Officials do it for the love of the game

By FAITH MOLDAN / Bigfork Eagle

Call them zebras, blind or terrible. No matter what you might call sports officials, they'll continue to call the game as they see it.

The officials that take the court and field around Bigfork are parents, current or former coaches and most likely athletes who love the game they officiate. That's the case with Troy Thurman, Joe Sullivan and Tammy McDaniels. The three officials — basketball, football and volleyball respectively — have seen the game from all angles and agreed that angles are one of the most important things when officiating an athletic competition.

"It was overwhelming at the beginning," Thurman said. "I had no idea. It's 100 times harder from the floor."

Thurman, who said officiating basketball is all about hustling and getting yourself in the right position to make the right call, played basketball at Bigfork High School and liked the game so much he kept up with it after high school. The eight-year official began officiating games when he coached his son Trevor's fifth and sixth-grade basketball games.

"I was one of the loud mouths," he said. When he didn't coach, he reffed the other team's games and decided to take the Montana Officials Association (MOA) test. "We're a basketball family."

Sullivan officiated basketball for 12 years before concentrating solely on football, which he coached for 29 years and has been officiating for four.

"The game's been very good to me. I wanted to give a little bit back," he said. He added that he wanted more time to enjoy his son's college football career.

In comparison to basketball, Sullivan said officiating football is more complex because of the size of the venue, the physicallity and the number of players.

"People don't see everything," Sullivan said of football spectators. "They're not as informed." He added that football officials need to be alert at all times, as every down is different. Sullivan said he was surprised as to how much players don't actually know or understand about the rules despite their coaches' best efforts.

McDaniels, a former college volleyball player, current coach and official, has been officiating for seven years.

"I love the game of volleyball," she said. She added that her involvment in officiating and coaching keeps her involved in the game and together they combine to help one another. "Everybody's got a different angle. You have to call it, go with it and ignore the comments from the stands."

MOA's testing consists of three levels — apprentice, certified and master. After passing the apprenctice test, officials work for two years and then test up. Three years after becoming a certified official they can test to become a master. Masters and certified refs are the officials at varsity games.

"Varsity games are 10 times easier," Thurman said, comparing them to freshman or middle school games. "I like the interaction with the kids and the excitement."

Excitement and adrenilene are a few of the things McDaniels enjoys about officiating. There is a downside as well.

"It can get ugly. You have to have a thick skin," she said. "There's good and bad, but if you love the game it all goes away."

Sullivan, currently a certified official, will test to become a master next year and will then be eligible for playoff games. One of his favorite memories while officiating came this fall when he was able to officiate the first Glacier High School football game. He said it meant a lot to see the changes and growth, especially after his lengthy coaching career at Flathead High School, where he also played high school football.

Added to the free evaluation that the officials receive from many fans during the games, they are evaluated by a committee of their peers, as well as coaches. Thurman said the officials are the first ones to know when they screw up — no feedback from spectators necessary.

"The rules change every year," he said. Thurman added that the officials review new rules at the beginning of every season.

"There's always little tweaks," Sullivan said of football rules year to year. "They're usually generated by coaches and officials to make the game run smoothly and safely. Safety is the foremost concern."

The officials work together to learn the new rules and implement them during games, in which Thurman said they work with different partners the majority of the season. "You can't be passive. You have to have a type-A personality."

McDaniels, a master official, said she attends clinics and study clubs to keep up on new rules and the old ones as well.

The area is running short on those type-A people, as Thurman said many officials have to double up because they're lacking numbers.

"Young kids would be great," he said as to who would make good additions to the area official pool. Basketball officials are usually two or three per game.

Sullivan agreed.

"We're in desperate need for people. If you can walk, you can get an assignment," he said. Sullivan said the average age of the officials in his pool is about 59 or 60 years old.

McDaniels said with the addition of Glacier High School, the area officials will have more AA games to attend, making their schedules crazy during volleyball season.

"We're always looking for new officials," she said. "We're always looking for depth."