Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Headline:DearMomandDad:Coolit
ByKarissaNiehoff,ExecutiveDirectoroftheNationalFederationofStateHighSchoolAssociationsandTyJones,ExecutiveDirectoroftheIdahoHighSchoolActivitiesAssociation.
IfyouarethemotherorfatherofahighschoolathletehereinIdaho,thismessageisprimarilyforyou.
Whenyouattendanathleticeventthatinvolvesyoursonordaughter,cheertoyourheart’scontent,enjoythecamaraderiethathighschoolsportsofferandhavefun.Butwhenitcomestoverballycriticizinggameofficialsorcoaches,coolit.
Makenomistakeaboutit.Yourpassionisadmired,andyoursupportofthehometownteamisneeded.Butsoisyourself-control.Yelling,screamingandberatingtheofficialshumiliatesyourchild,annoysthosesittingaroundyou,embarrassesyourchild’sschoolandistheprimaryreasonIdahohasanalarmingshortageofhighschoolofficials.
It’strue.AccordingtoarecentsurveybytheNationalAssociationofSportsOfficials,morethan75percentofallhighschoolofficialssay“adultbehavior”istheprimaryreasontheyquit.And80percentofallyoungofficialshanguptheirstripesafterjusttwoyearsofwhistleblowing.Why?Theydon’tneedyourabuse.
Plus,there’sarippleeffect.Therearemoreofficialsover60thanunder30inmanyareas.Andasolder,experiencedofficialsretire,therearen’tenoughyoungeronestoreplacethem.Iftherearenoofficials,therearenogames.Theshortageoflicensedhighschoolofficialsissevereenoughinsomeareasthatathleticeventsarebeingpostponedorcancelled—especiallyatthefreshmanandjuniorvarsitylevels.
Researchconfirmsthatparticipationinhighschoolsportsandactivitiesinstillsasenseofprideinschoolandcommunity,teacheslifelonglessonslikethevalueofteamworkandself-disciplineandfacilitatesthephysicalandemotionaldevelopmentofthosewhoparticipate.So,ifthegamesgoawaybecausetherearen’tenoughmenandwomentoofficiatethem,thelosswillbeinfinitelygreaterthanjustan“L”onthescoreboard.Itwillbeputtingadentinyourcommunity’sfuture.
Ifyouwouldliketobeapartofthesolutiontotheshortageofhighschoolofficials,youcansignuptobecomealicensedofficialatHighSchoolOfficials.com.Otherwise,adultrolemodelsathighschoolathleticeventshereinIdahoarealwayswelcome.
SPORTSMANSHIP MATTERS
Your Team
Your School
Your Community
Our State
RESPECTHONESTY
INTEGRITYTEAMWORK
LEADERSHIPPERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
