As someone who attempts to follow the high school sports scene rather closely, I have taken the opportunity to subscribe to the Florida High School Athletic Association newsletter. I will occasionally see something that will catch my eye. Sometimes, it may be something that has a direct impact on one of our local school teams. Other times, it may be something a bit more general in nature. Recently, I saw something that really caught my attention, to the point I felt the urge to say something about it.
Today, I am going to come to the defense of a group of folks who are far too often seen in a negative light. I am speaking of those who bravely don striped shirts or blue uniforms and officiate youth sporting events. Some of you might not be aware of some troublesome statistics. Did you know that 87 percent of officials have suffered verbal abuse at some point in their officiating career? There are even occasions when that turns into physical abuse. Yes, there are times when I have questioned a call by an official here and there. I have no doubt, mistakes are made on the field of competition. I am thankful that, in many sports, the technology of “instant replay” has helped officials “get it right.”