--- advertisement ---

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Local Sports

Local sports in the Panhandle are not just a game, they are a lifestyle. Our community eats, sleeps and breathes cheering on our local athletes.
News13 is On Your “Sidelines” bringing you more than the score.
News13’s Stephen Gunter is committed to giving you stories of the Panhandle’s top athletes, intriguing match-ups and unusual sports you may not even know exist.
sgunter@wmbb.com

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Football Referee Training

PANAMA CITY - Every Sunday at 8:00 p.m., a group of more than 20 guys meet at the conference room of the Gulf Power building on 15th Street, learning how to police the game of football.

“We get siked up just as much as the fans do,” Don Inman, a referee for 18 years.  “We can’t get to hoopin’ and hollerin’ like they do.”

Depending on how you look at it, this is a die hard sports fans worst nightmare.  A room full of referees.

“We train months in advance for this,” referee Benjamin Sass said.  “Hopefully we’ll be ready when we step on the field.”

They won’t even do that until high schools are in session and start practice.  Until then, the refs hit the books, review film and brush up on rule changes.

“Many times you’ll see rule changes through the college ranks and they’ll filter down to the high school level,” Inman said.

But missing one of those calls can cost a coach his or her job.

“You try not to have rabbit ears when you’re out there,” Sass said.

“I’m pretty much my hardest critic,” Gerald Goodman said.  “I evaluate myself.”

“When you have a split second to decide, those are actually easier than when you have time to think about it,” referee Darrell Shines said.  “Your instinct just takes over and you go with it.”

If you are interested in refereeing, contact the president of Southeast Football Officials Association, Bill Melton at 850-785-0018.

(0) Comments • Permalink

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Page 1 of 1 pages