You Just Can't Keep Me Away

A Personal Story By Jay Frank

You dread thinking about it. You put it out of your mind. But one day you have to face it — the day you have to look yourself in the mirror and say, “This is it, I can’t do it anymore.” Can you say you have no regrets?

I found myself, this past season, doing just that. I can look back on 30 years of officiating high school football and 20 years of high school basketball and truly say I’ve been blessed. I have made glorious friendships and have bonded with some of the most outstanding men anyone could ever be associated with.

You don’t ever want to let down the players and the coaches you’ve worked so hard for over the years. Nor do you want to lose the respect you’ve tried to earn. But that day comes when you realize it’s over. It’s really over. The mind is willing but the body just won’t go anymore.

I worked extremely hard to get back on the field for the 2008 season after having gone through two knee replacements at the beginning of the year. I worked a preseason game and felt I needed more time to get ready. I was getting close when an unexpected back problem developed. Once again, I worked hard and thought I could get back on the field.

In late October, I was ready. I got back on the field with my crew for a huge inter-city game broadcast on regional TV. I barely made it through.

The hard realization set in as I walked off the field that night. I knew it would be my last game. After 30 years, no more meetings, no more training, no more studying, no more tests and field clinics, no more pregames and no more Friday nights with my crew.

It was very difficult to read the playoff assignments each week and know that my crew was assigned games through the third round of the state tournament without me.

But I was so glad and happy for them, even though I could not bring myself to tag along and watch them.

I will never forget walking into that first meeting in 1977.

I was warmly greeted by a veteran official and immediately taken under his wing — something that stayed with me during all those years and something that I’ve tried to pass on. I left that first meeting terrified. “I’m never going to be able to do this. It’s too hard. There’s too much to learn. So much time commitment. And how long, how many years will go by, before I get a varsity game?”

Throughout my first and second years, I worked every assignment I could get and more. Then one Thursday evening an experienced white hat called me to ask if I wanted to work on his crew on Friday night. One of his regular crew members was sick and he needed a replacement. He told me he had watched me work and he thought I could handle the game. I was thrilled and scared at the same time. The game went well, and afterward, the crew went out to eat and then sat around talking about the game, telling stories and making me feel very welcome. It was 3 a.m. when I got home and I had to explain to my wife why I was out so late. I think she resigned herself that night to what was in store for the next 30 years. And she was great about it.

I was not aware until our next meeting that the white hat had not informed the association board or the booking commissioner about putting me on his crew. He stood up during the meeting and told everyone what he had done. He also told everyone that he would have no problem working with me on any game, having me on his crew or on any varsity crew from now on. From that night on I was given a full varsity schedule.

One of my favorite memories is getting one of my co-workers interested in officiating. He was an outstanding young man and right from the beginning was eager and willing to do whatever it took to become a good official.

I remember shadowing him on the sidelines, helping him with positioning, mechanics and rules. He never complained or questioned the critique. I was privileged to work with him on his very first varsity game, and the many other times he filled in to work with our crew. It is a delight to see him now willing to help and mentor new officials coming into the local group.

Next season, I’m hoping to continue to be an evaluator and a clock operator. You just can’t keep me away. And when that day comes in late 2009, when my crew works that state championship game, I will be there cheering them on, praying for them to have a good game and having all the pride and happiness for them that I would have if I were standing on the field with them.

Regrets? I have none.

Jay Frank lives in Sarasota, Fla.