: Officials Corner
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| The folks in stripes are your friends! |
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by: John N. Graham, Rogue Valley Football, Commissioner of Officials
Rogue Valley PopWarner Football, what a great program for our youth
footballers. From the league organization through the Local Officers,
Players, Coaches, Fans and Game Officials I thank you for your efforts to
make youth football a positive experience. Everyone should benefit from the
experience. I encourage everyone interested in youth sports to go to a
game, find the League Officer and tell them what a great job they are doing.
I would tell you to do the same for Coaches, but they are very busy on game
day. Find a time to send them a note of thank you for helping all of the
footballers benefit from the PopWarner experience.
Let's see how things are for the guys in stripes. There are 15 football
games each week-end (Saturdays and Sundays) with an average of 3 officials
on the field (more regularly volunteer for the experience). That is
forty-five official game assignments with an average of 65 plays per game.
Every play has multiple rule enforcement considerations by the officiating
crew. To get them right as often as possible, the officials must work
together as 'team'. This team goes into each game with a game management
plan. Like life, those plans will change during the game. Sometimes those
changes influence the game flow.
As a fan, parent and game official, I know there are many situations in and
around the game that can distract from the purpose of the game. One of
these situations presented itself on Sunday. I thought you should know
about it.
During a very competitive and fun game to officiate, a fan on the sideline
made a threatening statement to a game official. The fan was immediately
ejected from the facility, but the damage was done. Once again, a fan's
actions disrupted the smooth flow of a youth football game. The incident
was reported to the league office which has a no tolerance plan for this
type of action.
The reminder I get is simple, THIS IS A YOUTH FOOTBALL GAME. It is for and
about a positive learning experience for our youth.
John N. Graham
Commissioner
Rogue Valley Sports Officials
(541) 776-3493 Home & Fax
(541) 840-1942 Mobile
email: umpirejohn@charter.net
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| This isn't a cartoon of John...really! |
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by: John N. Graham, Rogue Valley Football, Commissioner of Officials
What Everyone Should Know about Football Officiating in the Rogue Valley
Why do you go to sports activities in general and football in particular?
To see your child play? Maybe a friend or relative? Ever consider why
sports officials go to games? Football officials in the Rogue Valley go to
games to learn. Learn to game manage, provide encouragement, train those
willing to listen, support youth sports activities and show their commitment
to every game assigned to them.
Like a parent, the game official provides leadership and support to the
special people in our Rogue Valley, the youth.
A typical Rogue Valley Football official attends 6 weeks of pre-season
classroom training, several high school team scrimmages, a sport specific
clinic, completes a series of written examinations and pays a membership,
insurance and certification fee. That's the minimum to be in good standing
in our Association, PopWarner, Oregon Schools Activities Association and
National Federation of High Schools.
After that, our officials volunteered their time at the PopWarner preseason
Jamboree, hosted at Crater High School. Some of the officials worked from
2 - 8 hours during the day. Why do they do this?
Our contributions to youth football provides all players, coaches and fans
with game management. By that, I mean assistance in maintaining a
controlled flow of events from the time the officials walk onto the field
until they leave the field. To do this, they check field conditions,
equipment, introduce themselves to coaches and team captains and do pre-game
activities to provide safe playing conditions. They work to start the game
on time and direct enforcement of rules, sometimes through penalty
enforcement all for the welfare of the players and integrity of the game.
Why be a football official? That question may be difficult to answer for
those who have not been on the field with us. However it is an easy answer
for those who work the games, it is FUN! There is crew commradre,
communication, commitment.
Come out to the games, talk with game officials, attend one of our training
sessions, walk the sideline with the Commissioner and most importantly
support everyone's role at all levels of play and officiating in the Rogue
Valley.
That is 'What Everyone Should Know about Football Officiating in the Rogue
Valley.'
Please direct your questions regarding rules of the game to me. I look
forward to providing The Official's Perspective on the Rules.
John N. Graham
Commissioner
Rogue Valley Sports Officials
(541) 776-3493 Home & Fax
(541) 840-1942 Mobile
email: umpirejohn@charter.net
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