Football officials’ numbers dwindle

by Ron Brocato

By Ron Brocato, Sports
Clarion Herald

Reputed to be one of the state’s most efficient group of sports officials by the LHSAA, the Greater New Orleans Football Officials Association (GNOFOA) is running short of men and women who enforce the rules of the game.

The attrition rate, whether it be age or job-related, has slowly been draining the resources of the officials association to a point that some games are seeing smaller crews and fewer eyes on the play. Most concerned about the diminishing numbers is Eddie Allemore, the assignment secretary for the GNOFOA.

“We have 167 registered officials,” Allemore said. “That includes all on-the-field officials, electric clock operators and first-year officials.

“The average age of our officials is in the 50-60 range. And we have only 15 guys under the age of 40. That’s scary. And we need to triple our ranks to survive.”

Allemore noted that GNOFOA services 49 schools in the seven-parish area, including Hahnville and Destrehan to the west, five schools on the Northshore and 99% of the schools in Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard parishes.

Smaller crews

“I’ve had to drop the number of officials from the (standard) seven-man crews to six or five. We have 17 games on a Friday night, so the math doesn’t add up to have full crews,”Allemore added.

Although they don’t like it, most coaches understand the dilemma, and their feedback has been flexible.

“I will try to have one game moved from a Friday to a Thursday to lighten the load,” Allemore said. “Most coaches are accommodating, but some don’t want to move, so I tell them, ‘OK, call another association for officials.’ But the neighboring associations are in the same boat or even worse than we are.”

Under ideal conditions, a first- or second-year official would not be given a varsity high school game until his or her third year. But now it’s necessary that some of the fast learners work on the varsity fields.

“We have 30 first- and second-year officials (22 are rookies). Some (of the new officials) have, out of necessity, been assigned games,” Allemore said. “And they’re holding their own.

“There is a learning curve going from playground to non-varsity to doing a varsity game. It’s how do you handle yourself in particular situations that I look for. They do have the mechanics and the basics of the rules down to get them through a game.”

But by placing them with experienced crewmates, they usually learn the nuances of the game rather quickly. And Allemore observes them from the sideline.

“I’m looking for how an official reacts to situations and are they hustling to move to the right spot. And we’ll talk during plays about situational awareness,” he said.

The casual fan thinks every official is a referee when only the man standing under a white cap has the title “referee.” His primary job is to watch the quarterback. The umpire stands behind the defensive line and watches the interior line play, and the back judge handles the deep plays and should be the first to reach the goal line on long runs or passes.

Four wing officials are the head linesman, the line judge, side, judge and field judge. They look for movement before the snap and handle action on the perimeter of the line of scrimmage.

There’s money in it

A certified official is paid $109 for a varsity high school game. The referee makes a little more because he has more administrative work. But there is money to be made for the youngest officials, as well.

“Between no-varsity, junior varsity, ninth grade, middle school and playground games, every night of the week or weekend, a young official will make $55,” Allemore said. “Work enough games, and the official will pocket $250-300 extra money a week. And that’s a good gig.”

One of the young stars of the crews is a high school senior from Mount Carmel.

“She’s a bright student named Camille who has been with us for a year,” Allemore said. “High school coaches have complimented her to me for her ability to control situations at ninth-grade games. And if she sticks with us for five years and keeps improving as she has been, college scouts will see her at the first camp she goes to and pick her up.”

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