Why in the world would anyone want to be a referee? That’s the question prominent ESPN Senior Writer Ryan McGee asked today in an article on ESPN.com.
What follows that question isn’t what you might expect, however. The piece is a thoughtful look at the very public challenges and often very private rewards that NFL officials deal with.
READ ‘Why in the world would anyone want to be a referee?’
by Ryan McGee on ESPN.COM
This considerate approach to the topic might be surprising from a typical sports writer if not for Ryan McGee’s deep ties to officiating. His father is Dr. Jerry McGee, a retired collegiate football official and former NASO Board member. In fact, Ryan has previously written about his father and the role officiating played in his life. Article continued below…
Growing up seeing the positives and negatives of officiating first hand, and knowing the work that NASO and Referee Magazine does, has led Ryan McGee to contact NASO President and Referee Publisher Barry Mano off and on over the years about officiating related stories.
This time was a little different. Ryan was motivated to write his own piece, from his unique perspective, after reading a recent New York Times article about the officiating shortage and poor behavior that is at the root of the problem.
Mano made sure that Ryan was aware of the recent NASO Survey that sheds light and provides data on these pressing topics as well as NASO’s leadership of the industry flagship recruitment and retention effort, SayYesToOfficiating.com.
Please take time to read Ryan McGee’s piece and share with us your reasons why in the world YOU are - and want to be – an official.
What's Your Call? Leave a Comment:
Note: This article is archival in nature. Rules, interpretations, mechanics, philosophies and other information may or may not be correct for the current year.
This article is the copyright of ©Referee Enterprises, Inc., and may not be republished in whole or in part online, in print or in any capacity without expressed written permission from Referee. The article is made available for educational use by individuals.
