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INSIDE WRESTLING - By Tom Blair
OFFICIALS -What its about
The sport of wrestling has
many different aspects involved in the matches between two opponents. They are
the wrestlers themselves, their coaches, their teammates, managers, trainers,
cheerleaders, school administrators, fans, friends, parents and the official.
Lets talk about the officials for a change of pace. You have a group of men and
women who find time to officiate meets during the weekday and tournaments on the
weekend along with working a full time job. Most officials will officiate at the
youth, junior high, and high school levels during the course of the year. While
some will also step up to the next level and officiate some college meets. With
the length of the wrestling season being one of the longest of any sport the
official has to be in as good of condition as the wrestlers.
With officials having many responsibilities to deal with each season. And having
people (coaches, wrestlers, and fans) yelling at them all the time, along with
having to make hundreds of quick decisions, plus sweating while doing their
duties it makes you wonder why in the world would anyone want to become a
wrestling official?
I find the question is an easy one to answer. People who officiate do so because
of their love of the sport of wrestling and to give back to the sport from which
they have learned so many valuable lessons. One other reason is watching the
young wrestlers develop into fine athletes (from their day as a beginner through
their high school career). The wrestling community as a whole is also a very
close knit family. You certainly don't officiate for the pay or the glory of it.
With the view always better from the stands then on the mats and anybody could
make a better call then the official who by the way is always closest to the
action. Then the question is if it is all that easy why are we always trying to
find people to officiate?
Learning to be a good official takes many hours of hard work. First is the
pre-season where most officials do some type of training (walking, jogging,
running, biking, or weight training) to get in shape for the many hours that
they are on the mats. Then you have the rules clinic with all the new changes
for the season and reviewing all of the other rules in the book. Also having to
go over the rule interpretations, stalling tactics, potentially dangerous moves
and other wrestling situations.
Once the season gets underway most officials go to a high school practice room
to workout and officiating scrimmage matches so they can get use of being in the
right position for the different situations during the course of a match.
Knowing where to be while officiating on the mat is a very importance part of
being a good official. An official should also practice his or her signals so
they are clear and are the proper ones that are to be used at all times.
When it comes time to the meets and the tournaments part of the season an
official should have put in as much time as any wrestler training to be a
champion. His or hers objectives on the mat should first be the safety of the
wrestlers. Administrating rules fairly to the wrestlers according to the rule
book and their official interpretations, knowledge of wrestling moves so he or
she can make the correct calls, and the promotion of sportsmanship with the
wrestlers, their coaches and the spectators.
To do this correctly an official must have the following characteristics:
integrity, consistency, hustle, decisiveness, self-confidence, and be even
tempered. The official should always avoid showdowns with coaches and wrestlers
because to do so it becomes a no win situation. Never barking at a coach, always
remaining calm, show respect to coaches and wrestlers, while always answering
reasonable questions when asked. You must remember that coaches only want what
is fair treatment for his wrestler and that he is trying to get the most out of
each situation. All wrestlers work very hard to be at the level that there're at
and sometimes emotions come into play. You must also be friendly to all parties,
have your rabbit ears turned off while officiating, and be impartial at all
times.
By doing this you will earn the respect from all the parties involved (coaches,
wrestlers and spectators).
This makes me remember a situation that happened to me at an open tournament a
couple of years ago. There were two competitors wrestling in the 10 & under age
group. The match started out as a battle with the points going back and fourth.
Neither wrestler had the upper hand until the third period when wrestler A got a
4 or 5 point advance. Wrestler B out of frustration bite his opponent, well I
had to DQ the wrestler and have him removed from the gym for his misconduct. His
coach and parents were upset with me the official but after explaining the rules
they understood. The young wrestler was like a bantam rooster trying to stand up
to me. The next time I saw the young wrestler that I DQ'd he was very apologetic
for his actions on that day and he now understands the importance of
sportsmanship in wrestling. We both have mutual respect for each other and I
have formed a friendship with him and his family. Always checking out how he is
doing on and of the mats.
This is just a sample of what it takes a person to be an official and some of
the thing a person can get out of officiating wrestling. So next time your son
or daughter comes off the mat from losing a match lets not blame the official
and tell your wrestler that the official really screwed the kid or that the
official cost them the match. Explain to your wrestler what they have done
correctly in the match then explain to them what they need to improve on to get
better. Remember that officials have put in long hours of work and sometimes
even they could have a bad day or match officiating. Also in closing remember
that officials are human and that their feelings can get hurt even if they are
suppose to have thick skin and not take anything that is said personal.
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