Beneath the stripes
Beneath the stripes
Referee numbers have been steadily declining for years. What goes on inside the head of one of these officials?
It’s Friday night.
The lights towering over the turf illuminate the football field as if it is a large, green stage.
The smell of soft, salty pretzels wafts into the air.
Pads crunch together. Sweat flies off of soaking jerseys as players collide.
And every now and then a massive groan is emitted from one of the sidelines. Fans boo loudly.
The referees try their best to block out the jeering, but every call they make seems to elicit a fresh wave of protest. No matter what they do, high school officials are bound to be heckled by the players, coaches and fans.
It is rude, degrading actions like these that threaten those who ensure the sports we love run smoothly—the referees.
For Robert Rinker, who has called many football and lacrosse games at 10600 Preston Rd., officiating has been a huge part of his life. He was an official for 15 years at the youth, high school and college levels and then, two years ago, decided to retire.
A big reason for Rinker’s decision was the frequent complaints he would hear throughout a game.
“One of the things which moved me into retirement was the entitlement of today’s youth,” Rinker said. “You call a kid for a slash because he almost took some other kid’s head off, and he throws a tantrum.”
Rinker is one of many officials who have stopped working lately, leading to a decrease in the number of referees who participate at the high school level.
According to Assistant Athletic Director Josh Friesen, this decline has impacted the football team the most, causing last-minute scrambles to fill essential roles.
“Sometimes we struggle to find a sideline chain crew for football,” Friesen said, “so we have to supply our own.”
Rinker believes better interactions between the players, coaches and referees would help begin to solve this growing issue.
“I think more respect to the officials would help,” Rinker said. “Especially for the younger officials just starting out.”
As part of the job, a referee is impartial to either team, and his main goal is to make sure the game is called correctly.
“We’re not there to determine the outcome of the game at all,” Rinker said. “We’re just trying to call the fouls and keep the game moving.”
Varsity basketball coach Greg Guiler believes that, while all officials are prone to make errors, they are sincere in calling a fair game for both teams involved.
“The vast majority of the time, referees come into the game eager to have a fair whistle,” Guiler said. “And they make mistakes going both ways.”
Nevertheless, players, fans and coaches still berate the officials, guilty or not. Rinker can remember instances where he has been mistreated in his career; including getting chased out of a stadium by a coach and being screamed at by a parent who stormed the field.
“Football is a sport we all grew up with, so people think they have an understanding of the game,” Rinker said. “You may think you know the rules by watching it on television, but it’s completely different when you’re standing on the sidelines and the play is happening.”
While most of the arguments with a referee are about calls, Rinker believes these complaints usually don’t gain anything.
“Almost all of the time, arguing for calls will not help you at all,” Rinker said. “But if the coach can intimidate the official to the point where his judgment is skewed, then the coach has won.”
Time and pay are two other factors which likely contribute to the major decrease in referee numbers.
“Not only does the game last over two hours, but the officials are required to be here an hour and a half prior,” Friesen said. “What was once a nice way to supplement your income has now become less cost-effective.”
According to the Department of Labor Statistics, referees earn an average of only $27,000 per year, as of 2017.
“Refereeing is something where you have to earn your way up through the ranks, and I don’t think people are going to make the commitment,” Rinker said. “It also doesn’t pay very well, so you better enjoy doing it. I didn’t become a referee for the money.”
While there are many struggles and difficult moments, Rinker is thankful for his time as an official and is especially grateful for the games he’s worked at the school.
“I’ve never felt mistreated at St. Mark’s,” Rinker said. “I was treated as well there as any other game I’ve ever worked at, and the kids were always very respectful. There have definitely been inappropriate actions by players, fans and coaches in the past but never at St. Mark’s.”