Mobile’s Bill Hill was scheduled to officiate 10 baseball games in one week in mid-March. He didn’t end up donning his gear once.
The coronavirus pandemic took care of that schedule.
AHSAA spring sports officials in baseball, softball, soccer and track are just several of many groups being adversely affected by the pandemic shutdown.
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Mark Jones, the AHSAA’s director of officials, estimates that roughly 2,800-3,000 officials statewide are missing at least a part of their income at this important time of the year.
“And it’s not just in the AHSAA,” Jones said. “These guys and girls officiate recreational leagues, little leagues, travel ball, other soccer associations. There is nothing going on right now obviously.”
Jones said, for some officials, the shutdown could mean a loss of $2,000 a month or more.
“I think most people officiate because they just love what they do, but a lot of them also count on it for additional income for their family,” he said. “For those, the shutdown obviously has a significant impact.”
Tony Combs is the president of the South Alabama Baseball Umpires Association. He started his officiating career in 1998.
“We are dealing with something none of us has ever faced before,” he said. “It’s unheard of. This is mind blowing. It’s hard to fathom that this could be happening in the U.S. and the world. We haven’t dealt with this before, but we did make it through World War II and the Great Depression and other trying times. We will make it through this. It’s just sad right now.”
Combs said his association includes approximately 125 umpires, all of whom supplement their income by officiating.
“Most people get into it to stay around the game and the kids,” he said. “The money is something they can use for little extras or vacations. I think it is something they count on each year.
“If you are working four nights a week in high school or park ball, you are talking $300 a week they could make or more, and that is from February all the way through July. It’s a lot of money these guys count on that they are not getting.”
Combs pointed out there is an upfront cost each year for officials that includes dues, equipment and clothing.
“Some of those guys haven’t recouped that yet,” he said. “There just weren’t enough games played.”
Jones said he knows his officials are hurting.
“I sent them a note the other day,” he said. “It’s sad. It’s war against the virus, and we all have to do the things we need to do to stay healthy and save as many lives as we can. Everyone is disappointed that we don’t have games to play, to officiate, but I think everyone also understands the situation and what we are facing.”
Jones said his advice is to treat the situation as if the proverbial glass is half full, not half empty.
“Some people are addicted to golf or something else. Officials are addicted to officiating,” he said. “They love what they do, so being away from it is hard. What I am telling them is just to take advantage of the opportunities this break provides us – specifically the added time we all have to spend time with family and the ones we love.”
Ryan Campbell is the Southwest District director for soccer officials. He estimated that there are approximately 120 affected soccer officials in Mobile and Baldwin Counties.
“I think most everyone does it because they love the sport and love being involved with it,” Campbell said. “The longer you are in it, the more it becomes about camaraderie and relationships with other officials and working events and matches together. You develop lifelong friendships. I know everyone is missing that right now.”
Campbell said soccer officials work an average of 4-6 matches a week with a high end of eight and a low end of two or three. He said the break could be costing certain officials anywhere from $700-800 to $2,000. In addition to high school games, soccer officials also work club games, travel games and other events.
“I haven’t heard from anyone that is really dramatically hurting from not having that money,” Campbell said. “It’s just a nice extra bit of change to put in your pocket. I know a lot of folks, including myself, who miss it. I’ll have to make some choices or prioritize some things because we are without that income right now, but that is probably happening to everyone in our area and country right now. Everyone is pretty much dealing with those tough realities.”
Jones said many officials are using the unusual break to work on their craft.
“I’ve been following a lot of the guys on Facebook,” he said. “A lot of them are showing plays, talking about plays in every sport. Also, the National Federation has opened all its online courses for free so many are taking advantage of that as well.”
The NFHS opened 11 officiating courses in late March free of charge. By the end of that month, according to NFHS data, more than 5,200 courses had been taken. There is evidence that these courses are being watched, not just by veteran officials, but new officials as well.
According to the NFHS, more than 35,000 individuals have signed up to become officials through the #BeAnOfficial campaign in the past three years.
“It’s like a big fraternity,” Combs said. “They money isn’t a big hit for me because I just do it because I love it. I miss it badly.”
One thing that many hope changes when sports do return is the way some fans treat officials of any sport at any level. The conclusion of the New Mexico Activities Association’s state basketball tournament last month provided a glimpse into what the future ideally could be like.
The first two days of the tournament were played as normal with fans in the stands. However, due to the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the final three days were played without fans. Here is what Dana Pappas, officials commissioner of the NMAA, noticed about the final three days.
“Officials would make a call and, if coaches had a question about it, they asked – calmly and respectfully,” he said. “In huddles during time-outs, coaches just talked to their players, without raised voices. The behavior of coaches on the sidelines from Thursday through Saturday was in stark contrast to what we witnessed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Perhaps they did not feel the need to be overly emotional for the benefit of their fans.
“My hope is that the absence of sport throughout the world gives us all a moment to gain perspective and do a ‘gut check’ as to the kind of fans we are at contests. If the quality of the game is unchanged (or even better) without fans there to scream at the coaches, officials and players, then is that behavior really necessary when the games resume?”
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Spring sports officials missing camaraderie, love of game in pandemic shutdown - AL.com
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