779]
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I was an official for over ten years...
Mar 11, 2019, 5:19 AM
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From youth to high school/college and even amateur. I was also an assignor for leagues and tournaments and, lastly, when my son traveled for tournaments, I'd work matches when he wasn't playing. Yeah...the football I'm talking about is the 'world's game'!
Regardless the sport, getting youth involved in officiating the game they play is awesome. You bring them along according to their knowledge and experience. The perspective they gain helps when they play as, typically, they can 'calm' their teammates when a call doesn't go their way. As a referee, it's helpful to know who those players are and gain their trust.
The biggest reward, though, is watching their confidence grow to the point that, even as a 14 year-old, they may have the whistle, work with their AR's as a team and learn how to 'manage' players, coaches and spectators.
Be it soccer, football, baseball, hoops, etc., there's little downside to becoming an official...it makes you understand the game you love on a different level. Believe me, officials, generally, do NOT like to be visible, but it's going to happen. Humility and a 'Yeah, I know...I missed it' go a long way with players. The game belongs to the players, not the officials and the better crews and matches/games will reflect that.
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Oculus Spirit [93661]
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No.
Mar 11, 2019, 8:12 AM
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I officiated a girl's softball game in Liberty once and at the behest of the Six Mile Rec director I called a 10 and under boys baseball game. The rec director was one of the coaches. We'd previously agreed that the width of the strike zone would be the 18 in width of the plate plus twice the diameter of a baseball. I resented him wanting a wide strikezone due to the bat lengths which boys under 10 used. A batter can't stand on the plate and there's no other way for a 10 year old to make contact if a ball is five inches outside the plate when he's swinging a short, lightweight bat.
He started whining about balls and strikes as soon as his pitcher took the mound. My calls through the first two innings were perfect right down to giving a kid a strike if the ball just nipped the corner like Greg Maddux and Tommy Glavin threw. He had the kids on his team believing that they couldn't win because of the man behind the plate. That's what happens to little boys when their coach complains too much. It was a sad day for me and the kids.
When Scott left the 3rd base coaching spot to round home plate he told me for the umptheenth time to open up the strikezone. I said, 'Is it time now Scott? Is it time for me to open up the strikezone real wide?' This left him wondering if the fans wouldn't think we were in collusion to give him the game since his boys were heading to the field. Well, he went batchit crazy and he didn't have that far to travel.
I realized I was a coach not an official. I never disrespected an official when I was coaching.
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110%er [5804]
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Re: No.
Mar 11, 2019, 8:26 AM
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A buddy of mine tried umpiring last year for a season. He said he got yelled at and cussed at by parents and he was umping 7 and 8 year old kids. Sounded like a nightmare to me. Thats just something I’ve never had a desire to do.
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CU Medallion [67817]
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Re:I go to my grands and fortunately
Mar 11, 2019, 8:45 AM
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have heard very little complaining about balls and strikes. We did have a kid get tossed because he melted down and threw a major tantrum. Everyone just sat there in stunned silence. I think he may have had a behavioral problem or something
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Orange Blooded [2517]
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Youth league is very different than High School..
Mar 11, 2019, 11:51 AM
[ in reply to Re: No. ] |
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You may hear comments from the stands but you're not approached during or after the game. We are escorted by police and sheriff deputies to and from the field.
The High School game administrators are usually very professional and take care of us.
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Orange Blooded [2409]
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Re: Have you ever thought of becoming a football official?
Mar 11, 2019, 8:29 AM
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I've thought about it. I wear glasses and have poor vision but I don't think my vision and decision making is poor enough to be an official.
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Orange Blooded [3350]
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Sent a message.
Mar 11, 2019, 9:04 AM
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Nm
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Orange Blooded [2517]
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If you're unsure or in the have just a slight interest,
Mar 11, 2019, 12:00 PM
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I'd encourage you to make contact and talk to someone from your local district. They can definitely give you greater insight.
It's been a lot of fun for me and you'll find a lot of good officials, coaches and players on the field.
You'll find that most of these high school kids appreciate what you're doing and they show their respect.
If you're not interested but know someone who is, please share the video and the links.
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Orange Blooded [2397]
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Re: Have you ever thought of becoming a football official?
Mar 11, 2019, 12:19 PM
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I've thought about being an ACC official. If I was, I can assure you that Clemson would have more than three national titles. I suppose, though, that I would be fired before I could make too much impact.
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All-TigerNet [13038]
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If you were an ACC official Clemson fans would hate your
Mar 11, 2019, 12:21 PM
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guts. More likely, everyone would hate your guts.
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All-TigerNet [13038]
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I salute you for doing a thankless job where you are
Mar 11, 2019, 12:20 PM
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frequently made a scapegoat.
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Letterman [287]
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Without officials, its just a scrimmage!! He is correct....
Mar 11, 2019, 12:32 PM
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This is a national problem. Many on here have commented about parents and fans. You can't have "Rabbit Ears" and be a good official. You get to the point where what they say doesn't matter. You know the rules, they don't. In most cases, if you do pay attention to the comments, they are humorous. This will be my nineteenth season. Have met some great people and do not regret one minute of being an official.
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Orange Blooded [2517]
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He's correct, I don't think I have ever really paid much
Mar 11, 2019, 12:54 PM
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attention to what comes out of the stands. We listen to the coaches when they have an issue. I'm at the umpire position so there's a lot of communication between me and the OL and DL during the game...it's called preventive officiating...we'd rather get problem corrected without a having to call a foul, fouls take away from the game.
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Starter [386]
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Re: Have you ever thought of becoming a football official?
Mar 11, 2019, 8:00 PM
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I was an official for 5 years in the late 90's but left after my second child was born. I did enjoy it but I never understood how they assigned games. I was on the field one week and the next week on the clock while 1 year guys were on the field. I also got a playoff game where I was working with ACC officials.
I might consider it again if it has changed.
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